Buzz

When Simone Vignola entered the EuroBassDay solo bass contest in 2008 he won the whole thing. This time he’s entering the Boss Loop Station World Championship with the following video of a piece he calls “FAQ”.

RIP Andy Hummel

Andy Hummel, original bassist for the 70s power pop group Big Star, has passed away after a 2-year battle with cancer. He was 59. This comes just months after the loss of the group’s singer, Alex Chilton. Big Star’s early three-album career influenced many rock bands that followed them, including R.E.M., The Replacements, and The Posies. The younger generation might...

Roger Waters and David Gilmour Plan Surprise Reunion

After years of bad blood between the two, ex-Pink Floyd bandmates Roger Waters and David Gilmour seem to be patching things up. The duo recently teamed up for the first time since Live 8 in 2005, to perform for the Hoping Foundation in Oxfordshire where they played a 4 song set of Floyd classics, plus a Phil Spector tune. Since...

Q: Is there any reason how and why the bass got tuned in fifths (B, E, A, D, G, C) as opposed to the guitar’s tuning (E, A, D, G, B, E)? A: Actually, those are fourths the bass is tuned in. If my memory serves, the bass tuning came first. Although, hundreds of years ago, it WAS tuned in...

Regi Wooten Playing the Prat 12 String Bass

When we posted the photo of Kevin playing the 12-string Prat bass at Summer NAMM, people went pretty nuts. Well, here’s a video feature Regi Wooten, guitarist and older brother to Victor Wooten, giving it a shot. Let the “that’s not a bass” / “that’s awesome” debate continue!

Bobby Burns Departs Soulfly

Soulfly bassist Bobby Burns announced that he has ended his 7-year stint with the band. He announced the split on his Twitter profile: “To all the fans…Soulfly and I have decided to part ways. Stay tuned for my next projects already in the works. Thanks 4 ur support!!!” Burns replaced original bassist Marcelo Dias when he and two other members...

Reader Spotlight: Kennan Shaw

Meet Kennan Shaw, our bass player in the spotlight for July 20, 2010. Bio: I play bass; emphasis on “play”. I’ve played bass forever. I can play other instruments a little, but I don’t. My influences have generally been bands more than bassists, but I have several favorites. Most of the places I’ve been around the world, I went to...

Adam Schroeder Releases “A Handful of Stars” with John Clayton

If you’re going to make a jazz quartet recording, you’d better have a killer rhythm section. Baritone saxophonist Adam Schroeder did just that with his new album, A Handful of Stars. Schroeder enlisted the one-two combo of bassist John Clayton and drummer Jeff Hamilton, who besides being giant players in their own right, have worked together extensively in other groups...

Sailor’s Hornpipe on Fretless Acoustic Bass

After watching just one video by Youtuber Pudsy440, I’m a big fan. Here’s Pudsy “fiddling around (on take #2,029)” with “Sailor’s Hornpipe”, and quickly turning it into a medley with “Politician” by Cream. Hilarious and awesome at the same time!

Ron Carter to Receive Donostiako Jazzaldia Award

Each year, the Heineken Jazzaldia (San Sebastian Jazz Festival, in Spain), honors a musician with the Donostiako Jazzaldia Award. The award is given to an “outstanding person in the field of jazz”. Only July 22nd, bassist Ron Carter will receive the award. Carter will be performing at the festival with his Golden Striker Trio. Past award winners include: Doc Cheatham...

Jack Bruce Tours with Hippiefest 2010

Jack Bruce will be on tour through the whole month of August as a part of Hippiefest 2010. The tour brings together musicians from the ‘60s and ‘70s to relive the spirit of that era. Other artists on the tour include Mitch Ryder, Badfinger, Rare Earth, and War. Jack will also be have a one off date at B.B. King’s...

Cables 101: Instrument vs. Speaker Cables

Many people who have been playing for an extended period of time may be guilty of this. Many may have learned quickly, or still do it after 30 years of playing. But what happens when you use an instrument cable instead of a speaker cable to run your amp? And, furthermore, what are the differences between them? This month we’ll...