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Gear Watch: D’Addario Nylon Tapewound Bass Strings
D’Addario has added to their line of bass string products with their new Nylon Tapewound Bass Strings. The strings are wound using a flattened black nylon which is polished to an ultra-smooth finish. Tapewounds can be used on fretted and fretless basses and are designed to produce a vintage tone ranging from “the thump of an upright bass to the...
Christopher Thomas: Wishing Well (Solo Bass)
Here’s bassist Christopher Thomas performing one of his original compositions, “Wishing Well”, for solo bass. (Tuning: EADGC)
Alun Vaughan Releases “The Kindness Of Strangers” to Benefit MS Society
Bassist Alun Vaughan The Kindness of Strangers, a 9-track album featuring 8 tracks of unaccompanied bass. All the proceeds from the sale of the album are being donated to the MS Society to help research into multiple sclerosis. Check it out, and support the cause: The Kindness Of Strangers by Alun Vaughan For more, visit Alun’s Bandcamp page.
Gear Watch: David Nordshcow Amplification DNS Series Bass Cabinets
David Nordschow Amplification (DNA) has introduced a new line of bass cabinets to their product mix. The DNS Series Cabinets were created in close collaboration with touring pros and the DNA forum community. The result is a ultra-lightweight cabinet, featuring massive bracing for durability and sound consistenncy, low compression, low distortion tweeters for smooth highs, full 2-way crossovers for enhanced...
The Who to Release Previously Unheard Material
A new edition of The Who’s Live at Leeds album will include an unreleased performance from Hull City Hall in February 1970. As it turns out, the Hull concert was set to be the band’s actual release, with the now legendary concert at Leeds University acting as a backup live recording. Unfortunately, John Entwistle’s bass track was missing from the...
Dave Marks: Slap Bass Demo
Bassist Dave Marks puts his Marcus Miller Fender Jazz through the paces, with this preview slap bass lesson from 2009. Dave says, “Larry Graham, Marcus and Victor called. They said they want their licks back…” Dave is playing through his EBS TD650 head and straight into Pro Tools. “No effects, nothing else in the chain.”
Ray Riendeau Announces North American Tour with Dream Theater’s James LaBrie
Bassist Ray Riendeau will be touring with Dream Theater singer James LaBrie, on a winter tour of the U.S. and Canada. The tour is in support of LaBrie’s new album, Static Impulse, released on September 28, 2010. The album debuted at #14 on the Billboard Heatseekers, for top new artists. Tour Dates: Nov. 26, 2010: Charlotte, NC – Tremont Music...
Gear Watch: TASCAM TC-1S Solar Powered Tuner
TASCAM has unveiled the world’s first solar-powered tuner, the TC-1S. The tuner, which comes in six colors, runs on a battery charged by a bank of solar cells, but a USB input is included to quickly charge up in case you’re in the dark. A strap and clip are built on to the shockproof silicon cover so you can keep...
Jeff Beck with Tal Wilkenfeld: Big Block, Live at Ronnie Scott’s
Taken from the Performing This Week… Live at Ronnie Scott’s DVD, here’s Jeff Beck, Tal Wilkenfeld (bass), Vinnie Colaiuta (drums) and Jason Rebello (keys) performing Beck’s “Big Block”.
YellowJackets Sign to Mack Avenue, Plan New Album
The contemporary jazz band Yellowjackets have just signed to Mack Avenue Records, and will be making their label debut in 2011 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their first album. The release will be their 21st studio album, following 2008’s Lifecycle. The current band lineup includes founding member and bassist Jimmy Haslip, keyboardist Russell Ferrante, drummer Will Kennedy and saxophonist...
Gear Watch: Fender Announces Roger Waters Precision Bass
Fender has introduced a new Roger Waters Precision to their line of basses, named after the Pink Floyd bassist. The bass features a black-on-black color scheme (black body and black, single-ply pickguard), and is equipped with Seymour Duncan Basslines SPB-3 Quarter-Pound split-coil Precision Bass pickup, knurled black control knobs (master volume, master tone), brass nut, black bridge and strap buttons,...
Should Bassists Be Multi-Instrumentalists?
Q: I’m curious as to your opinion of secondary instruments for bassists. From a well-rounded musician perspective, I can see the value of being a multi-instrumentalist. From a gigging perspective, I would think that a bassist might be more marketable if he or she had show-ready skills on keys, or guitar, or ???… A: I definitely agree that any musician...