Buzz
Television Bassist Fred Smith Dies at 77
Fred Smith, bassist for the influential New York band Television, has died at 77. Known for his melodic, song-first approach, Smith helped define the sound of the NYC punk era.
ESP Unveils Eight New LTD DX Basses at NAMM 2026 with Burl Tops and Budget-Friendly Pricing
New for NAMM 2026, ESP’s LTD bass lineup adds eight models featuring roasted maple necks, poplar burl tops, and affordable pricing.
Keeping It Cool: Jack Gardiner’s “Fan Boy” Gets the Low-End Breeze from Henrik Linder
As Jack Gardiner’s Fan Boy ramps up the intensity, Henrik Linder’s bass work keeps the track grounded, relaxed, and cool.
Nine Inch Nails Reloads the Low End With Stu Brooks for 2026 “Peel It Back” Tour
Nine Inch Nails have added Stu Brooks as their new touring bassist for the 2026 “Peel It Back” tour. The seasoned player joins the band after a long lineage of elite NIN bassists.
Music Man DarkRay II Adds Built-In Octave Effects to the Darkglass-Powered StingRay
Music Man expands its Darkglass partnership with the DarkRay II, adding onboard octave up and down effects to the distortion-loaded StingRay bass.
Video of the Day (Throwback): A Newly Released Look at Kiss’s “Rock and Roll All Nite” Unplugged
This newly released HD throwback captures Kiss on MTV Unplugged, proving Rock and Roll All Nite still works when the amps are gone.
Ron Carter Explores Jazz-Gospel Roots with Ricky Dillard on “Sweet, Sweet Spirit”
Ron Carter unveils "Sweet, Sweet Spirit," a jazz-gospel album with choirmaster Ricky Dillard honoring the hymns of his childhood and his late mother.
Ibanez Mode Series Debuts at NAMM 2026 with New Delta Pickups and Hexa-Mid Preamp
The new Ibanez Mode Series blends traditional bass tones with modern playability, offering new electronics, multiple body woods, and four- to six-string options.
Watch Greensky Bluegrass Turn “Money for Nothing” into a Bluegrass Powerhouse
Greensky Bluegrass turns Money for Nothing into a fast heavy bluegrass ripper with upright bass driving the whole thing hard.
Tech 21 Brings SansAmp Into the Digital Era With the Programmable Bass Driver ELITE
Tech 21 unveils the SansAmp Programmable Bass Driver ELITE, a new digital pedal designed to capture classic SansAmp feel with modern flexibility.
Video: MTD Wipes the Slate Clean: Inside the All-New Kingston Bass Line
At NAMM 2026, MTD revealed a fully rebuilt Kingston bass line, with new materials, electronics, and design choices aimed at bringing it closer to the USA models.
Bass Gym: A Speed and Flow Exercise Inspired by a 1964 Jazz Bass
A Bass Gym exercise focused on speed and flow, inspired by time spent playing a 1964 Fender Jazz Bass and the feel of a truly responsive instrument.