Buzz

Fender Adds Options to Mod Shop Instruments

Fender’s online Mod Shop has expanded their set of options for 2017 with new colors, a new neck profile, and new pickups. Users can pick a model to begin with (Jazz and Precision for bassists), then choose colors, hardware, woods, and more. The instruments are built in Fender’s Corona, California factory and shipped out within 30 days. Starting this spring,...

Béla Fleck & The Original Flecktones: Sinister Minister

Béla Fleck & The Original Flecktones played the Mountain Jam VII back in 2011. Here’s the band – with Victor Wooten – performing “Sinister Minister” during that performance. Vic gets the crowd going with a solo around the 3:17 mark.

Victor Bailey’s Basses Up For Auction

The world lost one of its great bass players in November with the passing of the legendary Victor Bailey. His work with artists ranging from Weather Report to Madonna as well as his own solo albums influenced a whole generation of bassists. Now, as part of his wishes, his estate is placing several of his basses and studio other gear...

Get In The Van: Touring Tips From The Pros

Spring is here and Summer is just around the corner. That means it’s just about time to pack up the van and take your jams on the road. Before you start pounding the pavement, it’s probably a good idea to take a few notes on what to expect and what to be prepared for on the road. Gear malfunctions, lack...

Jacob Collier: Eleanor Rigby

We’re used to featuring videos with multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier playing bass (among other things). In this video, Jacob turned to Robin Mullarkey to put together one funky version of The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby.” The session took place at Maida Vale for BBC Introducing, and also includes drummer James Maddren.

Paul McCartney Announces New U.S. “One on One” Tour Dates

Paul McCartney fans rejoice: the former Beatle has announced a new 14-show leg of his “One on One” tour. The trek will kick off with a string of dates in July forcusing on the South and Midwest before covering New Jersey, New York, and Michigan in September and October. It will include McCartney’s first visit to New York City’s Madison...

Walrus Audio Introduces Monument Harmonic Tap Tremolo

Walrus Audio is now shipping the Monument tremolo. Named after and inspired by the Monument Valley, the pedal is described as “both a harmonic, and standard tremolo that produces a rich, luscious, warm pulsating modulation capable of peaks and valleys as smooth or as jagged as the real ones that our dear mother nature created long ago.” Its controls include...

Getting Back to Basics in a Band

Q: I’d like some advice on a sensitive issue. I find myself working with a band whose musical ambitions seem quite often to outstrip their technical abilities. While it is always a good thing to stretch yourself, I can’t help but feel that a grasp of some the fundamentals might be something worth considering. How do I broach this subject...

Goodfoot: Get Up

Bassist Huw Foster shared his latest project with us, and we’re digging it big time. “This track is called ‘Get Up’. It’s quite bass-heavy (I co-wrote it with the singer Danny Sharples so that’s to be expected!), and people have been comparing it to the likes of Chic, Jamiroquai and Earth, Wind & Fire,” Huw shared. The track is available...

In Memoriam: Kerry Turman

Longtime Temptations bassist Kerry Turman passed away April 23rd from what are believed to be natural causes. He was 59 years old. The classic soul band announced the news on their Facebook page. “The Temptations lost a dear member of our family, as bass player Kerry Turman has passed away,” they wrote. “Rest In Peace, much love, much respect.” Hailing...

Reader Spotlight: Franziska Plueckhan

Meet Franziska Plueckhan (aka Sissip), a bassist who has traveled the world, and covers the musical spectrum from solo bass and vocals to studio work, to top 40. Franziska says she got her start on bass due to the size of her hands and has been playing ever since. She’s this week’s No Treble reader in the spotlight. Here’s her...

SVS Designs Introduces the Adapt Bass

Luthier Shawn Shannon was showing off his production bass prototypes at the NAMM Show this year, and now the first model is available for order. The SVS Designs Adapt is a four-string bass designed to provide tonal clarity in standard, drop, and sub tuning that the company says is normally exclusive to five and six-string basses. Hand-built in the U.S.,...