Buzz
Kala Adds Three New Affordable U-Bass Models
Kala’s popular U-Bass has three new models for 2018 called the Wanderer, the Passenger, and the Journeyman. The trio are described as their most affordable models yet. Each ukulele-sized bass is made of mahogany with a satin finish and comes equipped with black die-cast tuners, Aquila Thundergut strings and a Kala UK-500B preamp with EQ and built-in tuner. The lineup...
The Fearless Flyers: Ace of Aces
Back in 2011, we featured the first Vulfpeck video. It was an instant hit here. Seven years later, the band has reached new heights. And now we have another band to follow as a result. Vulfpeck recently announced The Fearless Flyers, consisting of Vulfpeck members Joe Dart (bass) and Cory Wong (guitar) along with Mark Lettieri (guitar) and Nate Smith...
Alice in Chains Gear Up For Massive World Tour
Alice in Chains is getting ready to head out on a huge world tour. Anchored by Mike Inez, the band will be hitting the road starting April 28th at the House of Blues in Boston, Massachusetts and covering part of the U.S. through May. They’ll be heading overseas for June and July, only to return to North America for August...
Sadowsky Guitars Launches Re-engineered Blue Label Flatwound Strings
Sadowsky Guitars has re-engineered their line of flatwound strings including their sets for bass guitar. The new Blue Label Flatwound strings, which come in four and five-string sets, are described as “superb for fretless basses or that classic Motown sound.” “Our challenge was to create a string with a true vintage tone and feel that retains a strong fundamental to...
Bass of the Week: Millimetric Instruments MB4
This week we’re checking out a cool minimalist design from Millimetric Instruments called the MB4. The four-stringer is their first bass model and shows some Travis Bean influence in its neck. “This bass was made seeking efficiency in sound and playing,” the company writes. “The tone lies in the neck construction, pickups and the use of maple. MB4 sound is...
MonoNeon: What A Beautiful Name
My friend Darryl Anders shared this on Facebook yesterday saying, “This is my favorite video by Dywane MonoNeon Thomas Jr. Mad skills. Great voices too.” This one knocked me out too.
Meshell Ndegeocello Covers Her Influences On “Ventriloquism”
Meshell Ndegeocello’s style is so singular that she owns every song she performs. That includes the tracks on her latest album, Ventriloquism, which features eleven covers that pay tribute to her diverse influences. “Early on in my career, I was told to make the same kind of album again and again, and when I didn’t do that, I lost support,”...
Dean Markley Adds Extra-Medium Set to NickelSteel Bass Signature String Series
Dean Markley has added an Extra-Medium set to its NickelSteel Bass Signature Series of strings. The XM strings split the difference between medium and heavy with gauges of measuring .050, .070, .090, and .110 mm in the four-string set. A five-string set adds a .130mm low B string. The company describes the string as offering a “full bright sound” with...
Derek Smalls: It Don’t Get Old
We’re still eagerly awaiting the release of the new Derek Smalls album, Smalls Change. Thankfully the Spinal Tap rock god has given us another tease with a music video for the song “It Don’t Get Old”. Smalls (portrayed by Harry Shearer) is joined by session guitar legend Waddy Wachtel as well as a wigged Chad Smith on the drums. And...
TC Electronic Unveils the SpectraDrive Bass Preamp & Line Driver
TC Electronic has expanded their bass offerings with the SpectraDrive, a bass preamp and line driver that the company calls a powerful tone tool for bass players. Its preamp section is taken from their BH800 head and features a four-band EQ plus TonePrint compression from their SpectraComp effect. “But the real power of SpectraDrive is the custom built studio-grade DI...
Stuart Clayton: “Hump de Bump” Bass Tutorial and Transcription
Stuart Clayton is one hard-working bassist and educator. Here’s a new lesson he’s just released, covering how to play Flea’s bass line on Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Hump de Bump.” Check out the video and be sure to download the full transcription from Stuart’s Bassline Publishing website.
Stone Temple Pilots Release Second Self-Titled Album
Stone Temple Pilots are back with their first album since 2010’s self-titled release. Their new album, also self-titled, is the first to feature new lead singer Jeff Gutt, who fills the shoes of the late Scott Weiland and Chester Bennington. Of course, the album is anchored by the creative bass lines of Robert DeLeo. The bassist was first introduced to...