Buzz
Ashdown Engineering Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Limited Edition Amps
Ashdown Engineering first launched in 1997, so this year they’re celebrating 20 years in the business with two limited edition rigs. Each of the sets will be handmade-to-order in England. First up is the pairing of the Limited Edition 20th Anniversary ABM-600 EVO-IV and ABM 410T EVO-IV. The models are takes on Ashdown’s flagship ABM amplifier with some cosmetic and...
Ewan Cunningham: Echoes
Today’s video doesn’t feature a complicated bass line, but it more than makes up for that. Ewan Cunningham is an 18-year-old multi-instrumentalist who started out on drums at the age of 4. “…Now I’m branching out into other instruments such as guitar, bass, keyboards, and vocals. I’ve been teaching myself to mix, record and film music since I was 10...
Thundercat Releases “Drunk”
Thundercat’s long awaited full-length followup to 2015 EP The Beyond / Where the Giants Roam is finally out. Drunk is a 23-track exploration of the bassist/vocalist’s dark humor marked by shorter, more intense musical vignettes. As always, his unique six-string chordal playing creates a dream-like sonic playground punctuated by funky licks and quirky lyrics. Thudercat, aka Stephen Bruner, enlisted a...
Bass Gear Roundup: The Top Gear Stories in February 2017
We covered plenty of gear in February, following the Winter NAMM show in late January. No Treble readers dug it (like we do). Here are the top 10 favorite gear stories for the month of February, 2017. Thanks for reading, commenting and sharing. 1. Ibanez Ashula SRAS7 Hybrid Fretted/Fretless Bass Ibanez shocked many bassists again this year by introducing a...
Groove – Episode #27: Richard Bona
He’s known as “The African Sting,” and people compare his style, approach and flair of the electric bass to Jaco Pastorius. If there’s one word that best describes Richard Bona it is: artist. The Cameroon native blends elements of African rhythms with jazz, rock, and pop. He has played with guitarist Mike Stern and Japanese guitarist Kazumi Watanabe. That’s not...
Olivier Pinard: Cryptopsy’s “White Worms” Bass Playthrough
Get ready for an aural assault: Olivier Pinard has released a new playthrough video for “White Worms” by Cryptopsy, and it’s super heavy. Pinard rips through the blazing tempo with incredible veracity and right hand technique. This playthrough is not for the faint of heart.
Peter Erskine Releases New Albums with Benjamin Shepherd and Damian Erskine
Drum legend Peter Erskine has worked with a slew of the world’s best bass players, and that’s once again documented on two new albums from his projects. First up, Erskine’s “Dr. Um” band has followed up their successful debut album with Second Opinion. Where the original album featured Janek Gwizdala, the former Weather Report drummer tapped bassist Benjamin Shepherd to...
Should I Cancel A Gig for a Better Opportunity?
Q: Have you ever been put into a situation where you have booked yourself for a gig in one place (even months in advance) but had a even greater opportunity come calling after? How have you handled bowing out of the prior engagement for a greater one? A: This is a tough but all-too-common quandary for the freelance musician. There...
Zander Zon: Castle on the Hill
Zander Zon and his fretless bass are back with another fantastic solo bass cover. In this clip, Zander performs his arrangement of Ed Sheeran’s “Castle on the Hill.” Enjoy.
Earth, Wind & Fire Announce Spring Tour
Bass legend Verdine White will be hitting the road with Earth, Wind & Fire this spring for a tour that will span March. Focusing on the East Coast, the tour kicks off March 9th in Saint Augustine, Florida and is scheduled to wrap up April 2nd at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center in South Carolina. The band is also...
Reader Spotlight: Tunu Jumwa
Meet Tunu Jumwa, a bassist who got her start four years ago and already has her own signature bass. Tunu is this week’s No Treble reader in the spotlight. Here’s her story… Bio: My name is Tunu Jumwa from Kenya. I am a music enthusiast who loves to play the bass guitar. Location: Nairobi Day gig: I am a full...
Talking Technique: Efficient Practice Hacks #4 – Motivation
Having trouble getting motivated to practice? Just not feeling it? Here are a few simple action items to help get you going. I have found them very useful for myself and my students. Famously, there are two kinds of motivation (or impulses that lead to motivation to act): extrinsic (from the outside) and intrinsic (from the inside). Extrinsic motivation is...