Buzz
Nate Wood’s fOUR: Rabbit
I’ve seen more than a few Facebook friends share this video, and I immediately saw why. Nate Wood has a new project called fOUR, which shows off not only some impressive chops but also some remarkable independence. Nate describes fOUR as “a project recorded in 1 pass with no overdubs, and/or pre-recorded backing tracks.” In this tune, he plays keyboards,...
In Memoriam: Steve Lang
Steve Lang, who played bass for the Canadian classic rock outfit April Wine, has died at the age of 67. No cause of death has been announced, though he had suffered from Parkinson’s Disease. The news of Lang’s passing was shared by April Wine bandleader Myles Goodwyn. “My dear friend Steve Lang passed away this weekend,” Goodwyn wrote on Facebook....
Bass of the Week: Manne Guitars Moab
This week we’re checking out the Manne Guitars Moab, which they describe as their flagship luxury bass model. The bass comes in four, five, and six-string versions with a korina body topped by walnut, Italian Yew, or poplar. Its multi-laminated neck is fitted with a thin “F resin” fretboard, which Manne says allows for precise attack without dead notes. Its...
Moving from Upright to Electric Bass
If you are an electric bassist looking to learn upright, getting your double bass skills up to snuff can be daunting. When deciding to become a “switcher,” most of us coming from the electric bass side of things approach the new, bigger instrument with some amount of trepidation. The usual feeling seems to be that while it’s by no means...
Scott Varney: Some Will Say (NPR Tiny Desk Contest 2017)
By the looks of things, NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts could have some nice representation from the world of bass. Scott Varney sent us his latest video, which serves as his submission to the program. The tune is “Some Will Say,” which was written by Scott. We’re pulling for him and the other great bassists who have submitted their entries!
The Levin Brothers Announce Spring Tour Dates
Bass legend Tony Levin has announced a spring tour with his brother Pete. The Levin Brothers will begin with a Rosendale, New York gig on March 4th before heading south to Chile, Uruguay, Argentina, Bolivia, and El Salvador. They’ll then return to the U.S. for a handful of dates in the Northeast. The duo will be joined by saxophonist Erik...
Weekly Top 10: Remembering John Wetton, Nathan East Podcast, More Bass News from NAMM, Top Videos and More
Sadly, we lost another legend this week, and our tribute to John Wetton was the most read, most shared story over the past seven days. Rounding out the list of most read/most watched features include our Groove interview with Nathan East, more news from NAMM, a timely column from Damian Erskine, some terrific videos, and more. Thanks as always for...
Spector Celebrates 40 Years with Euro4LE 1977 Limited Edition Bass
Spector is celebrating 40 years of bass building with the Euro4LE 1977 Limited Edition bass. Based on the company’s original bass from 1977, it’s built with neck-through construction with a fully carved body with solid American walnut body wings and a 3-piece maple neck. Spector went so far as to measure the dot inlays that adorn the 24-fret rosewood fingerboard...
Vulfpeck with Bernard Purdie: Something
A couple of years ago, I ran into Bernard Purdie at NAMM and texted a picture to Vulfpeck’s Jack Stratton. He told me he wanted to do a session with him, perhaps “It Gets Funkier IV.” Last September, they made it happen. The drum legend joined the band for four shows in NYC. Here they are performing the Beatles’ “Something,”...
Digitech Announces FreqOut Feedback Pedal
Digitech has unveiled the FreqOut, a pedal for bass and guitar that creates controlled feedback. The stompbox uses pitch-detection technology to identify the harmonic content of notes and chords then makes those frequencies feedback in a musical way with several settings. “Roaring feedback from an amp can add intensity and musicality to a live performance when used correctly,” Digitech’s Tom...
Wing Instruments Introduces Two New Models
Wing Instruments expanded their product lineup at the NAMM show this year with the Wing Bass NT and Wing Bass 30. The company describes the new models as representing an evolution in their philosophy that “life is short scale.” Similar to the original Wing Bass, the NT measures up at just 21 inches and plays like the top range of...
The Funky Knuckles: New Birth
The Funky Knuckles just dropped a new video, featuring the title track from their album, . Once again, bassist Wes Stephenson and the band blew us away.