Buzz
Funkadelic: Tear The Roof Off The Sucker, Live on KCRW
In preparing for our interview with P-Funk’s Lige Curry, I revisited tons of old Parliament and Funkadelic bass lines. One that always sticks out for me is from “Tear The Roof Off The Sucker.” It’s sparse yet somehow meaty. Here’s Curry with George Clinton and Funkadelic performing the funk classic on KCRW.
Reader Spotlight: Ben Jones
Meet Ben Jones, a busy, working bassist who started out on drums, then heard Stanley Clarke while trying to learn the guitar – and the rest is history. Ben is this week’s No Treble reader in the spotlight. Here’s his story… Bio: I started off as a drummer very young and then graduated to bass around the age of 14....
Top 10: The Most Watched Bass Videos (February 2017)
Time to clear your calendar for the afternoon, because it is time to celebrate the top 10 most watched videos of the month. Here are the No Treble reader favorites for the month of February, 2017. 1. Victor Wooten Trio: Funky D Victor Wooten and his trio with drummer Dennis Chambers and saxophonist Bob Franceschini warmed up for their recent...
Remco Hendriks: Chill Funk Rock Bass Groove
Time to get funky with another video by Remco Hendriks. In this video, Remco shared, “Having a good time with some funky thumb/finger plucking grooves with a laid-back vibe to it.” We dig it.
Amptweaker Introduces the Pressurizer Compressor Pedal
Amptweaker unveiled the Pressurizer compressor at the Winter NAMM Show this year. Suitable for bass or guitar, the stompbox compressor aims to retain the attack of your instrument while adding sustain. “Sustain without compression… a common suggestion Amptweaker receives that means ‘don’t mess with my attack,’” the company says. “The PressuRizer™ compressor accomplishes this in several unique ways, and includes...
Bass of the Week: LowDown Bass Guitars Special Custom Series 4F Fretless
Wandering around the halls at the NAMM Show is great for finding unique instruments. While browsing Hall E this year I saw this killer four-string fretless built by Tim Seisser of LowDown Bass Guitars. With all the interesting body work and the stunning fingerboard, I had to find out more. “This bass started as an effort to use some really...
Talking Technique: Efficient Practice Hacks #5: Mnemonics – Part 1
Harness the power of these creative time tested memory tools. They will enrich your bass playing and are useful for all walks of life. A mnemonic is any idea or device that aids in remembering something. Maybe you are familiar with “Large Elephants Jump Slowly And Sink Rapidly” – helping US students remember the seven articles of the United States...
Bryan Ladd Band: Endorphin, Live at Bass Bash 2017
One of my favorite performances from NAMM this year was at the Bass Bash. Bryan Ladd led his band through throwback grooves and modern melodies alike. Here’s a cool clip of “Endorphin”. The jam is a killer, plus Ladd takes a slippery, filtered solo at the 5:50 mark.
Tedeschi Trucks Band: Keep On Growing
Tedeschi Trucks Band is releasing on CD and DVD on March 17th. Here’s a clip from that show – and part of the release – featuring Tim Lefebvre laying it down on the track “Keep On Growing.”
Trace Elliot Announces the Transit B Bass Guitar Preamp Pedal
Along with the launch of their micro ELF bass amp at the NAMM Show this year, Trace Elliot returned with the Transit B Bass Guitar Preamp Pedal. The versatile preamp offers a host of controls with a pre-shape to dial in the classic Trace Elliot EQ curve, a dual-band compressor, a drive section, and a 5-band semi-parametric EQ. The compressor...
Schecter Introduces Stiletto Stage Basses
Schecter introduced the Stiletto Stage four- and five-string models at the Winter NAMM Show. The basses are designed to be a stripped-down, performance-ready bass at an affordable price point. Available in white and black gloss finishes, the neck-through basses are built with a mahogany body, a carbon-fiber reinforced maple neck, and ebony fretboard. The frets are marked with mother of...
Marcus Miller: How To Improvise a Solo
After getting the ability to groove under their fingers, many bassists struggle to learn how to take a solo. Luckily one of the greatest bassists ever is here to give you some tips. Marcus Miller sat down to make this video lesson for the Montreux Jazz Academy, which is affiliated with the annual jazz festival. From drawing to inspiration to...