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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...
What a Day: Mardi Gras Mambo
The unconventional duo What a Day, consisting of upright bassist Jonathan Joly and singer/typist Leah Gracie, are ready for Mardi Gras this year with a cover of the classic song “Mardi Gras Mambo.” Joly handles all of the harmonic accompaniment with a simultaneous bass line and countermelody on his upright while Gracie leads with her soulful vocals. The result is...
EBS Launches Blue Label Pedals and Premium Gold Flat Patch Cables
EBS unveiled a new line of pedals called the Blue Label Series at NAMM this year. It’s starting this year with three analog overdrive models called the Drive Me Crazy, The Black Haze, and The Drive. While EBS makes everything work well for bass, these pedals are made specifically to work well on bass and guitar. “We know how to...
Bass of the Week: Blasius Guitars Kata 4 Headless
The Kata 4 Headless from Blasius Guitars features a pretty unique body shape with the tone to match. A take on the company’s flagship Kata model, this headless bass is built with three-layer body wings consisting of a bubinga back, maple core, and flamed maple top. Its five-piece neck is a sandwich of maple, padouk, and walnut while the ebony...