Buzz
Bass of the Week: J Ferro Basses Escalon
This week we’re checking out the J Ferro Escalon bass. The model is part of a new series created by industry veteran Jose Ferro, who spent 17 years as Executive Vice President of ESP Guitars. Available in four- and five-string versions, the Escalon features neck-through construction with a five-piece maple and mahogany neck matched to mahogany body wings. Its top...
Talking Technique: The Pistol Grip
If you’ve been following this column for a while, you know we place a lot of emphasis on the details of good technique, including the left hand. Sometimes, though, we go to see our favorite bass players and they have the “pistol grip”. So is it really necessary to use one finger per fret and good posture on the fretboard?...
Serena Dominguez and Tim Carey: Isn’t She Lovely
Tim Carey shared his latest video, and as always, we were quite impressed. “It’s a duo version of ‘Isn’t She Lovely’ featuring 17 year old Serena Dominguez on guitar and vocals,” Tim shared. “We stuck to the same basic arrangement as the original but added an extra solo section so we could both have some fun on the changes. It...
Robert Glasper Experiment’s Latest Is A Product of Equals
The Robert Glasper Experiment’s exploration of jazz and hip-hop continues on the group’s latest, ArtScience. The band’s bassist, Derrick Hodge, whose sophomore solo album The Second dropped in August (check out the No Treble interview), not only holds down the low end, but also sings one of the record’s first singles, “Find You,” according to Billboard. The core band members...
Weekly Top 10: Jaco Bass Transcription, What Makes a Good Bassist?, New Gear, Top Videos and More
We had a lot of fun putting together this week’s stories and features, and you all seemed to dig what’s happening in the world of bass – big time. Here are the top 10 reader favorites on No Treble for the week. Thanks as always for reading, watching, commenting and sharing. 1. Gibson Unveils 2017 EB Bass T Model Gibson...
Darkglass Electronics Launches Microtubes 900 Bass Amp
After showing a prototype at the NAMM Show this year, Darkglass Electronics is now shipping their first bass amplifier. The Microtubes 900 offers several upgrades from the prototype including extra power and an intuitive footswitch. Its design includes an all-analog preamplifier matched to a Class D Power module that dishes out 900 watts. Darkglass explains that the amp has an...
Aaron Gibson: Full Dark
It has been a while since we were able to share a video by Aaron Gibson. Thankfully, there’s a new one out, and once again, it is stellar. Aaron is working on a new album, which he’s crowdfunding on Kickstarter. “Full Dark” is one of the tracks, which features Nahuel Bronzini and the Amaranth Quartet. Can’t wait to hear more.
Nenad Vasilic’s Latest Is a Trio Effort
Serbian bassist Nenad Vasilic, known for his blend of jazz and Balkan styles, has released his first trio recording, Wet Paint. Vasilic, who previously recorded in slightly larger groups, focused on walking the line between vintage and modern sounds with his trio and even reached into his own past in the attempt. The album includes a cover of his favorite...
Fender Introduces T-Bucket 300E Bass
Fender has revamped their T-Bucket series for 2016, including the introduction of the 300E Bass. The medium-scale, acoustic-electric bass is fitted with a Fishman Isys III pickup system. It comes complete with an active preamp and built-in tuner as well as volume and tone controls. The T-Bucket 300E Bass is constructed with mahogany back and sides with a figured maple...
Evan Marien: Meteor
Evan Marien’s new album EP2?-?Live releases on November 1, and he’s shared a preview for what’s to come. Here’s Evan performing the tune “Meteor”, from the album. Can’t wait to hear more!
Etienne Mbappe Releases Fourth Solo Album
Etienne Mbappe handles both bass and lead vocals on his fourth solo effort, How Near How Far, released under the name, Etienne Mbappe & the Prophets. Mbappe (John McLaughlin’s 4th Dimension, Joe Zawinul, Robben Ford, Slif Keita, Ray Charles, Steps Ahead, Bill Evans) has focused more on instrumentation than vocals on this record. “The concept of the Prophets,” Mbappé said,...
Cliff Williams Officially Retires from AC/DC
After announcing it earlier this year, Cliff Williams has officially retired from AC/DC after a nearly 40 year run. The bassist joined the band in 1977, just two years after their debut album, and played on every subsequent release. “I’m just ready to get off the road,” Williams stated in a video interview. “[I need] family time now and just...