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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...
Talking Style: G-Funk – Part 2
I want to continue the “G-Funk” exploration in this episode by taking a look at the 1995 cut “Safe & Sound” by DJ Quik. This song is a prime example of having a part from a record re-played as opposed to sampling it. This gives the producer so much more freedom in terms of what elements can be added or...
Stuart Clayton: Giants of Bass – Stuart Hamm
Stuart Clayton is really making lots of progress on his new edition of Giants of Bass. This time around, Clayton is focusing his attention on Stuart Hamm. “This track was written in the style of the instrumental jazz/rock tunes that Stuart recorded on his first three albums back in the late eighties and early nineties,” Clayton shared. “It features open...
Berklee Bass Professors Craft Bass Instruction Book
Three Berklee College of Music bass professors have written a new book about playing jazz bass, simply called Berklee Jazz Bass: Acoustic & Electric. The writers – bass chair emeritus Rich Appleman and bass professors Whit Browne and Bruce Gertz – are longtime faculty members at the Boston college, and between them have mentored artists like Esperanza Spalding, Bryan Beller,...
Peter Hook and the Light Embark on North American “Substance” Tour
Peter Hook and the Light are returning to North America this Fall to perform the works of Joy Division and New Order. The trek will have the bassist revisit his former bands by performing Joy Division and New Order’s compilation albums Substance live, sequentially and in their entireties. “Released in August 1987, New Order’s Substance was originally conceived as a...