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No Treble Archive for March 18th

Browse No Treble content for March 18th, going back to 2009.

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2024

The Black Crowes Return with “Happiness Bastards”
New Albums

The Black Crowes Return with “Happiness Bastards”

After putting a bitter brotherly feud to bed, The Black Crowes have returned with their first new album in 15 years. “Happiness Bastards” marks a triumphant return for the band featuring the duo of vocalist Chris Robinson and guitarist Rich Robinson.

2023

Digitech/DOD Relaunches the Envelope Filter 440 Pedal
Pedals & Effects

Digitech/DOD Relaunches the Envelope Filter 440 Pedal

Digitech/DOD has brought back a piece of its history with the DOD Envelope Filter 440. The pedal was reissued in 2014 but is being relaunched this year in what parent company Cor-Tek calls the “Comeback” of DOD pedals.

Davie504 and TwoSet Violin: Master of Puppets
Bass Videos

Davie504 and TwoSet Violin: Master of Puppets

We’ve seen Davie504 perform from home for years. But last month, he joined TwoSet Violin on stage to perform before thousands of fans. Here they are performing “Master of Puppets.”

David Ellefson and Dieth Announce Debut Album, Release New Track
News

David Ellefson and Dieth Announce Debut Album, Release New Track

Last July, David Ellefson announced he had a new band with guitarist/vocalist Guilherme Miranda and drummer Michal Lysejko called Dieth. Now the death-thrash project has revealed details of their debut album.

2022

Boss Introduces Katana Bass Combo Amps
Amps

Boss Introduces Katana Bass Combo Amps

Boss has expanded its Katana range of combo amplifiers to the low end with two new bass models: the Katana-110 Bass and the Katana-210 Bass.

Julia Hofer: Top 5 Bee Gees Bass Lines
Bass Videos

Julia Hofer: Top 5 Bee Gees Bass Lines

Julia Hofer’s “Top 5” videos are super popular around here, and this time she’s focusing on her favorite lines from The Bee Gees and the work of Maurice Gibb.

Carrington and Holland Anchor “In Common III”
New Albums

Carrington and Holland Anchor “In Common III”

The duo of Walter Smith III and Matthew Stevens have returned with the third installment of their “In Common” project, with a new lineup. That includes the masterful rhythm section of drummer Terri Lynne Carrington and bassist Dave Holland.

2021

Recording Bass: I’ve Tried It All… Now What?
Recording Bass

Recording Bass: I’ve Tried It All… Now What?

If you’ve been following Travis Huisman’s “Recording Bass” column, you should have a pretty good understanding of how he approaches recording and mixing bass. But what happens when these things don’t pan out? Travis has the answers.

In Memoriam: Paul Jackson
In Memoriam

In Memoriam: Paul Jackson

Today, we’re very sad to report the loss of another bass legend. Paul Jackson, who changed the face of jazz and funk bass, has passed away at his home in Japan.

Lake Street Dive: Hypotheticals
Bass Videos

Lake Street Dive: Hypotheticals

Following the announcement of Lake Street Dive’s new album, the band is getting the videos out there. Here’s a live take on the opening track of “Obviously”. Bridget Kearney lays down the solid grooves while also providing amazing backing vocals.

Ryan Madora Publishes “Beginner Improvisation For Bass Players, Vol. II”
News

Ryan Madora Publishes “Beginner Improvisation For Bass Players, Vol. II”

If you’re trying to level up your playing by getting into improvisation, Ryan Madora has you covered. The bassist and educator, and No Treble contributor has just released “Beginner Improvisation For Bass Players, Vol. II”, which continues the series she began last year.

2020

King Crimson and the Zappa Band Reveal Tour Details
Concerts & Tours

King Crimson and the Zappa Band Reveal Tour Details

After unveiling the lineup last month, King Crimson and the Zappa Band have revealed the details of their summer tour. The groups, anchored by Tony Levin and Scott Thunes, will be focusing on the East Coast with four Canadian dates to close out the run.

Tedeschi Trucks Band and Special Guests: Sly Medley
Bass Videos

Tedeschi Trucks Band and Special Guests: Sly Medley

WATCH: Last summer, TTB performed at Red Rocks Amphitheatre along with Blackberry Smoke and Shovels & Rope. In this clip, the group brings together members of all three bands for this performance of Sly and the Family Stone’s “Sing A Simple Song” and “I Want To Take You Higher.”

Craig Martini Releases “Thought of Everything”
New Albums

Craig Martini Releases “Thought of Everything”

Craig Martini has released his debut album, “Thought of Everything.” The bassist, who has performed with artists ranging from Phil Collen to Colin Hay, recorded the whole album using just his bass, his voice, and drum loops.

2019

Arkham Sound Introduces The Beast of Both Worlds Bass Amp
Amps

Arkham Sound Introduces The Beast of Both Worlds Bass Amp

Arkham Sound has expanded its lineup of bass products with The Beast of Both Worlds, which is a Class D/Tube hybrid amplifier that delivers 1200 watts into 4 ohms. Its preamp section features a 12AX7 tube that they say offers “good tone and low microphonics.”

Bass of the Week: Dolan Custom Guitars Proteus Legacy 5-String Active Bass
Bass of the Week

Bass of the Week: Dolan Custom Guitars Proteus Legacy 5-String Active Bass

This week we’re checking out a bass from builder Adam Dolan of Dolan Custom Guitars. The UK-based luthier has been crafting his instruments for around three years, but his Proteus Legacy makes it look like he’s been at it for much longer.

Alex Giallombardo with Mohini Dey: Squared Marbles
Bass Videos

Alex Giallombardo with Mohini Dey: Squared Marbles

Mohini Dey shared this video recently, and once again, we’re blown away. Check out Mohini and the band tear it up on Alex Giallombardo’s "Squared Marbles."

Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals Announce Tour Dates with Thundercat
Concerts & Tours

Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals Announce Tour Dates with Thundercat

Anderson .Paak and the Free Nationals will be hitting the road this year for the “Best Teef In The Game” tour. The tour will be anchored by bassist Kelsey Gonzalez, along with Thundercat providing support for the entire run.

2018

Meshell Ndegeocello Covers Her Influences On “Ventriloquism”
New Albums

Meshell Ndegeocello Covers Her Influences On “Ventriloquism”

Meshell Ndegeocello’s style is so singular that she owns every song she performs. That includes the tracks on her latest album, Ventriloquism, which features eleven covers that pay tribute to her diverse influences. “Early on in my career, I was told to make the same kind of album again and again, and when I didn’t do that, I lost support,”...

Dean Markley Adds Extra-Medium Set to NickelSteel Bass Signature String Series
Accessories & Strings

Dean Markley Adds Extra-Medium Set to NickelSteel Bass Signature String Series

Dean Markley has added an Extra-Medium set to its NickelSteel Bass Signature Series of strings. The XM strings split the difference between medium and heavy with gauges of measuring .050, .070, .090, and .110 mm in the four-string set. A five-string set adds a .130mm low B string. The company describes the string as offering a “full bright sound” with...

Derek Smalls: It Don’t Get Old
Bass Videos

Derek Smalls: It Don’t Get Old

We’re still eagerly awaiting the release of the new Derek Smalls album, Smalls Change. Thankfully the Spinal Tap rock god has given us another tease with a music video for the song “It Don’t Get Old”. Smalls (portrayed by Harry Shearer) is joined by session guitar legend Waddy Wachtel as well as a wigged Chad Smith on the drums. And...

2017

Bass Transcription: A Little Piece for Jaco
Transcriptions

Bass Transcription: A Little Piece for Jaco

It’s been a long time since my last transcription because it’s summer here in South America, and I’ve been very busy working and playing. Recently I played with my latest project, , at the Lebu Jazz Festival. It’s a bass-drum duo with a lot of electronica. I also wrote “A Little Piece for Jaco,” for a review of Willcox basses,...

YYNOT: YYZ
Bass Videos

YYNOT: YYZ

This is the one I’ve been waiting for from YYNOT. The virtual Rush cover band has just released their cover of “YYZ.” This is their first video with the band’s new drummer, Chris Moore, who joins bassist Tim Starace and guitarist Billy Alexander. Tim even handles the keyboards on this one, Geddy-style.

D’Addario Announces Chromatic Pedal Tuner
Accessories & Strings

D’Addario Announces Chromatic Pedal Tuner

String manufacturer D’Addario has released their first ever pedal tuner. The compact tuner runs on a 32-bit chip, which the company says has four times the processing power of a standard headstock tuner. Its face has colored LED lights to indicate whether you’re sharp, flat, or in tune. It also features true-bypass switching, so the output is automatically cut when...

2016

Kyser Introduces Instrument Cleaning Wipes
Accessories & Strings

Kyser Introduces Instrument Cleaning Wipes

Some people keep their basses dirty, standing by James Jamerson’s sentiment that the “gunk keeps the funk.” If you’re not one of those people, Kyser has introduced a new line of instrument care products to clean up your axe. The lineup includes three types of disposable wipes – String Cleaning, Polish, and Lem-Oil – to freshen up your bass. Each...

G&L Unveils USA JB-5 Bass
Basses

G&L Unveils USA JB-5 Bass

G&L has been making made-in-Fullerton jazz basses for about 10 years, but they’ve now expanded the US-made line to include a five-string. The G&L JB-5 adds a low B-string with a fast neck featuring a 1.775″ nut width and slim rear profile. The bolt-on bass is built with an alder body for standard and solid finishes or a swamp ash...

B’ANG Duet: Teen Town
Bass Videos

B’ANG Duet: Teen Town

The B’ANG Duet, comprised of double bass monsters Petros Klampanis and Or Bareket, have unleashed their second offering with their take on the classic Jaco Pastorius song “Teen Town”. It’s already a feat to play the blistering melody on upright, but the two bassists make it look easy while using a shaker and loop pedal to fill out the whole...

Kenny James Is Ready to Float on Latest Album
New Albums

Kenny James Is Ready to Float on Latest Album

Bassist Kenny James, who has created music for television and film, has released his third album under the moniker he uses for production work — Invisiblemann. James plays all the instruments on all but three tracks of Invisiblemann Volume 10: Ready to Float. Invisiblemann Volume 10: Ready to Float is available on James’ website and at CDBaby. Check out the...

2015

Reader Spotlight: David Hogeboom
Reader Spotlight

Reader Spotlight: David Hogeboom

Meet David Hogeboom, who started playing bass in high school before selling it as he left for college. But the bass wouldn’t be out of his life for good… each time he set it down, he ended up finding an opportunity to come back. David has two important jobs as far as I can tell – one is playing bass....

Exploring Vertical Harmony in Bass Playing
Ask Damian Erskine

Exploring Vertical Harmony in Bass Playing

Q: I have never studied an instrument aside from bass. In watching countless guitarists pick up my bass and rip out some cool lines (and the left hand of pianists), I’ve realized that I’ve never really found an effective way to internalize “vertical harmony”, and thus my lines lack coherence as a whole. How do you suggest I familiarize myself...

Rami Lakkis & Gene Lake: Insomnia
Bass Videos

Rami Lakkis & Gene Lake: Insomnia

Shapeshifter Lab is a great venue in Brooklyn that hosts innovative artists to explore musical boundaries, and since it’s co-owned by Matt Garrison, you can bet that it’s very bass-friendly. Here’s a great clip of bassist Rami Lakkis with drummer Gene Lake performing “Insomnia” at Shapeshifter last year. The song is an original composition by Lakkis that fuses electronica and...

Marcus Miller Releases “Afrodeezia”
New Albums

Marcus Miller Releases “Afrodeezia”

Marcus Miller’s latest album, Afrodeezia, is influenced by the wide variety musical styles that can trace their roots to Africa. The bassist is a UNESCO Artist For Peace and spokesperson for the organization’s Slave Route Project, and his role with the group affected Afrodeezia. ”The power of music has no limits,” states Miller. “Through spirituals, jazz and soul we were...

2014

Reader Spotlight: Mark Petersen
Reader Spotlight

Reader Spotlight: Mark Petersen

Meet Mark Petersen, a bassist who grew up in the 70’s, when bass was bass, and people knew it. He says he’s played bass long enough that he’s “[ripped off] Geezer Butler as much as I [has] Flea.” Mark is No Treble’s reader in the spotlight for the week of March 17, 2014. Here’s his story. Bio I am a...

Ampeg Revamps BA Series Bass Combo Amps
Amps

Ampeg Revamps BA Series Bass Combo Amps

Ampeg’s iconic BA series of bass combos is getting a facelift this year, the company announced for Musikmesse 2014. The lineup has been completely re-envisioned with new versions for the BA-108, BA-110, BA-112, BA-115 and BA-210 models. Each of the models now has front-facing controls and a true sixty degree monitoring angle so they can be set up as a...

Ian Pettersson: On Raglan Road
Bass Videos

Ian Pettersson: On Raglan Road

Yes, St. Paddy’s Day was yesterday, but we’re going to celebrate a little more today with some bass goodness from Ian Pettersson. Ian sent us this video of him performing his own solo bass arrangement of the classic Irish song, “On Raglan Road”. Ian said the song is based on a “poem by Patrick Kavanagh but made famous by Luke...

Rush’s “Spirit of the Airwaves” Released in US
News

Rush’s “Spirit of the Airwaves” Released in US

Rush fans can now get a more “official” version of the St. Louis ’80 concert bootleg that’s been circulating for years with the release of . Spirit is a recording of a 1980 live broadcast of a show in St. Louis as part of the band’s Permanent Waves tour. And while the 18-song performance from bassist extraordinaire and vocalist Geddy...

2013

AudioStretch: A Look at the Slow Downer App for iOS
Apps

AudioStretch: A Look at the Slow Downer App for iOS

Another slow downer app? Yes. Why? Because AudioStretch does something that no other app has, at least the ones I’ve tried. What could that be? Speed = 0%! I can’t believe that no one thought of this before (and I apologize if someone has and I haven’t seen it yet). This feature is simply a fantastic way to figure out...

Viaceslav Svedov and Davide Biale: Bass Collab
Bass Videos

Viaceslav Svedov and Davide Biale: Bass Collab

Viaceslav Svedov shares his latest video, this time featuring double the bass as he’s joined by Davide Biale. Viaceslav says he normally doesn’t like projects with more than one bassist, but after performing with Davide, he’s a fan.

The Bass Guitarist’s Guide to Reading Music
Sheet Music & Instruction

The Bass Guitarist’s Guide to Reading Music

Stuart Clayton has authored three new books for Bassline Publishing’s Bass Essentials series, aimed at helping bassists master the fundamentals of reading music. The Bass Guitarist’s Guide to Reading Music includes beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, to allow bassists to choose the ones best suited to their current skill level. Each book features audio tracks, via downloads from the publisher’s...

2012

Sandberg Introduces Electra Vs 4 Bass at Musikmesse
Basses

Sandberg Introduces Electra Vs 4 Bass at Musikmesse

Lots of exciting things are showing up this year for Europe’s Musikmesse trade show, including the Sandberg Electra Vs 4. While the wood, routing, and varnish processes take place in Korea to keep prices down, the bass is assembled and checked for quality control at the company’s headquarters in Germany. The Electra Vs 4 features bolt-on construction with a basswood...

Adrenaline Mob Releases “Omerta”; Announces Tour
New Albums

Adrenaline Mob Releases “Omerta”; Announces Tour

Adrenaline Mob, the band formed by ex-Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy, Symphony X vocalist Russell Allen and guitarist Mike Orlando, have released their first full album, Omerta. As we mentioned last month, Disturbed bassist John Moyer has joined as a full-time member of the group. Moyer replaced the band’s original bassist, Paul DiLeo (Fozzy), who left to pursue another project....

John Scofield Trio with Steve Swallow: “Someone To Watch Over Me”, Live (2010)
Bass Videos

John Scofield Trio with Steve Swallow: “Someone To Watch Over Me”, Live (2010)

A perfect video and song for a Sunday afternoon (or any time, really). In November, 2010, John Scofield took the stage with bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Bill Stewart at Forum Leverkusen. Here’s the trio performing “Someone To Watch Over Me”. So great to see the master bassist still bringing it after all these years of wowing us. Swallow takes...

2011

RIP Jet Harris
In Memoriam

RIP Jet Harris

UK bass pioneer Terence “Jet” Harris has passed away at the age of 71, after a two-year battle with cancer. Harris is often credited as being the first British bass guitarist, and was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by Fender for popularizing the instrument in Britain. Harris’s career includes several hits with the instrumental group the Shadows in the late...

Markbass Announces MoMark MVVL-HE Master Module
Bass Gear

Markbass Announces MoMark MVVL-HE Master Module

Markbass continues their new product announcements for 2011 with the introduction of the MVVL-HE Master module. The MVVL-HE Master is designed to fit into any MoMark amp chassis, features a master volume control, the Markbass VLE and VPF filters, and a Line Out level control. The circuitry is gold-plated in addition to all high level components, which Markbass says makes...

The Pink Panther: Solo Bass Performance
Bass Videos

The Pink Panther: Solo Bass Performance

Pablo Motyczak, a bassist from Argentina who goes by the screen name “Motyx” blew us away with his take on Henry Mancini’s “Pink Panther” theme.

Original Béla Fleck & the Flecktones Members Reunite for New Album and Tour
News

Original Béla Fleck & the Flecktones Members Reunite for New Album and Tour

For the first time since 1991, the original members of Béla Fleck & the Flecktones are releasing an album. Rocket Science, scheduled for a May 17, 2011 release date, features pianist/harmonica player Howard Levy returning to the group, alongside bassist Victor Wooten, percussionist/drummer Roy “Futureman” Wooten and banjoist and leader Fleck. In true Flecktones form, the album touches on many...

2010

Concerts & Tours

Phish Announce Summer Tour and 3D Concert Movie

Hot off the heels of Mike Gordon’s solo project tour, Phish have announced a 2010 summer tour which will be their biggest yet since reuniting last spring. The 29-show outing begins in Chicago during June and finishes up in Wantagh, NY in mid-August. Also look out for Phish 3D, which is a feature-length theatrical concert film that takes the best...

Lesson: Scale Patterns from Tetrachord Combinations
Bass Lessons

Lesson: Scale Patterns from Tetrachord Combinations

We normally think of scales in terms of eight-note patterns and treat them as a unit. There are the standard modal forms for both major and minor, the bop variations, blues variations, but all of these still cling to the paradigm of an octave based scale unit (even if the total number of notes in the scale changes). As bassists...

Bass Videos

Aram Khachaturian’s “Ivan Sings” by Neftali Lopez

Here’s Mexican bass player Neftali Lopez doing a neat bass adaptation of Aram Khachaturian’s piece, originally written for piano, “Ivan Sings”. For more of Neftali Lopez check out his Myspace page.

Bass Gear

Gear Watch: Orange Updates Crush PiX Bass Amps and Adds New Combo

Orange has upgraded their Crush PiX line of bass amps, and the company will be displaying the new range of models and changes at Frankfurt Musikmesse next week. The Crush PiX is now available in an optional black finish in addition to Orange’s trademark bright orange colored amps and picture-frame cabinets. The line has also been extended to include the...

2009

Alphonso Johnson’s “Black Market” Performance
Bass Videos

Alphonso Johnson’s “Black Market” Performance

Alphonso Johnson is a favorite of ours, and he proves once again how Joe Zawinul really knew how to pick bass players. Alphonso was replaced by Jaco Pastorius, and both appeared on Weather Report’s Black Market. Many people think Jaco held down the bass for the title track, but it was indeed Alphonso Johnson. Jaco performed on two of the...

Player News

Nikki Sixx interviewed on Fox News

We don’t watch Fox News here at No Treble HQ, but we heard something about Greta Van Susteren interviewing Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx. Seemed like a strange pairing to us, but who are we to argue with bassists getting national coverage? The show only included five minutes of the interview. Here’s the full version, in two parts: