Bass Player is the world's most comprehensive, trusted and insightful bass publication for passionate bassists and active musicians of all ages. Each issue delivers the latest tips and techniques that are guaranteed to make you a better player.
I’ve noted here on many occasions that the ‘quiet bassist’ is a cliché. I’m not denying it this time, though—because in the case of Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton, it’s an apt label. Not for Hamilton the career-threatening excesses some of his band-mates indulged in, nor any on-stage antics beyond the occasional wave to the crowd. In his case, enough thrills come from his huge, rock-solid bass parts, and keeping the entire, unruly show on the tracks. Frankly, if you or I were asked to hold down a rock band of Aerosmith’s level of crazy for 50 (yep, 50!) years, ending up with a massive residency in Las Vegas, I’d hope that we would focus on the important stuff too. This month, we hear how Tom keeps it all together. The…
GENERAL LEE The great Lee Sklar has two new signature Warwick basses on the way, the Teambuilt Artist Series Sklar Bass I. Based on the Masterbuilt Sklar Bass I, the Teambuilt four-string comes with vintage sunburst transparent high polish, or burgundy blackburst transparent high polish finishes. It has a mahogany body, and the usual range of exotic woods, including an AAA flamed maple top, a maple set neck with ekanga veneer stripes, and a tigerstripe ebony fingerboard. Two active MEC vintage single-coil pickups and active MEC 2-way electronics provide the loud noises. There is also a RockBass variant. Prices as we get them. www.warwickbass.com BASSWATCH Every month, keen bass-spotter Ray Walker brings us an online bargain Mayones Victorious 4, $1,500 [approx] Ahoy low-enders, up this month is the mouthwatering Mayones…
NEW ALBUM Jasmine Cain, Seven (2019) Rocking, bluesing, and low-end-heavy at all points in between, South Dakota-born bassist and songwriter Jasmine Cain delivers the goods in style. OLD ALBUM Kings X, Dogman (1994) If Jimi Hendrix had lived to play bass in the grunge era, he might well have come close to the all-round amazingness of Doug Pinnick. REALLY OLD ALBUM James Brown & The Famous Flames, Please Please Please (1958) Edwyn Conley’s bass may lack the air of insanity of Bootsy Collins’ playing with the late JB, and Brown’s songs here might lack the political fervour of his late-60s albums, but this snapshot of an emerging genius is great.…
Good to see you again, bass players of the gigging world! This month, I will be taking you through the familiar concept of a support slot, and the unspoken etiquette that comes with it. For a lot of musicians, this tends to be the most common way of gigging, at least until you work up to the dizzy heights of headlining. Whether it’s as a one-off support gig for a visiting band, or part of a tour where you’ll be supporting every night, both roles share a lot of the same responsibilities. Here are my top five tips for making the most of these opportunities and building a positive reputation for you and your band. PROMOTION This has changed considerably over the last few decades, going from predominantly tangible means,…
NO TREBLE KEVIN JOHNSON Kevin Johnson brings the QT from NT No Treble readers were craving bass gear this month, and they got it. First up was the news of Gallien-Krueger’s newest line of bass amps, the Legacy Series. Available in 500, 800, or a whopping 1200 watts, the lineup’s launch coincides with the 50th anniversary of bass amp designs by Bob Gallien. As such, the company explains, the amp shares some DNA with their flagship 800RB. Readers also loved an ‘Old School’ column featuring a vintage 1965 L Series Fender Jazz bass with a 60s Precision neck. Owner Gary Shea shared the story of the bass he calls ‘The Palomino’, but if modding old basses makes you queasy, skip the next sentence. Shea sanded off the finish, put on…
For all the technological breakthroughs that continually shape this brave new world of ours, nothing beats a bit of elbow grease, and handcraftsmanship. You won’t find any fancy robots or computers in luthier Brian Watson’s workshop—oh no. Hailing from Yorkshire, UK, Watson is there from conception, to the moment his instruments grace the stage. “All my guitars are made using basic hand tools and woodworking machinery,” he says. “For example, all the inlays are done by hand. I work alone, so I know every inch of each bass guitar I make. I don’t use CNC machines, because it’s important that I have a hands-on approach. That way I can ensure there’s attention to detail. The guitars are hand-finished and hand-rubbed.” Having dabbled in music and woodworking since he was a…
