Dunlop Cry Baby Bass Wah: the most recognizable effects pedal ever made? By Nick Wells published 5 April 23 Classics don’t come much more heavyweight than the Cry Baby wah-wah and the 105Q Bass edition is no exception
SolidGoldFX introduces the Beta-V – an attempt to pack the tone of a hefty Ampeg bass rig into a compact pedal By Matt Parker published 5 April 23 The Canadian pedal maker’s new bass preamp and overdrive promises “bone-shaking mojo-packed dirt”
Watch the trailer for Flea’s new podcast series By Nick Wells published 5 April 23 First guests on the show will include Rick Rubin, Patti Smith and Thundercat
Fender CEO Andy Mooney explains why Fender isn’t at this year’s NAMM – and what needs to change before it returns By Matt Owen published 4 April 23 The company's head honcho said he'll “never say never” about returning to the trade show, but it doesn't look likely any time soon
The Lowlist: Chic's C'est Chic was pure groove genius By Mike Brooks published 2 April 23 We doff our caps to the uplifting grooves and funkalicious basslines of Chic's second album
Watch Ronnie Wood and Ronnie Lane trade guitar and bass solos with the Faces on Paul McCartney's Maybe I'm Amazed By Tom Poak published 1 April 23 The two Ronnies letting rip will brighten your day.
Paul McCartney: “Somebody whispered to me ‘That’s Nirvana. You’re Kurt.’ I couldn’t believe it” By Nick Wells published 31 March 23 Bassist Krist Novoselic revisits the time the ex-Beatle fronted a Nirvana reunion gig
Geezer Butler: “Originally it was titled ‘Nib’, which was Bill’s beard and looked like a pen nib because it was pointy” By Nick Wells published 31 March 23 Geezer Butler explains the obscure title behind one of Black Sabbath’s most recognisable riffs
Watch Phil X jam Van Halen's Somebody Get Me a Doctor with Michael Anthony By Jackson Maxwell published 30 March 23 The onstage jam took place shortly after the one-time Van Halen bassist alluded to a new project with the Bon Jovi guitarist and a mysterious "really, really cool singer” in an interview with Eddie Trunk
Harley Benton goes for gold with 25th anniversary series of affordable electric guitar and bass models By Matt Owen published 30 March 23 The cheap gear champion looks determined to celebrate in style with classic body shapes, impressive spec sheets, affordable price tags and a whole lotta Firemist gold
Marshall Amps sold to Swedish speaker company, bringing an end to family ownership By Matt Parker published 30 March 23 The iconic UK amp brand used by everyone from Jimi Hendrix to AC/DC is changing hands
Watch Vulpeck's Joe Dart break down Flea and Victor Wooten's slap bass technique By Nick Wells published 30 March 23 How Will Smith brought back, er, slap: "The two main slap basslines of our generation were Will Smith samples..."
NAMM 2023: Ampeg gives bassists “an entire rig in a single stompbox” with the SGT-DI preamp and DI pedal By Matt Owen published 29 March 23 Featuring the brand's first IR Loader, SVT and B15 tube amp emulation modes and a built-in Super Grit Technology overdrive circuit, the SGT-DI ranks as one of the most comprehensive bass boxes out there
The Stones Roses, Primal Scream and bass playing: A rare interview with Mani By Scott Rowley published 27 March 23 Stone Roses and Primal Scream legend Gary “Mani” Mounfield on gear, groove and the problems of playing with a drum machine
The Lowlist: Thin Lizzy's Live And Dangerous is one of the greatest live albums ever released By Mike Brooks published 26 March 23 Unfairly maligned as an album "fixed in the studio", a new version of Live And Dangerous proves Lynott and co didn't need overdubs
10 things you didn’t know about Carol Kaye By Nick Wells published 24 March 23 She played for Elvis, Sinatra, Spector, the Beach Boys - but just how did she do it?
Radiohead’s Colin Greenwood to play bass on Nick Cave’s forthcoming solo tour By Matt Parker published 24 March 23 The British bassist will team up with Cave for a set of intimate shows this fall
Former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony teases new band with Bon Jovi guitarist, Aerosmith drummer and “a really, really cool singer” By Matt Parker published 24 March 23 Phil X and Aerosmith live drummer John Douglas are involved, but who’s the mystery vocalist?
Carol Kaye played a Fender Precision Bass on most of her classic sessions – but she preferred the Music Man StingRay By Matt Owen last updated 24 March 23 The session bass legend was recruited by Music Man to demo the first-ever StingRay in 1978, and recorded a fusion track especially for the occasion
Should Bill Wyman have gotten a songwriting credit for The Rolling Stones (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction? By Nick Wells published 24 March 23 Bill Wyman: “The fact of the matter is that my bassline made the song just as much as Keith’s guitar riff”