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.
Clicky, buzzy, and as top-heavy as a bag of titanium wrenches thrown into a steel bathtub, the signature tone of Korn bassist Reggie ‘Fieldy’ Arvizu sounds the way it does for a reason—because it has to cut through a wall of low mid-heavy sounds created by two seven-string guitars. Despite this logical approach, Fieldy has always had more than his fair share of detractors, and in this month’s cover feature he explains why he does what he does—and how that unique sound has helped take his band to 40 million album sales and counting. As always, we cover as much bass territory as possible within a single issue, sitting down to interview bassists from the jazz, prog, and world music movements and celebrating new, old, big, and small bass players.…
LAKE TOWN A press release from esteemed luthier Dan Lakin reads: “Dan is back with a new line of all USA-made basses. His new team consists of a designer, Kirk Hunter, and a master luthier, Dan Strack, who both worked with Dan at Lakland. Dan’s first prototype, just completed this week, is a short-scale original design that features a single Curtis Novak Bisonic pickup. “The Bisonic pickup design was introduced in the early 60s by Hagstrom and more famously used by Guild on the Starfire Bass in the mid to late 60s. Curtis Novak improved the design by adding an extra magnet. This pickup offers unparalleled frequency response and tonal clarity. Clocking in a just a few inches longer than a six-string electric guitar, this bass balances perfectly. An order…
NEW ALBUM Avery Sharpe, 400: An African American Portrait (2019) The long-time upright and electric jazz composer stunned us with the scope of his latest album, out now. OLD ALBUM The Roots, Things Fall Apart (1999) The hip-hop classic that turned 20 in February. Massive, chunky bass, and drums that will level any crowd. REALLY OLD ALBUM Black Sabbath, Black Sabbath (1970) Two words and three letters: Geezer Butler, ‘N.I.B.’ Blues bass solo greatness. An album so classic we shouldn’t need to print the title.…
Welcome back, bassists! In this issue I will be tackling a subject that our live performance students at BIMM Birmingham UK have recently been getting to grips with—performance anxiety! It’s a bit of an underlying concern that many musicians face, and if you happen to be one of them, you’re certainly not alone. Despite the projection of confidence that many live performers give off, the behind-the-scenes reality can sometimes be the complete opposite. Of course, not everyone is affected by pre-show nerves, but here are some coping mechanisms for those who are. PPPPP (PROPER PREPARATION PREVENTS POOR PERFORMANCE) Preparation is everything! Not only is it a testament to a musician’s professional approach to their work, but it also helps to negate feelings of anxiety. When I asked my students what…
NO TREBLE KEVIN JOHNSON Winter wonders abound in bass world As the weather turns colder, things tend to also freeze up on the new gear front. This time of year falls between the trade shows that larger companies use to launch their new products, but smaller boutique outfits continue to churn out basses that make us drool. This past month had No Treble readers fawning over one-of-a-kind instruments by two of the most decadent builders in the world. First off was the latest addition to Fodera’s Masterbuilt Series, which is an outlet for their builder to get creative with design themes. The ‘Gothic Stained Glass’ bass got its moniker from its inspiration: An old Gothic church in Massachusetts. Fodera utilized their Monarch body design as a canvas for an array…
Some of us mortals have such a degree of skill and knowledge that even the gods look down on us with envy. Odin may well have his last eye fixed on American luthier Pete Skjold, head of Skjold Design Guitars, whose basses’ quality and craftsmanship is comparable to that of Thor’s mighty hammer Mjolnir. Since he’s been grinding away since 1992, we doubt he’ll be smitten down by their wrath any time soon. “I’m inspired by my Scandinavian roots and interest in the culture and mythology,” Pete says. “When I started designing what has become the Quest series, the Fire Drake, the Griffin, the Drakkar and even the Greyling—which is a small dragon—I decided to go with a little more mythical approach to the names. The dragons seemed to just…
