Nikki Sixx reflects on Mötley Crüe's decision to oust Mick Mars
Initial statements that Mars decided to retire due to ongoing health issues were refuted by the guitarist, saying he was forced out and immediately replaced by John 5
Latest
Gene Simmons on why technical skill doesn't really matter
The Kiss bassist values memorable music over displays of virtuosity – and singled out jazz to hammer home his point
Epiphone has brought back its quirky cult classic 1970s Grabber bass beloved by Gene Simmons, Krist Novoselic and Mike Dirnt
The double-cut four-string was a hit back in the 1970s, and finally makes a triumphant return in the form of a more affordable Inspired by Gibson Epiphone reissue
Warm Audio debuts its take on the revered vintage chorus beloved by John Frusciante
The vintage revivalist has offered an updated version of Boss’s legendary CE-1 unit, alongside a new pedal format 1176-style compressor
Mooer just launched a $45 wireless system – is the Air P05 cheap enough to convince you to cut the cord?
Offering a 65-foot range and a rechargeable battery, the Air P05 looks to extend cable-free playing to budget-limited players
Blu DeTiger and Giacomo Turra jamming on an NYC rooftop is the funkiest thing you will hear this week
DeTiger wielded her new Fender signature bass as she joined the Italian maestro for a funk workout
Harley Benton brings an elusive Gibson-inspired finish back for the masses in latest sub-$350 335-a-like
The champion of cheap guitar gear is back with an EB-2-inspired bass and perhaps its finest-looking semi-hollow stunner yet
Neural DSP takes the fight to TONEX and Kemper Profiler Player by unveiling the Nano Cortex – its vision of the ultimate compact all-in-one rig solution
The Quad Cortex's first sibling works as an amp modeler, effects processor and IR loader – and lets players model any amp, cab or drive pedal using Neural DSP's celebrated Capture tech
Bassists
Paul McCartney was in bass peak form on this lesser-known Beatles gem
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios in February 1968, Hey Bulldog was one of the last Beatles sessions tracked as a band
Did Nate Watts play on the most under-appreciated bass anthem ever?
The story behind the incredible 10-minute bassline on Stevie Wonder’s 1981 hit Do I Do
How Beck’s longtime bassist scored his spot in Nine Inch Nails
Back in 2008, Justin Meldal-Johnsen was launched from his role as Beck’s musical director onto a Nine Inch Nails world tour
Gene Simmons on why technical skill doesn't really matter
The Kiss bassist values memorable music over displays of virtuosity – and singled out jazz to hammer home his point
Mark Hoppus charts his bass origin story, embracing amp modelers and switching from Ernie Ball to Fender
In a rare interview, the blink-182 bassist shares his tone secrets, the bassline he still struggles to play, and how Ned’s Atomic Dustbin changed the way he approaches the bass
Berry Oakley set the template for the Allman Brothers Band with a modified ’72 Jazz, known as ‘The Tractor’
Oakley added a Hagstrom Bi-Sonic pickup to his 1972 Jazz Bass, giving him a total of three pickups and five control knobs
“Somebody said, ‘Why don't you try slap bass?’” Chris Wolstenholme switched up his tone and technique on Muse’s The Resistance
Monstrous tones (and a massive signal chain) are just part of Chris Wolstenholme’s bass evolution with Muse
Bass Gear
Epiphone has brought back its quirky cult classic 1970s Grabber bass beloved by Gene Simmons, Krist Novoselic and Mike Dirnt
The double-cut four-string was a hit back in the 1970s, and finally makes a triumphant return in the form of a more affordable Inspired by Gibson Epiphone reissue
Harley Benton brings an elusive Gibson-inspired finish back for the masses in latest sub-$350 335-a-like
The champion of cheap guitar gear is back with an EB-2-inspired bass and perhaps its finest-looking semi-hollow stunner yet
Fender honors viral bass sensation Blu DeTiger with a signature Jazz Bass – and it sounds as good as it looks
DeTiger helped Fender first launch the Player Plus Jazz Bass back in 2021, and now she's been treated to her very own signature model
Best basses for metal 2024: our selection of the best basses for heavy music across all budgets
From Rickenbacker to Ibanez and Schecter, our picks of the best metal basses will help you sound heavier than ever before
Keanu Reeves’ new Fender Custom Shop P-Bass inspired an all-new circuit called “the Keanu wiring”
The actor's new instrument is full of some intriguing personalizations, and offers a fresh take on the classic sunburst finish
Fender Vintera II ’60s Precision Bass review
Vintage looks? Timeless P-Bass tones? We size up the latest incarnation of Fender’s flagship 4-string
Epiphone issues new Jack Casady signature model – bringing the firm’s revered Les Paul Signature bass design into fretless territory
The Jefferson Airplane icon has made his preferred Les Paul Signature bass design more appealing than ever before with a sleek fretless design
Reviews
“Thrill-seekers wishing to add ear-melting fuzz to their bass will be in tonal nirvana”: Goliath FX Hornburg Fuzz review
With drive tones verging on the mythical, is this the ultimate bass fuzz?
“As a compact amp modeler/cab simulator/Capture device, this is perhaps the best option out there, screen or no screen”: Neural DSP Nano Cortex review
The follow-up to the game-changing Quad Cortex is here at last, and with its ultra-powerful Nano Cortex, Neural DSP has set its sights on challenging IK Multimedia and Kemper to offer the ultimate all-in-one rig solution
Fender Vintera II ’60s Precision Bass review
Vintage looks? Timeless P-Bass tones? We size up the latest incarnation of Fender’s flagship 4-string
“You’d be hard-pushed to find a bass sound that you couldn’t gig with almost immediately”: Boss Katana-500 Bass Head review
This newly developed, feature-packed bass head features an Amp Feel switch and ‘Cabinet Resonance’ calibration technology to get the best from your cab – but is it a game-changer for bassists?
“If you can handle the fanned frets, this is a bass you’ll cherish for decades”: Dingwall John Taylor Signature review
After playing a custom Dingwall live with Duran Duran, John Taylor has launched his production model, loaded with a new bridge design, a Rupert Neve Design preamp to die for and a monster tonal range
“So much fun and so inspiring, it’s a steal at the asking price”: Boss Katana:Go review
Boss has crammed a full Katana amplifier into a tiny headphone-amp format – and its long list of features and tones makes it practically irresistible
“It can sound funky, but, as a full-on rock bass – whacked with the heaviest pick you can find – is when it’s in its element”: Epiphone Thunderbird ’64 review
It’s often said that they don’t make ‘em like they used to. Well, Epiphone are on a mission to prove that old chestnut wrong
“It delivers a lot of the classic Stingray sound and it plays like a dream”: Sterling By Music Man SUB Series Stingray Ray4 review
The most affordable take on the Stingray might just be one of the greatest budget basses money can buy
Tech 21 SansAmp Street Driver 48 review – a new Frank Bello signature amp pedal that delivers the full range of the Anthrax bassist's tones, and then some
Yes, the monstrous drive tones are unmistakable, but this impressively versatile SansAmp unit is not only about unhinged distortion that will terrify your neighbour’s cat