Bass Player

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Preston Crump

“Fingerstyle is my most comfortable technique, although I got deep into slap bass when it was still funky”: Preston Crump on gaining fame with Outkast and why he stopped playing slap bass

By Nick Wells published

Atlanta bass originator Preston Crump has supplied the low-end for the likes of Outkast, Dr Dre and Cee Lo Green

David Bowie performing with guitarist Mick Ronson at a live recording of 'The 1980 Floor Show' for the NBC 'Midnight Special' TV show, at The Marquee Club in London, with a specially invited audience of Bowie fanclub members, 20th October 1973.

“When you’re the bass player and it’s time for the solo, you go nuts, because you’ve been playing rhythm for everyone else for so long!” Tony Visconti on David Bowie’s The Man Who Sold The World

By Joel McIver published

Spurred on by guitarist Mick Ronson, Tony Visconti’s bass playing ranged from the wildest of improvised runs to proto-heavy-metal support

Glenn Hughes signature Orange O Bass

NAMM 2024: “A luxurious color that evokes the beginnings of heavy metal”: Orange Amps team up with Glenn Hughes for its first signature O Bass – and it's a dazzling purple

By Phil Weller published

The Deep Purple icon has been an Orange endorsee for over a decade, with the bass making for a striking pairing with his signature purple Crush combo amp

Keanu Reeves of Dogstar performs at The Roxy on July 18, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

“What bass would Neo play? An upright bass. He’s going to want to play some jazz. With Morpheus on drums. We’ll be a power trio with Agent Smith on keys”: We interviewed Keanu Reeves about bass guitar – and it was a musical conversation unlike any other

By Michael Astley-Brown published

He’s one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, but Keanu Reeves has had a lifelong love affair with the bass guitar. In an exclusive interview, he opens up about his weed-fueled Bill & Ted bass duels, why he doesn’t consider himself worthy of a Fender signature model, and what he really learned from Flea in that one-on-one lesson

Epiphone Rex Brown Thunderbird signature bass

“Thundering his way into the Epiphone core lineup”: Rex Brown’s newest signature Thunderbird bass is here – and it’s the Pantera legend’s first-ever Epiphone model

By Matt Owen published

Cosmetically near-identical to his flagship Gibson, the new model looks to bring the same flair to a more accessible price point, thanks to some choice functional tweaks

Elvis Costello, Bruce Thomas, Pete Thomas, Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Jazz Bilzen Festival, Bilzen, Belgium, 11/08/1977.

“Some bass parts are functional and some are creative: you don’t need to play Rachmaninoff when the band wants Al Green”: The man behind Elvis Costello’s finest albums recalls his life as a main Attraction

By Nick Wells published

Bruce Thomas, once of Elvis Costello’s backing band, the Attractions, recounts his career

Short-scale vs long-scale bass

Short-scale vs long-scale bass: what's the difference?

By Richard Blenkinsop published

Get the lowdown on the low-end - we look at the differences between short-scale and long-scale basses

Les Claypool backstage on August 4, 1995 in New York City, New York. Lars Ulrich of Metallica performs at Royal Arena on February 3, 2017 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

“Lars said, ‘You’re not really used to this kind of music, are you?’” Les Claypool on his failed Metallica audition

By Joel McIver published

According to James Hetfield, Les Claypool was “too good” for the thrash metal giants

Actors Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves on set of the Orion Pictures movie "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" circa 1989.

“Alex Winter and I would have two-bass jams when we made Bill & Ted – I won’t say there wasn’t any weed involved…” Keanu Reeves recalls his Wyld bass duels with his excellent co-star

By Michael Astley-Brown published

Bill & Ted may have been guitar shredders, but Reeves and Winter are bassists in real life. And their off-set jams sounded like a lot of fun…

Malcolm Bruce

“My dad showed that the bass can play an equal role in melodic and rhythmic invention”: Heavenly Cream mastermind Malcolm Bruce doesn’t use Jack Bruce’s gear, but he can tell you how to easily get his father’s sound

By Andrew Daly published

The world has only begun to understand what Cream contributed to music and culture, says Malcolm, who finds it easy to perform like late pioneer Jack did

Ibanez Tube Screamer 808 45th Anniversary

NAMM 2024: Ibanez introduces 2 handy new pedalboard problem-solvers – and a limited-edition celebratory Tube Screamer

By Matt Owen published

A suave TS808 – as well as new additions to the Pentatone pedal series – have been introduced

Snark TitaniumST-8 rubber sound shield

NAMM 2024: “It should be in every musician’s gigbag” – Featuring a rechargeable battery and a rubber sound shield, has Snark just revolutionized the clip-on tuner?

By Phil Weller published

Snark has made two key adjustments with the ST-8 Titanium tuner, offering “months” of tuning with one charge, without pesky external noises limiting its accuracy

Source Audio Zio Preamp

“An all-analog tone-shaping machine”: Source Audio and Shoe Pedals team up for the Zio, a preamp and DI pedal designed specifically for bass

By Phil Weller published

With four EQ controls and toggles for scoop and grit, the mid-priced two-in-one pedal aspires to offer greater clarity and articulation for low-end grooves

Photo of Jack BRUCE and BBM and Ginger BAKER and Gary MOORE; L-R: Ginger Baker (drums), Gary Moore, Jack Bruce performing live onstage

“Eric Clapton’s a great guitarist, but Gary Moore’s a more exciting player”: Jack Bruce on the brilliance of Gary Moore and why Cream’s real chemistry was between Bruce and Ginger Baker

By Nick Wells published

In 1993 the late Cream bassist joined forces with Gary Moore and Ginger Baker to form the short-lived power trio BBM

Kenny Passarelli and Joe Walsh perform live in Barnstorm

“Tommy Bolin said, ‘Joe Walsh quit the James Gang. He wants to start a new band, and I told him you’re the guy’”: Kenny Passarelli has played with rock royalty, but it’s his recordings with Bolin that would “blow you away” – if he could let you hear them

By Andrew Daly published

He’s been lucky enough to get a gig with Elton John with no audition, and unlucky enough to miss a gig with Foreigner after killing an audition… the Joe Walsh and Hall & Oates bassist has had a truly remarkable session career

Oteil Burbridge

“Playing with Victor Wooten? It’s always as much fun as a challenge. But I quickly learned that you should go first when it comes to soloing!” From the Allman Brothers Band to Dave Grohl, Oteil Burbridge has played with them all

By Andrew Daly published

The Dead & Company and Tedeschi Trucks man might wield a six-string bass, but he prefers feelings and intentions to technical wizardry

Del Palmer (left) with Kate Bush in 1985

Del Palmer, Kate Bush’s bassist, engineer and former partner, dies aged 71

By Matt Parker published

The songwriter’s studio linchpin played and engineered everything from Hounds of Love to sessions with Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton

Victor Wooten during Victor Wooten Promotes His New CD "Soul Circus" and Fodera Bass - November 6, 2005 at O-East in Tokyo, Japan.

“You’re always trying to get rid of buzzes when recording, so I came up with the idea of trying to make them groove instead”: How Victor Wooten created a groove without touching his bass guitar

By Chris Jisi published

Victor Wooten gives a track-by-track tour of his second solo album, What Did He Say?

Rage Against the Machine

“I don’t want to string people or myself along any further”: Rage Against the Machine are finished, according to drummer Brad Wilk

By Phil Weller published

The drummer has said the band will not be rescheduling RATM’s cancelled shows, ending hopes of the rap-rock legends hitting the stage again

Steve Lukather and Leland "Lee" Bruce Sklar of Toto perform at The Music Mill on July 16, 2007 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

“When someone wants to rehearse before the session, that’s the kiss of death”: Watch Lee Sklar’s YouTube playthrough of Steve Lukather’s Stab in the Back

By Chris Jisi published

Bass legend Lee Sklar used his “Frankenstein 4-string” on Lukather’s 2008 nod to Donald Fagen