Pepper Keenan recalls the moment he knew he’d failed his audition to be Metallica’s bassist
Keenan was one of many hopefuls to try out for the Metallica gig as James Hetfield and co looked to find Jason Newsted's replacement
Latest
The story behind Intervals virtuoso Jacob Umansky’s signature bass – and why Avenged Sevenfold changed his life
The Intervals and Nita Strauss bassist’s personalized 6-string Dingwall was first made as a one-off artist build – only for it to turn into his first-ever signature model
How Allen McGrier brought his Jamerson-approved Detroit swagger to a classic R&B ballad
Bassist Allen McGrier grew up in the shadows of Motown and the Jamerson family in particular
Beach Boys hire new bass player from social media – after he made a video on how to sound like the Beach Boys
Chris Cron's unassuming clip went viral, and soon he was learning Carol Kaye’s basslines for the real deal
A storm is coming as Gibson unveils modernized Thunderbird bass
New take on the bass combines heritage with modern performance
Greg Chaisson on his gruelling Ozzy Osbourne audition
Chaisson didn’t get the gig, but he did strike up a friendship with Jake E. Lee – which would be rekindled a few years later with Badlands
3 Comments
Best bass amps for practice 2026: top combos for working on your chops at home
Get the most out of your playing at home with one of these great bass practice amps
Bassists
The story behind Intervals virtuoso Jacob Umansky’s signature bass – and why Avenged Sevenfold changed his life
The Intervals and Nita Strauss bassist’s personalized 6-string Dingwall was first made as a one-off artist build – only for it to turn into his first-ever signature model
How Allen McGrier brought his Jamerson-approved Detroit swagger to a classic R&B ballad
Bassist Allen McGrier grew up in the shadows of Motown and the Jamerson family in particular
Greg Chaisson on his gruelling Ozzy Osbourne audition
Chaisson didn’t get the gig, but he did strike up a friendship with Jake E. Lee – which would be rekindled a few years later with Badlands
3 Comments
Why bassist Paul Samwell-Smith chose a short-scale Epiphone for his “rave-ups” with the Yardbirds
The blues-rock opener from the band’s 1966 debut album showcases a standout example of Samwell-Smith’s fluid, freewheeling bass work
When a teenage Suzi Quatro laid down a marker by jamming with Jeff Beck and Cozy Powell
The bassist was determined to prove her worth, and the impromptu jam was the perfect platform to do it
How bassist Eva Gardner landed the gig with Pink
The daughter of Creation bassist Kim Gardner, Eva Gardner was also a member of The Mars Volta
3 Comments
Les Claypool looks back on his disastrous Metallica audition
Following the death of the sorely missed Cliff Burton, James Hetfield and co. auditioned the bassist of the then-emerging band Primus
Bass Gear
A storm is coming as Gibson unveils modernized Thunderbird bass
New take on the bass combines heritage with modern performance
“It’s clearly had a lot of thought put into making it as flexible and useful as possible”: Laney Digbeth DB-EAST review
Over a long, distinguished career, Nathan East has never had a signature amp. Until now…
Best short-scale basses 2026: the ultimate guide to the greatest pint-sized bass guitars at all price points
From Fender to Gibson, Gretsch to Spector, here are our top picks for the best short-scale basses on the market right now
Paul McCartney, Fleetwood Mac and ZZ Top basses top the biggest four-string sales at historic Jim Irsay auction
The late billionaire’s sensational instrument collection has gone under the hammer, including some very notable basses
The Specials’ Ghost Town bass fetches thousands at auction – having been bought for just £200
Horace Panter used the Fender Precision to record The Specials’ timeless two-tone hit, and also featured in his supergroup, General Public
The origins of Ernie Ball Music Man – and how it all started with a bass
The StingRay was worked on by Sterling Ball, Leo Fender and others, initially under the Music Man brand name
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The bass Bootsy Collins used to record a James Brown anthem has been listed on eBay
The Fender Jazz Bass bought at auction for $40,000, has now been listed on eBay for almost twice as much. But you’ll have to bid an extra $299 if you want the original strings
Reviews
“It’s clearly had a lot of thought put into making it as flexible and useful as possible”: Laney Digbeth DB-EAST review
Over a long, distinguished career, Nathan East has never had a signature amp. Until now…
“Those cleaner tones are very characterful and usable, evoking classic tube-driven bass amps”: Ashdown Geezer Butler Pedal of Doom review
Geezer Butler helped invent heavy metal. Here’s a slab of heavy metal bearing his name.
“Boss has packed some serious muscle into a small box... For its price, it’s going to be very tough to beat”: Boss GX-1B review
Boss's GX range of multi-effects gets a bass-specific baby brother...
“It vacuum-packs superb tones and incredible utility into a compact space”: IK Multimedia ToneX One Bass Edition review
Honey, I shrunk the Ampeg! And the Gallien-Krueger, and the Sansamp, and...
“It absolutely nails the sounds of the ‘60s when palm muted and picked”: Gretsch Electromatic CVT Bass Double-cut review
It's a reboot of the lesser-spotted Gretsch Corvette – but it's only got four strings!
“It evokes a cool old Jazz Bass that's picked up some useful mods over its life”: Squier Classic Vibe Active ’70s Jazz Bass review
Is it a '70s-inspired Jazz Bass? Is it a modernised active bass? Yes to both...
“It might not be to all tastes, but its retro charm and sonic potential are compelling indeed”: Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster Bass review
Squier reissues an oddity from Fender's bass archives, complete with a Wide Range humbucker – is this its time?
