Bass Player News

Fender releases refreshed Aerodyne Special series, putting a radical contemporary spin on its Stratocaster, Telecaster and bass models

By Matt Owen last updated 5 October 22

New-and-improved Aerodyne models feature basswood bodies, 12" radius fingerboards, newly designed pickups and a wealth of stunning finishes to choose from

Rush's Geddy Lee (foreground) onstage with Chad Smith

Watch pro-shot footage of Rush performing Working Man with Chad Smith at Taylor Hawkins tribute

By Matt Parker published 3 October 22

See Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee team up with the RHCP drummer for a spectacular live outing

Soundgarden reunite at LA's Taylor Hawkins tribute show

Watch an all-star lineup including Dave Grohl, Kim Thayil and Taylor Momsen cover Soundgarden classics at LA’s Taylor Hawkins tribute concert

By Michael Astley-Brown last updated 28 September 22

Krist Novoselic, Pat Smear and Matt Cameron also featured on roof-raising versions of The Day I Tried to Live and Black Hole Sun

Dave Grohl, Pink and Nancy Wilson performing live

Watch Nancy Wilson perform Barracuda with Foo Fighters, Pink and Jon Theodore at second Taylor Hawkins tribute event

By Matt Owen published 28 September 22

Wilson had previously performed Barracuda virtually with Taylor Hawkins as part of a lockdown cover in 2020

Les Claypool praises Willow Smith's Primus cover: “Fine guitar pickin’ there young fiery lass”

By Sam Roche published 23 September 22

Willow donned her one-of-a-kind St. Vincent signature model to play one of Larry LaLonde's signature avant-garde leads

Joe "Spyder" Lester performs onstage with Steel Panther at Hellfest Open Air on June 18, 2022 in Clisson, France

Steel Panther announce new full-time bassist

By Jackson Maxwell last updated 22 September 22

"Spyder" first filled in for Lexxi Foxx back in 2018, and played on the band's recent European tour

Charvel Custom Shop Masterbuilt Collection 2022

Charvel turns up the heat and introduces the Spacecaster in jaw-dropping new Custom Shop guitar and bass drop

By Michael Astley-Brown last updated 22 September 22

4 new Masterbuilt models take the San Dimas, Surfcaster and Frank Bello So-Cal Bass templates into extraordinary new aesthetic territories

Radial Engineering drops two "state-of-the-art" re-ampers – one of which doubles as a DI box

By Matt Owen published 21 September 22

Two consoles aim to provide musicians with flexible re-amping options, with the Reamp Station combining a DI circuit with Radial's JCR Reamping box

Ernie Ball Music Man Ball Family Reserve model

Ernie Ball raises the curtain on the Fall 2022 installment of its Ball Family Reserve collection

By Matt Owen published 21 September 22

Two electrics and two basses flash exclusive colorways, ornate aesthetics and the brand's newly released Heat-Treated pickups

Sweetwater reveals the best-selling effects pedal in its entire history

By Matt Owen published 20 September 22

JHS Pedals' Josh Scott breaks down highlights from the gear retailer's 1,000 top-selling pedals of its 43-year history, and reveals the surprising stompbox that occupies the top spot

Orange pays homage to the '70s with three rebooted retro-inspired effects pedals

By Matt Owen published 16 September 22

Harking back to one of the golden eras of rock, the Distortion, Phaser and Sustain pedals are modernized takes on Orange's original stompboxes from that decade

Has Darkglass just announced the ultimate overdrive pedal for bass guitarists?

By Michael Astley-Brown published 9 September 22

The Microtubes Infinity combines all three Microtubes distortions and multiband compression into one all-powerful stompbox

[L-R] Wolfgang Van Halen and Justin Hawkins

Watch Wolfgang Van Halen nail classic Van Halen tracks at Foo Fighters' Taylor Hawkins tribute show

By Sam Roche last updated 5 September 22

Accompanied by Dave Grohl on bass, The Darkness's Justin Hawkins on vocals and session ace Josh Freese on drums, Wolfgang paid homage to his father Eddie with killer renditions of Hot For Teacher and On Fire

Them Crooked Vultures reunite for the first time in over a decade at Taylor Hawkins tribute show

By Matt Owen published 5 September 22

Josh Homme, John Paul Jones and Dave Grohl, who took to the stage together for the first time in 12 years, performed an original track, and covered Queens of the Stone Age and Elton John

Watch Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee perform Rush classics with Dave Grohl at Taylor Hawkins tribute show

By Matt Owen published 5 September 22

The Rush royals played 2112 Part I: Overture, Working Man and YYZ, the latter of which Hawkins himself had performed with the pair during a Foo Fighters gig back in 2008

First Pantera reunion shows announced

By Sam Roche published 26 August 22

Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown will be joined by Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante for a run of December festival dates

Michael Manring heads up unique fundraiser on August 28

By Bass Player Staff published 25 August 22

The acclaimed experimentalist will be raising funds for his fellow bass wizard Steve Lawson

Ernie Ball Music Man introduces 5 new limited-edition finishes for its Short Scale Stingray bass

By Sam Roche published 24 August 22

Each of the sleek new colorways are limited to only 25 units worldwide

Jane's Addiction founding bassist Eric Avery rejoins the band after 12 years

By Sam Roche published 24 August 22

The alt-rock heavyweights have been working on “promising new song ideas”, Avery says

Fender Acoustic Preverb and Trapper Bass Distortion

Fender targets acoustic and bass players with Acoustic Preverb and Trapper Bass Distortion pedals

By Michael Astley-Brown last updated 24 August 22

New offerings boast flexible feature sets and versatile EQs