Melissa Auf der Maur reveals the biggest lesson she learned from Billy Corgan and The Smashing Pumpkins
Auf der Maur joined the Pumpkins in October 1999 following a five-year stint with Hole
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How Gail Ann Dorsey honed her bass craft with David Bowie and Lenny Kravitz
Bowie’s long-time bassist salutes her mentor and unpacks her approach to the bass chair with Lenny Kravitz
Meshell Ndegeocello favors restraint over fretboard theatrics; but Marcus Miller (and Jaco) get a pass
Meshell Ndegeocello discusses what set Jaco Pastorius apart from the pack, what she looks for in a bassist, and the crucial lesson her jazz musician father taught her
7 Comments
“I’m a better bass player when I use my fingers”: Nikki Sixx names his biggest weakness as a rock bassist
The lifeblood of infamous hair-metal band Mötely Crüe, Nikki Sixx has been polarizing bassists since he first took to the stage nearly 50 years ago
“I deserved a songwriting credit. They sold millions and I only got $200!” Flea’s bittersweet hip-hop recording experience
In 1989, as the Red Hot Chili Peppers enjoyed their first big hit, Flea was hopping around MTV in the video for Young MC’s Bust A Move
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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
3 Comments
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
Bassists
Melissa Auf der Maur reveals the biggest lesson she learned from Billy Corgan and The Smashing Pumpkins
Auf der Maur joined the Pumpkins in October 1999 following a five-year stint with Hole
How Gail Ann Dorsey honed her bass craft with David Bowie and Lenny Kravitz
Bowie’s long-time bassist salutes her mentor and unpacks her approach to the bass chair with Lenny Kravitz
Meshell Ndegeocello favors restraint over fretboard theatrics; but Marcus Miller (and Jaco) get a pass
Meshell Ndegeocello discusses what set Jaco Pastorius apart from the pack, what she looks for in a bassist, and the crucial lesson her jazz musician father taught her
7 Comments
“I’m a better bass player when I use my fingers”: Nikki Sixx names his biggest weakness as a rock bassist
The lifeblood of infamous hair-metal band Mötely Crüe, Nikki Sixx has been polarizing bassists since he first took to the stage nearly 50 years ago
“I deserved a songwriting credit. They sold millions and I only got $200!” Flea’s bittersweet hip-hop recording experience
In 1989, as the Red Hot Chili Peppers enjoyed their first big hit, Flea was hopping around MTV in the video for Young MC’s Bust A Move
7 Comments
How bassist Andy Fraser electrified a Free classic with his less-is-more brand of fiery blues-rock
When Andy Fraser joined Free in 1968, he arrived as a teenage guitarist, but his melodic bass style became essential to the band’s success
3 Comments
Bought from grunge icons and stolen before Soundgarden reunited – the story of Ben Shepherd’s 1972 Fender Jazz Bass
Shepherd was robbed of all his music gear in 2008 just as he was about to mix his first solo album
6 Comments
Bass Gear
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
3 Comments
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
The bass used to record The Special’s gloomy political anthem, Ghost Town, is headed to auction
The Fender Precision was also used in Horace Panter’s supergroup with members of The Clash and Dexy’s Midnight Runners
Best bass guitars 2026: long and short-scale bass options for beginners to pros
Our pick of the world’s finest low-end monsters, with the best bass guitars from Fender, Cort, Yamaha and more…
Höfner, the famed instrument maker behind Paul McCartney’s iconic Violin Bass, reportedly files for bankruptcy
The firm was founded in 1887, and designed the legendary Violin Bass that became Macca’s go-to in the Beatles and beyond
The cheapest bass Fender makes isn't just useful for beginners – save a huge 20% on it this Black Friday
At just $131 this Black Friday at Amazon, this is a great deal for those who want their first four-string, a bass to quickly pick up for recording, or even a modding project to have fun with
Bassists, this one's for you – 9 great Black Friday bass guitar deals with up to $250 off Fender, Yamaha, Darkglass, Line 6 and more
These 9 amazing bass savings prove it’s not just the Black Friday prices that are low
Reviews
“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?
“There are many reasons to love the Anagram – it’s a pretty comprehensive set of sounds, aimed at bassists first”: Darkglass Anagram review
Darkglass turns its attention to providing you with a do-it-all solution for practice, studio and live use
