Latest Updates

Tobias instruments were trailblazers in the bass world. Now they’re back as part of the Gibson family
By Phil Weller published
Luthier Michael Tobias’ ergonomic and tonally versatile bass guitars were lauded in the late ’70s, and now Gibson has spearheaded their return

Former Smashing Pumpkins bassist Nicole Fiorentino on how she landed her role in Garbage – with no audition
By Janelle Borg published
Fiorentino continues the trend of former Pumpkins bassists delivering the low-end for both bands

“We’ve only changed the strings one time”: Travis Barker reveals the bass he uses on everything he records
By Phil Weller published
The Blink-182 drummer and producer has made a revelation about a go-to bass that has proved perfect for almost every record he's produced

Old Blood Noise Endeavors turns its flagship oil-can delay into a dark and mysterious “multi-tool”
By Phil Weller published
The Black Fountain Stereo benefits from greater control over parameters, MIDI compatibility, and a spellbinding stereo spread

From Ritchie Blackmore to Ozzy, bassist Bob Daisley has worked with rock’s heaviest heroes
By Nick Wells published
For more than 30 years, bassist Bob Daisley laid the foundations on which some of the greatest rock and roll ever was built

“We took 36 hours to cut Good Vibrations. We knew it was a big deal”: Carol Kaye’s 10 greatest basslines
By Nick Wells published
The session legend was responsible for some of the finest bass playing ever committed to tape – here are her best moments

Kiss announces unmasked Vegas show with former guitarist Bruce Kulick, as Gene Simmons postpones 17 solo dates
By Phil Weller published
November’s set will mark the 50th anniversary of their Kiss Army fan club and see Bruce Kulick reunite with the band after they snubbed the guitarist during their farewell tour

Slayer’s Tom Araya charts his incredible 4-string journey
By Amit Sharma published
From starting on a Paul McCartney Höfner ripoff to pioneering some of the heaviest metal ever committed to tape, Tom Araya admits he's no bass virtuoso… but he “can play fast sometimes”

Seymour Duncan pushes the boundaries of its PowerStage series with dedicated bass unit
By Matt Owen published
The latest PowerStage offers an onboard preamp and built-in overdrive in a bid to cover all bases for bassists

Mooer’s Prime M2 crams amps, cabs, effects and a looper into an ultra-light, pocket-sized pedal with a touchscreen and rechargeable battery
By Matt Owen published
Mooer's latest Intelligent Pedal offers a bevy of tonal options, MIDI and Bluetooth functions, and much more in an immensely portable package

Created by the Ibanez Custom Shop in L.A., Thundercat’s double-neck bass guitar has a 6-string on top and an 8-string on the bottom
By Nick Wells published
It’s impossible not to notice Thundercat onstage, especially when sporting a custom-made double-neck bass

The Xotic AC Booster has long been a secret weapon stompbox for session players and pros – and now it’s been upgraded
By Matt Owen published
The original has been used by the likes of Mike McCready, Tim Pierce and Paul Gilbert, and now the AC Booster V2 promises to be even more versatile

Fender adds new period-accurate Stratocaster and Telecaster to its American Vintage II roster – plus stunning new finishes for existing models
By Janelle Borg published
The new models continue to honor the series' ethos of producing the highest-quality, period-accurate guitars from Fender's golden years of craftsmanship

After 50 years at the low-end, Stanley Clarke decided to part ways with his astonishing bass collection
By Nick Wells published
The bass virtuoso recounts his bass gear past and present, from his trademark Alembic to the bass equivalent of the Fender Stratocaster

Opeth’s Martín Méndez names the 5 albums that shaped his sound
By Nick Wells published
The low-end maestro for prog titans Opeth digs deep into fusion and soul as he names his favorite bass records

IK Multimedia answers players’ prayers and gives its best-selling TONEX units their biggest upgrade to date – a dedicated editor
By Matt Owen published
The TONEX ecosystem has become more manageable than ever before thanks to the dedicated TONEX Editor, which offers in-depth control over presets and more

How can Guitar Center improve its stores and reclaim its former glory? Guitar World readers have their say
By Matt Owen published
A recent interview with Guitar Center CEO Gabe Dalporto sparked an outpouring of comments from Guitar World readers, all of whom have offered their two cents on how the retailer can get back on its feet

The wildest bass solo you’ve never heard? Robert Sledge cranked the fuzz for this Ben Folds Five classic
By Stevie Glasgow published
Sledge describes the Big Muff as an extension of his hands – and he put it to good use on this searing solo