Best short-scale basses 2024: the ultimate guide to the greatest pint-sized bass guitars at all price points By Daryl Robertson last updated 25 April 24 From Fender to Gibson, Gretsch to Spector, here are our top picks for the best short-scale basses on the market right now
“I instinctively dislike ‘try hard’ musicians. I pretty much learned my bass rudiments from Led Zeppelin II”: Why Squarepusher is an artist in a vast left-field league of his own By Brian Fox published 25 April 24 You may or may not know Squarepusher (aka Tom Jenkinson), but chances are he doesn’t care to know you
“Nobody said, ‘You need to play five-string,’ but for stadium gigs there’s nothing cooler than hitting a low B and feeling it in your core”: Kenny Chesney bassist Harmoni Kelley on why five-strings rule for modern country players By Alison Richter published 23 April 24 With no experience of the extra string until her successful audition with Chesney, Kelley’s taken her P Bass attitude and hard rock roots for longterm stroll down Music Row
“Beck wanted something distinctive and driving. Like the bass was coming unhinged at every turn”: Listen to Justin Meldal-Johnsen’s bassline on Beck’s Sexx Laws By Bryan Beller published 22 April 24 How Justin Meldal-Johnsen anchored Beck’s postmodern pop classic by breaking all of the rules
“Amps played by legends”: Zoom looks to provide bassists with the most affordable – and portable – all-in-one rig on the market with the upgraded $142 MS-60B+ By Phil Weller published 19 April 24 Featuring 11 preamps, 11 amp and cab combos, 75 effects, and signal-splitting options, the tiny pedal packs a lot into its humble chassis
“I grow the nails on my right hand as long as I can, so I can get that trebly sound”: Steve Harris delivered one of the coolest bass guitar intros in the history of metal on Iron Maiden’s Wrathchild By Nick Wells published 19 April 24 Every would-be metalhead should learn from the best: Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris
“A free-flowing processor filled with pro performance tools”: Boss is back in the bass multi-FX business, bringing updated tech to its retro-styled ME-90B By Matt Owen published 18 April 24 Following the overhauled ME-90, the upgraded all-in-one bass pedal uses the same tech found in the GT-1000 but in a $399 package
“Raises professional bass amplification to the next level”: Boss has unveiled its first-ever Katana bass head – and it might have just changed the game for bass players By Matt Owen published 18 April 24 The firm's flagship Katana bass head is its most advanced bass amp to date, debuting Cabinet Resonance calibration for optimum tone with any cab
“John Paul Jones is one of the only musicians I’ve been around where I was starstruck. I asked him some stupid questions about Achilles Last Stand… but he was very kind!” Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament names 11 bassists who shaped his sound By Gregory Adams published 18 April 24 From Dee Dee Ramone to Eric Avery, fretless to 12-string bassists, Jeff Ament believes all his influences can all be heard on the latest Pearl Jam album Dark Matter
Antigua is back in the USA: Fender’s divisive finish has been revived for four limited-edition Squier ’70s Classic Vibe models – including the first ever Antigua Bass VI By Matt Parker published 16 April 24 The once-derided Antigua Burst is back for a limited run and is now available for preorder in the US
“I feel like such an idiot”: Flea regrets his bass-smashing antics in Red Hot Chili Peppers’ earlier years By Phil Weller published 15 April 24 The energetic bassist took to social media to voice his regret of destroying his instruments in the ‘90s and ‘00s
“When I was a kid, I thought bass playing was about throwing up and cutting yourself – I blame Gene Simmons and Sid Vicious”: Bad Religion’s Jay Bentley on his bass-playing influences and the “best-sounding P-Bass he’s ever heard” By Jonathan Herrera published 12 April 24 Vomit and blood may be punk rock, but it’s not what you might expect from longtime Bad Religion bassist Jay Bentley
“It’s one of my favorite basslines. I don’t know how I came up with it – doing the session was like floating in space”: Verdine White picks his top 5 Earth, Wind & Fire basslines By Nick Wells published 11 April 24 Earth, Wind and Fire’s pocket-perfect bassist names his best basslines
How to play bass guitar for beginners: start playing today By Nick Wells published 7 April 24 From basic finger techniques to slap bass, here’s what you need to get started on your bass guitar journey
“I’d be there with bass pedals, a triple-neck guitar and keyboards, and Robert Plant would ask, ‘Can you sing, as well?’” How John Paul Jones became Led Zeppelin’s ultimate wingman By Nick Wells published 5 April 24 Armed with years of experience as a session bassist and arranger – having worked with the Yardbirds, Jeff Beck and the Rolling Stones – John Paul Jones could do it all
“I bought a right-handed Hofner, re-strung it and learned to play like a lefty, which was a nightmare”: How The Bootleg Beatles’ Steve White became a carbon-copy Paul McCartney By Joel McIver published 4 April 24 Think you can play a bit like Sir Paul? It’s not as easy as you think, says Bootleg Beatles bassist Steve White
“Bro is a living breathing ‘Hell yeah’”: Bass player rips Cliff Burton’s iconic (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth solo while squatting 225lbs By Phil Weller published 3 April 24 Alexander Mercieca pulled off the daring display of Metallica bass prowess while squatting for 45 seconds straight – and it looked like he didn't even break a sweat
“Sir Paul has expressed his gratitude to Cathy and the family”: Paul McCartney hands six-figure reward to the family that found his iconic Höfner bass in their attic By Phil Weller published 29 March 24 Paul McCartney’s “favorite bass guitar” was returned to him over 50 years after its theft, with the Beatle offering a substantial thank-you fee as a reward for its return
“I totally respected Jaco's bass playing, but that 16th-note triplet funk thing – it just wasn't in his repertoire”: Weather Report drummer Chester Thompson on why Jaco Pastorius struggled to swing By Nick Wells published 29 March 24 In 1975, Jaco Pastorius replaced Alphonso Johnson in Weather Report, but for drummer Chester Thompson, playing with Jaco was “like oil and water”
“Whether it be Saturday Night Live or the Grammys – this bass has held its own on every stage”: MD to the stars, Adam Blackstone, debuts a signature bass named after his grandmother – the Jackson Gladys Pro Series Concert By Matt Parker published 27 March 24 With Rihanna, Jay-Z and Alice Keys, he’s played the world’s biggest shows. Now the go-to bassist and MD has his own Jackson signature build – and it’s no metal monster…