Bass Player

ho’s the greatest bass player?* What’s the best bass guitar?** When was the most innovative decade to be a bass player?*** These questions and more preoccupy us all the time at BP, but far be it from us to tell you what we think the answers are. Instead, we asked you to vote in our recent poll of The 100 Coolest (or Hottest, if you prefer) Bass Parts Of All Time, and 30,000 of you were kind enough to let us know your thoughts. The results are almost guaranteed to cause fireworks among BP’s readership, but in a sense that’s beside the point, much as we enjoy the debate. This poll isn’t just about awarding recognition where it’s due, or about causing controversy among people who love our instrument: There is…

News and views from the bass world, collated by BP's team of newshounds he luthier Rick Turner passed away at the age of 78 on April 17, with his legacy a permanent catalog of innovations that have profoundly affected what we do as bass players. His work with piezo pickups and graphite necks, as well as the signature guitars he built for Lindsay Buckingham and others, made him a pioneer in the MI field, Turner’s life is now celebrated with a new album, Rick, from his friend and solo bassist Steve Lawson, like Turner a long-time BP columnist. As Lawson wrote at the time of Turner’s death: “I’ve been trying to piece together the timeline of my friendship with Rick Turner. I’d read his column in Bass Player for years, but…

Oliver Riedel, bassist with Rammstein, sold two of his signature Sandberg basses via the United Charity website in June. Offered as part of the Gear For Hope music auction, the instruments raised money for organizations in Ukraine. The basses featured an aged finish, ebony fretboard, Sandberg pickups, and the brand’s California body shape. Sandberg explained, “[The basses] have been used in countless stage shows around the world for over 13 years. They have been hand-signed and have a unique value. A certificate prepared by Sandberg Guitars confirms the uniqueness and authenticity.” As we went to press, they were being auctioned for €3,100 and €2,500.…

The Swedish amp manufacturers EBS launched a new bass amp at NAMM, the Reidmar 752. A lightweight unit, the product supplies 750 watts at 2 ohms via a class-D amplifier. “The analog preamp’s powerful EQ helps dial in any sound you like with ease, and the Drive adds harmonics and dirt when needed,” says EBS. “The built-in adjustable Compressor helps create a consistent and more controlled sound when desired without losing the dynamic response.” Expect to pay $999.…

We’re big fans of the experimental bassist and educator Janek Gwizdala here at BP, so we’re keen to hear his new project, One Way Out. Recorded with keyboard player Tom Cawley and drummer Nicolas Viccaro in Spain, the concept encompasses EPs and a 45-minute documentary. The fourth band-member, according to Gwizdala, is his range of effects pedals. In other news, the latest release from The Immediate Family, featuring the great Lee Sklar, is titled Live From Telefunken Soundstage. The music was recorded at the headquarters of the microphone company of the title in Connecticut late last year, and includes four original songs and two covers. As well as Sklar, the collective includes Waddy Wachtel, Russ Kunkel, Steve Postell, and Danny Kortchmar.…

We like a bass discussion as much as the next low-frequency enthusiast, so we welcomed the lively debate that was sparked last year when Jackson launched their new X Series Concert bass. An upgraded version, the CBXNT DX V, has just been announced, and its part-Rickenbacker, part-heavy metal visuals have caused bassists—both in favor of its looks, and the opposite—to lock horns on the subject. The new bass comes in at around £799/$799 and features a 35” scale, a poplar body, a graphite-reinforced neck-through-body design and a ‘speed maple neck contour’ for nippy playing. A 12” to 16” compound radius bound laurel fingerboard and 24 jumbo frets will please the headbangers among us, while a J-style bridge pickup and P-style neck unit will bring the punch, mated to an active three-band…