Bass Player is the world's most comprehensive, trusted and insightful bass publication for passionate bassists and active musicians of all ages. Each issue delivers the latest tips and techniques that are guaranteed to make you a better player.
We don’t expect too much from musicians when they leave their parent bands and go solo, do we? All too often, the initial anticipation is replaced with disappointment. So imagine being in the position of Sir Paul McCartney, the most famous bass player there has ever been or ever will be, when he walked away from the biggest band on the planet to launch his new band, Wings. Our in-depth analysis of Macca’s second bite of the rock cherry tracks his new band’s progress, aided by a classic interview with the man himself and commentary from an unexpected guest, Stevie Van Zandt. It’s a hell of a journey. Sir Paul is joined by a host of astounding bass players, Lee Rocker of the Stray Cats, Greta Van Fleet’s Sam Kiszka,…
Remember 2018? Us neither. It’s just three years ago, but the world has been a touch chaotic since then. Anyway, in late ’18, the great Stanley Clarke appeared on the cover of Bass Player, telling us about his then-forthcoming signature bass: At the time, he mentioned that Fender might have something to do with it. Here we are in 2021 and the bass is finally here, although it’s being made by Oneonta Guitar rather than the Big F. “The most advanced evolution in electric bass,” as Oneonta’s press release puts it, is obviously reminiscent of a Fender Stratocaster guitar, given the three-tone sunburst, five-way pickup selector, three control knobs, and body-mounted input jack. Look more closely, and you’ll see a 30.5” scale and a 25th fret for those super high-register…
Rickenbacker have announced two 90th Anniversary bass models for 2021, the 4005XC in Amber Fireglo and Jetglo. One of these very limited-edition instruments will set you back a fearsome £5,799 or $5,149, in other words the same as 10 serviceable midmarket basses. Still, these US-built instruments come with a 30.5” scale, a two-octave fingerboard, two single-coil pickups, and a vintage hard case, and we bet they play beautifully. As soon as we get one, we’ll confirm either way. www.rickenbacker.com…
Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band ‘Express Yourself’ (1973) Bassist Melvin Dunlap probably never thought that two decades after he laid down the unforgettably hooky bass-line for the original ‘Express Yourself’, the line would become the mainstay of a gangsta-rap anthem. On the 1973 version Dunlap’s bass part was also played by a guitar, but when NWA sampled the bass-line and made it the center of a new song, also called ‘Express Yourself’, they dropped the guitar part and amped up the bass-line, a joyous Jackson 5-style mid-ranger. Genius, in either incarnation.…
A 1956 Gibson EB played by Little Richard bassist Olsie Robinson was sold by the Julien’s auction house in California for $16,000 back in January. The bass was described as having “a violin-shaped mahogany body, clear control pots, brown plastic pickguard, dark-stained neck, mother of pearl dot inlays, a head with pearlescent inlay reading Gibson, serial number #64285; together with its original brown leather hardshell case lined in champagne-pink velvet,” and came with a 2005 letter of authenticity signed by Robinson, confirming that he played it on ‘Lucille’, ‘Long Tall Sally’, ‘Good Golly Miss Molly’, and many other classic hits.…
Israeli double bassist Avishai Cohen returns with Two Roses, a collaboration with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra. “Playing and singing one’s own music with a symphony orchestra is something special, it’s an experience that is as strong as it is specific,” says Cohen. “Recording with an orchestra is an adventure in and of itself. It’s nothing like making a jazz record. Time is short, you have to be able to give what you have to as a trio while blending in with the orchestra.”…
