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.
When Primus announced that they were about to go on tour and play the Rush album A Farewell To Kings as part of their live set, fans of both bands immediately paid attention. Here at Bass Player, we had a few burning questions to ask Les Claypool when we caught up with him, including ‘What the hell are you thinking?’, ‘Are you mad?’ and ‘What are you going to do when Geddy Lee shows up?’ among them. We’re kidding, obviously—if any bassist on the planet can handle the demands of a Rush album, it’s the man from Primus, themselves a fearsomely funky band. Still, it was fascinating to dig deep into the Claypool cerebral cortex and see what was going on in there, and when we asked Geddy himself what…
Darkglass Electronics has announced the Exponent 500, a bass head that features five assignable control dials to control your choice of parameters across a range of 22 effects, available via an app. On the surface, the Exponent 500 is a smart-looking 500-watt bass head. Round the back, it has an effects send/ return, XLR direct out, headphone socket, ground lift, plus USB and MIDI connections. Head to the front and there are seven dials mounted on the front panel, five of which are assignable ‘Quick-Pots’ with LED level indicators. By default, the control knobs relate to four-band EQ controls and a preset control, and there are five presets already onboard. There’s also a nifty little mute switch which simultaneously fires up a built-in tuner when engaged. The head will function…
The latest addition to Fender’s Player Plus range is the Meteora, a new active model which, the Big F tells us, combines “innovative Fender design with player-centric features and exciting new finishes... superb playability and unmistakable style”. It’s powered by two Fireball humbuckers, and comes with a three-band active EQ for precise tone-shaping: Meanwhile, a switchable active/ passive operation adds flexibility. The Meteora’s neck has a satin finish and rolled edges with a 12”-radius fingerboard and modern C profile, and there’s a HiMass bridge. The instrument will be available at $1,149.99, and we’re reviewing one next issue.…
Stone Temple Pilots bassist Robert DeLeo has nearly completed recording sessions for his debut solo album. DeLeo recently took to Instagram to share several clips of a new song, ‘Anew’, which features vocals from The Voice singer Kara Britz, alongside Dave Eggar on cello and Bill Appleberry on piano. Judging from the instruments mentioned and clips shared by DeLeo, it seems fans can expect the record to take some cues from STP’s 2020 acoustic album, Perdida.…
Solar Guitars, the brand founded by YouTuber Ola Englund, has unveiled the latest additions to its bass guitar lineup: The matte-finished AB2.4ON, AB2.4S and AB2.5GN. The four-string side of the range is headed up by the AB2.4ON and AB2.4S models, which arrive with bold Orange Neon Matte and Silver Matte colorways. Both feature AB bodies composed from alder, as well as a 34” scale length. Other universal specs include Solar active pickups, black hardware, a fixed bridge and an onboard control circuit comprising Volume, Balance, Bass, and Treble parameters. However, while the Orange AB2.4ON features a five-piece maple/jatoba bolt-on neck with an ebony fretboard, the Silver AB2.4S comes equipped with a three-piece roasted maple neck and a roasted maple board. The Orange four-string weighs in at $849, while the silver…
The TE-1200 appears to pair its enormous power with functionality to match he new Trace Elliot amp, the TE-1200, is being hailed by the brand as its “first big product release of the new decade”. The amp features 1200 watts of RMS power, a four-band EQ and the ability to split the signal between two built-in high and low-band compressors, with individually adjustable threshold controls. There are also separate gain and output controls and a pre/post compressor switch for the EQ circuit. What’s more, all the connections and controls on the front panel are illuminated—great for dark stages. The most notable thing about the TE-1200 becomes apparent with a glance at the back panel. Turn it around, and you’ll see a pretty astonishing amount of connectivity on offer, including a…
