Jah Wobble on PiL, going back to his P-Bass – and why he’s reworking Metal Box By Andrew Daly published 6 June 24 The post-punk pioneer gets back to his P-Bass, which he thinks of as a lifeform, and prepares to rework classic album Metal Box on tour – without ripping off reggae
DiMarzio and Billy Sheehan have reinvented the P-Bass pickup with a new patent By Janelle Borg published 6 June 24 The new DiMarzio design reimagines P-Bass pickup covers, promising improvements in both playability and performance
In 2005, Jack Bruce reunited with Cream after 36 years – and realized how much his bass playing had changed By Chris Jisi published 6 June 24 When faced once again with the bass role in the ultimate power trio alongside Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce hired a rehearsal room in London and brought in “every bass amp in existence”
Dug Pinnick on pushing hard rock’s boundaries with Kings X and a 12-string bass guitar By Nick Wells published 5 June 24 Dug Pinnick’s onstage presence with King’s X is made even more compelling by his unusual 12-string bass guitar
Jared James Nichols and Henrik Linder have a new favorite set of strings – and they're designed to get more from your guitar By Phil Weller published 5 June 24 DR's Dragon Skin+ strings feature an innovative coating design that aims to get strings vibrating to their full potential – so much so that Henrik Linder thinks they “will change the way I play music”
Is octave fuzz the pedal your bass ’board is missing? Electro-Harmonix sure thinks so By Phil Weller published 5 June 24 The Lizard Queen has become the Lizard King, offering a dynamic, blendable octave fuzz pedal designed specifically for bass players
The Van Halen bassist discusses what Alex Van Halen's gear auction means for the much-rumored VH tribute project By Janelle Borg published 5 June 24 Michael Anthony gives his thoughts on Alex Van Halen selling all his gear
Fender just dropped the biggest Tone Master Pro update since its launch last year By Michael Astley-Brown published 4 June 24 Plus you can now control Fender’s flagship amp modeler with your phone
“It’s a very zombie, rock ‘n’ roll horror movie setting”: Pixies release first music with new bassist By Janelle Borg published 4 June 24 AA-side single You’re So Impatient / Que Sera, Sera goes from punk-infused to dark folk tale in the span of five minutes
“Shania Twain got me into alternate tunings”: What session bass supremo Derek Frank learned from playing with pop’s A-listers By Alison Richter published 3 June 24 Serving the songs of Shakira, Gwen Stefani and Orianthi doesn’t mean the bass journeyman can’t bring a bit of Rocco Prestia, James Jamerson and Pino Palladino to proceedings
Legendary guitar store Manny’s Music poised to return after Sam Ash sells trademark By Matt Parker published 3 June 24 Manny’s was so iconic it featured in a Guns N’ Roses video – and now the company behind Heritage Guitars has acquired the trademark
Is this the world’s most expensive bass guitar? By Bill Leigh published 2 June 24 The Flora Aurum – created in 2007 to mark Ritter Basses’ tenth anniversary – was priced at $100,000
How Suzi Quatro cut her teeth on Motown hit-maker James Jamerson By Nick Wells published 1 June 24 Suzi Quatro’s soul and Motown-influenced rock bass playing made her a huge star throughout the 1970s and beyond
Harley Benton has launched a new series of Fender-inspired bass guitars – and prices start from just $207 By Phil Weller published 31 May 24 Precision, Jazz and Mustang-flavored four- and five-strings headline the affordable new MV range
Plans for one final Black Sabbath show are afoot – and Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler are already onboard By Phil Weller published 31 May 24 Butler says “everybody wants to do it”, but there's still a long way to go before anything is made official
Meet husband-and-wife guitar team Spotlights, the dreamsludge tonesmiths championed by Mike Patton By Ellie Rogers published 31 May 24 Dreamsludge, doomgaze, doomsludge… Whatever you call them, Mario and Sarah Quintero are producing some of the heaviest tones in the business. They reveal how they do it – and why couples who riff together, stay together
Meet the Meowdulator, a pedal that makes your guitar sound like a cat (yes, really) By Janelle Borg published 30 May 24 The world's first guitar cat synthesizer pedal has three meow controllers and eight unique voicings, ranging from Staccato Kitten to Acid Kitty Synth
“It was the first kind of ‘bass solo’ I’d been allowed to throw on a Rush song”: Geddy Lee on the album that saved Rush By Karl Coryat published 30 May 24 After a six-year absence from the recording studio, Vapor Trails redefined Rush’s career
Chris Chaney has now landed three career-defining gigs – first with Alanis Morissette and Jane’s Addiction, and now with AC/DC By Gregory Isola published 29 May 24 Jazz-schooled bassist Chris Chaney has now secured three career-defining gigs – first with Alanis Morissette and Jane’s Addiction, and now with AC/DC
Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee reunite for Gordon Lightfoot tribute By Janelle Borg published 29 May 24 Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee paid tribute to the Canadian songwriting icon in Toronto