TLDR: Extra footswitch, excellent upgrade, essential tool. It’s hard to discuss the new Ditto X2 Looper from TC Electronic without mentioning the original Ditto Looper (full disclosure: I own and love the original Ditto Looper). Make no mistake, the original Ditto’s simplicity and size made it the perfect looper for many. However, adhering to these two design … [Read more...] about Review: TC Electronic Ditto X2 Looper
Reviews
Track by Track Review of Phish’s New Album, Fuego
What to say, what to say about Phish's newest release, Fuego. I'll be perfectly honest: I am not a fan of 'New Phish' and Fuego captures many reasons why. New Phish is the name that I've quietly referred to Phish as since the band reunited in 2009 after a 5 year hiatus. New Phish, to my ears, sounds mature, they sound clean and they seem like they're much safer musically … [Read more...] about Track by Track Review of Phish’s New Album, Fuego
Let There Be Funk: A Track-by Track Review of Leslie Johnson’s Bass & Beyond
For bass players looking for the best sounds of Jaco and Marcus Miller, this is the album for you. Bassist and composer, Leslie Johnson's solo release titled Bass & Beyond is just as he described to me over email: a "jazz-fusion and funk, influenced by many musicians from Jaco Pastorius and Marcus Miller all the way to Dave Weckl and Chick Corea". Johnson was born in … [Read more...] about Let There Be Funk: A Track-by Track Review of Leslie Johnson’s Bass & Beyond
3 Fretboard Cleaners for Getting Gunk of Your Bass’s Fretboard
A clean bass is a happy, well functioning, great sounding, long lasting, high performance bass. As a bass player and musician it can't be stressed enough the value of keeping your instrument clean and well functioning. Since all of us aren't James Jamerson who was a firm believer in never changing a thing about his bass - including the grime and gunk that was left on it - … [Read more...] about 3 Fretboard Cleaners for Getting Gunk of Your Bass’s Fretboard
Three Apps for Musicians on Firefox OS
While the world is busy debating what are the best apps for iOS and Android, and what are the best apps for musicians on each of these mobile operating systems, Firefox OS, Mozilla's mobile operating system is still largely ignored! And that's a shame, frankly. Personally, I was very excited to see Mozilla come out with an operating system for mobile. Being a die-hard user … [Read more...] about Three Apps for Musicians on Firefox OS
Three Books that Bassists and Musicians Should Read
Playing music is an experience but learning what goes on psychologically, socially and inter personally is just as engaging to learn about. There are thousands of books, downloadables and guides focused on helping musicians to learn to count music, how to read music, how to meet other musicians to play with but there are very few books out there that help readers understand … [Read more...] about Three Books that Bassists and Musicians Should Read
Like James Brown-Style Funk Bass? Check These Acts Out
James Brown was a tour-de-force in music and his influence is still very much alive and present through out all genres of music. His personality, leadership and style of musicianship created some of the most week known acts in music and some of the most well known and respected names in bass guitar including Bootsy Collins, Sweet Charles Sherell, and Bernard Odum. Brown is … [Read more...] about Like James Brown-Style Funk Bass? Check These Acts Out
Digitech Re-Releasing The Bass Whammy
Is it that time? It very well might be! The Digitech Bass Whammy looks like it's going to be making a return in the near future. I don't know about you - but I couldn't be more excited. Now I can finally stop wasting my time scrounging around eBay to try to find one of these from yesteryear for a reasonable price (500 dollars is not reasonable for a single pedal, by the … [Read more...] about Digitech Re-Releasing The Bass Whammy