Yes, that is Victor Wooten you see there, playing a bass guitar with a bow. Of course, he makes it sound good, but is this something you would own? Let us know in the comments if you think a guitar like this is a good idea after seeing the video below of the bass being … Read more
Best Bass Gear receives a lot of communication from first-time builders asking for advice on how they should go about building a bass guitar properly. One of the first things asked is one simple question: Do you have a plan? 1. It’s all about having a goal A plan does not necessarily mean a blueprint … Read more
This one is being written by user request. When it comes to electric bass guitars, the “safe” thing to do is to start out with a 4-string that is inexpensive, but not so cheap that it will fall apart in a year, and something you can bang around without worry. Can you upgrade a beginner … Read more
Duran Duran is not the first band you think of when it comes to bass lines. In fact, some of you might even think, “Duran Duran counts as a band?” Oh yes, they do. Duran Duran’s bass player is John Taylor, and he did play the bass line for the song Rio. Unfortunately, that song, … Read more
See the business listing for this bass builder here This week’s BotW is in the style of a Fender Starcaster – but with the full 34-inch scale length. Roger Cowan of Dog Tired Guitars writes: One of the bass players in our church worship band asked me to build this after having seen the guitars … Read more
(Tokai Hard Puncher bass shown because we hardly see these things anymore. Got one? Submit it for bass of the week if it’s in good shape. Trust us, they sound pretty darned good.) Installing a new set of bass strings is not an exact science, however it is amazing how many players do not know … Read more
It’s common knowledge that a lot of bass players take offense to those who use a pick when playing, claiming that it’s the “wrong way” to play a bass (even though the “right way” is whatever way you feel comfortable with.) The standard complaint from the No-Plectrums-Allowed Club is that use of a pick does … Read more
See the business listing for this bass builder here This week’s BotW, according to the instrument’s buyer, Bryant, was made by John Carruthers whose shop is in Camarillo, CA, but he was in Venice Beach, CA at the time this instrument was built. Bryant writes: I asked master guitar luthier, John Carruthers to build me … Read more
This bass is from one of our competitors, but hey, it’s a cool instrument that you don’t see too often on video. Above is a Gretsch White Falcon bass guitar. It’s a full hollow-body instrument, made of maple. It also has “Thundertron” dual-coil pickups in it, and typical to Gretsch has their way of doing … Read more
The short scale bass is an interesting animal because there are times you have to take certain things into consideration to solve issues with them. On a bass BBG worked on recently, an inexpensive Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Special SS (the SS meaning short scale), there was a peculiar issue where fretted notes played on … Read more
