Bass Player

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.

WELCOME • Bass is an art, a philosophy, a way of life... and a state of mind

Bass Player

STILL LIVES • Tony Levin documents his career in a 247-photo book.

TIM BOGERT RIP

CHI CHENG REMEMBERED • New spoken-word album celebrates the memory of the late Deftones bassist

Nitti returns • The celebrated bassist delivers a new album.

Love Lines • A great bass-line in 85 words or less...

Sailing onward

Booked up

Mr Malaman

Don't forget the joker

Introducing • A trio of new bass players answer this month’s burning questions. Do you agree with their replies?

Paul Chambers

The Who enter their imperial phase, with John Entwistle on peak form... • A historic moment in bass world—recalled by those who were there to see it

MAKE NOTES STAND OUT • Ensure that your bass is audible in every situation

TO BOIL OR NOT TO BOIL? • Does boiling old bass strings really restore their top end?

EXPLORE UPPER STRUCTURE EXTENSIONS

BASS TRAVERSES DIFFERENT WORLDS • Want to learn the secrets of the universe? Then you’d better join us as we sit down with Stephen ‘Thundercat’ Bruner , the pre-eminent bassist of his generation. This one goes deep!

HAIM SWEET HAIM • “It’s just me, with no bells and whistles,” explains Este Haim of the bass behind her trio’s acclaimed music

KIND OF BLUE • Fusion artist extraordinaire and sometime Pat Metheny alumnus Mark Egan brings us up to date with his new album, Electric Blue, recorded with his long-time drummer colleague Danny Gottlieb

THE LIFE OF BRYAN • Bryan Beller does so many bass-related things so well and so prolifically that he puts the rest of us to shame. Listen up, as he tells us about his commentary on the absurd world in which we find ourselves in 2021

The Bell Boy • Just some of the artists on the Beller resumé. He’s been busy...

David Ellefson, Megadeth

THE BIG F • Jason recently ordered a beautiful custom Fender Precision. He and Fender Master Builder Vincent Van Trigt tell the story...

BASSIST Of The YEAR • Meet Danny Sapko , voted by you as Bassist Of The Year 2020!

POP MUSIC • Cat Popper has earned her stripes as a bassist with a long list of big names—so a solo career is long overdue. We meet the reluctant star...

MEDICINE MAN • The Foo Fighters return with a new album, Medicine At Midnight, with the low end taken care of as always by the great Nate Mendel . Has he fallen for a five-string yet? Find out here...

DAVE SWIFT MEETS SNOW OWL • Part 1 of a new feature in which we bring two amazing bass players together to discuss the pleasures and pitfalls of life at the low end. This month, it’s Jools Holland’s long-time bass player Dave Swift and the Grammy-nominated Colombian bassist Juan ‘Snow Owl’ Garcia-Herreros , revealing how they built their unique careers

Dave Suift

Luan 'Snow Qul' garcia-Herreras

GEAR Reviews • Welcome to our expert road-tests of state-of-the-art basses, amps, and effects

LAKLAND Skyline J-Sonic • A classically-styled Jazz with a sonic twist... does that sound interesting? You bet it does, says Mike Brooks

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

YAMAHA BBPH Peter Hook • Our Ed gets an exclusive first look at Hooky’s new, strictly limited-edition Yamaha BB

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

ANACONDA Hydra • Is this a fearsome creature from ancient legend, or a tangerine dream? Mike Brooks finds out

TECHNICAL...