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Derrick Hodge

Posted by iBass | Apr 20, 2017 | Best New Music

Derrick Hodge Live Today “A prodigiously talented writer” Released: Jan 2013 Featured Track: “We Live Today” Derrick Hodge may not be a household name in some corners of the bass world, yet Jill Scott, Maxwell, Terence Blanchard, Robert Glasper and many other names among the music world’s elite have called upon his services at one time or another. Probably best known for anchoring the Grammy award-winning Robert Glasper Experiment, it’s difficult to fully appreciate what Derrick’s accomplished in a relatively short space of time. His debut album Live Today shows that, in addition to being a fine bassist, he’s a prodigiously...

Buyer’s Guide | Warwick Thumb Bass

Posted by iBass | Apr 19, 2017 | Articles, Gear

Part Two Of Our Essential Guide to Buying Bass Gear Despite making a mouthwatering range of top-line basses, Warwick is probably best known for their Thumb Bass. Introduced in 1985, it’s probably not quite ready to qualify for ‘classic’ status just yet, but as an icon of modern bass design, it can certainly stake its claim. The diminutive, smoothly shaped, natural wood body, with its delightful, almost gratuitous convex/concave shaping on the front and back, perhaps sums up the Warwick aesthetic better than any of the German company’s other models. Since the majority of Warwick’s annual limited-edition basses have also been...

Jon Stockman | Karnivool

Posted by iBass | Apr 18, 2017 | Interviews

The Karnivool axeman tell us about finding his own voice as a bassist. Led by maverick frontman Ian Kenny, Karnivool are anchored by one of the most gifted rhythm sections anywhere in rock. Yet Jon Stockman is that rare thing – a bass player who doesn’t feel the need to show off his skills all the time. As we sit in the confines of the green room, a few floors above the stage at KOKO in North London, it’s clear that Jon, despite the demands of his job, is a relaxed, laid-back guy. It was his unconventional approach that first brought...

Mike Sabre | Dominique Di Piazza Signature Model

Posted by iBass | Apr 15, 2017 | Gear

With a hand-wound humbucker and a fretless bridge, this unique signature model must be seen to be believed. This beautiful bass guitar is Mike Sabre’s Dominique Di Piazza Signature Model. Built entirely by hand to the French virtuoso’s personal specifications, it’s an exceptional instrument. While the name may not immediately ring a bell, bass fans are sure to have heard Di Piazza’s playing at one time or another. The Lyon-born bassist made a massive impact when he appeared on jazz guitarist John McLaughlin’s classic 1991 trio album Que Alegria alongside Indian percussion maestro Trilok Gurt, and has been a...

Wood & Tronics Zoid

Posted by iBass | Apr 13, 2017 | Gear

We get up close and personal with this rather unusual bass design from Italy. Wood & Tronics (the brand name comes from wood and (elec)tronics) was founded in 2006, after bassist Enrico Pasini and luthier Erik Furlan decided to branch out into making fully-fledged custom instruments. ‘We started the company eight years ago,’ explains Enrico. ‘We’d already spent much of our lives as bass players, local repairers, builders and massive bass geeks!’ Situated north of Venice near the Italian town of Belluno, the company currently boasts four production models: the Chronos, Zoid, Ergon and EJ, each of which can...