In this issue

400 ISSUES OF BASS WISDOM
Cut this massive feature out, stick it on your studio wall, and commit the lessons within to memory! This is where we collect and present the combined bass wisdom of a whole galaxy of stars for your educational benefit. Add all this advice to your repertoire of skills and you’ll be a better bassist, believe us.

THREE DECADES IN AMPS
Remember the big boxes of yesteryear? Freddy Villano plugs in and turns up to 11.

The moment when three bass legends first shared a stage...

A historic moment in bass world—recalled by those who were there to see it

1 min

ROCKABILLY HEROES RETURN

The Stray Cats unleash new, basspacked live album

1 min

400 ISSUES OF WISDOM

We’re celebrating 400 issues of Bass Player in this issue, but that doesn’t mean we’re just congratulating ourselves on how great we are—we want you to benefit from the distilled wisdom we’ve learned along the way. Apply these nuggets of knowledge from the world’s greatest bass players to your playing, and you’ll be well on the way to bass nirvana...

10+ mins

THE WRITE STUFF

Our writers have had a busy 30 years, chronicling the history of the low notes in these pages for future generations to pore over. We asked BP staff past and present to recall their bass-related high points from our first 400 issues...

8 mins

BP 400: MAKING BASS HISTORY

How many cool bass guitars have we encountered since BP’s first issue came out? Mike Brooks takes a look back at a few of the very finest...

4 mins

BP 400: UP TO 11

So what’s your favorite bass amp? Freddy Villano recalls 400 issues’ worth of the big boxes

4 mins

BP 400: IN FULL EFFECT

Hey, what’s that weird noise? Steve Lawson revisits the highs and lows of 30 years’ worth of bass effects

4 mins

I SPY… SOMETHING CHROMATIC

Chromatic movement means that we'll be moving in half-steps or fret by-fret on our instrument

5 mins

Beginners' Lesson

Ensure a smooth playing experience with these tips from Steve Lawson

9 mins

WIRELESS TRANSMITTERS EXPLAINED

Dan Veall closes this issue with a guide to how to unplug and play

3 mins

Read all stories from Bass Player US

Bass Player US Magazine Description:

Bobby Vega
Ever since his first recording session with Sly Stone at the age of 17, Bay Area bass badass Bobby Vega has set the bar for funktastic pick playing. In this month's cover story, he goes deep on his plectrum technique and artistic approach. Plus: interviews with Cheap Trick's Tom Petersson, Dream Theater's John Myung, and Jerry "J Blakk" Henderson of Big Sam's Funky Nation; reviews of the Blackstar Fly Bass mini-amp, Mesa-Boogie D-800 head and Ultra Lite cabinets, and new pickups from Lindy Fralin; Jazz and R&B lessons you can use; a full-song bass transcription of Deep Purple's "Gettin' Tighter;" and more!