Chicago MI retailer Chicago Music Exchange recently opened The Bassment, a section of the store staffed by specialists and dedicated to basses, amps, bass pedals, mods, and bass accessories.
“From James Jamerson to Paul McCartney to Bootsy Collins to Flea, bass players have been the foundation for many of the world’s most successful musical groups,” said Marc Najjar, manager of the Bassment. “As such, we decided it was about time for bassists to receive the same quality selection and dedicated service that guitarists have enjoyed forever.”
The Bassment, he adds, has something for every player, no matter if they prefer old or new.
“Vintage basses are special for various reasons,” he said. “Whether it’s the musicians who played them, the artistry-meets-craftsmenship of the era, or the quality of a handmade innovation. As a bassist, identifying the sounds that have inspired me, then being able to play the same year/make/model of instruments on those recordings is inspiring in its own way. It’s truly remarkable.”
Asked to pick a personal favorite, he defaults to the grandfather of all electric solidbodies.
“It’s impossible to ignore the impact the Fender Precision has had on music,” he said. “Appearing on more recordings than any electric bass, P-Basses are often coveted for their sound, playability, and vibe, and we’ve had a few gems come through our doors – a ’59 slab-board in sunburst, a ’66 in Sonic Blue, a ’58 sunburst with maple board, and countless pre-CBS custom-color models. But regardless of finish, they’re all special.”
For more, visit chicagomusicexchange.com.
New York City retailer GTR Store has opened a rock-and-roll-themed showroom in the middle of Manhattan, at 141 West 28th Street. Decorated with leather couches, Oriental rugs, a Marshall-themed bar, and guitar-lined walls, it also boasts a performance space that seats 150 people and has a backline with a gig-ready sound system and lights. Adjacent to the space is an acoustic room stocked with guitars, ukuleles, and banjos.
“[This] is a home for artists, as well as band representatives, to present their talents and gear in the heart of New York City,” said Steve Pisani, President of GTR Store.
beginning November 11; Monday nights will focus on jazz, Tuesdays on acoustic music. To learn more, go to 
John Mellencamp, ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill, and singer/songwriter Kix Brooks have added their voices to a campaign to find permanent housing for homeless military veterans. The campaign is sponsored by Veterans Matter, a 501(c) 3 non-profit that partners with the Departments of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help homeless veterans who have been approved for voucher-assisted housing but are unable to pay rental deposits. The organization was founded in 2012 by Ken Leslie, who was homeless for a time before he kicked drugs and alcohol in 1990. He is now the CEO of an executive search firm in Ohio.
Seymour Duncan’s Dirty Deed Distortion is an all-analog/true-bypass pedal that incorporates an active EQ for 12dB of treble and bass boost/cut. Its pair of MOSFET transistors are designed to emulate the tube-like harmonics and sustain of a pushed amplifier. It runs on DC power supplies at 9 to 18 volts; at 18, the pedal enhances overall saturation and compression. For more information, visit: 
Fender Acoustics’ Avril Lavigne Newporter acoustic guitar is based on her signature Squier Telecaster. It has a concert-size body with laminate mahogany top, back, and sides, a black finish, black binding, black tuners, a specially designed star rosette, 12th-fret skull-and-crossbones inlay, Lavigne’s signature on the headstock, black-bound mahogany neck with C-shaped profile, a 19-fret rosewood fingerboard, Fender Viking-style rosewood bridge with white pins, three-ply black pickguard, and a Fishman preamp. For more, visit www.fender.com.