Rittor Music Bass Magazine, May 2026 issue (Spring)

■Cover story

Free

Flea has released a solo album under his own name, titled "Honora." His unwavering spirit of challenge, even at over 60 years old, is evident in his playing of both bass and trumpet, and the album's sound strongly reflects his jazz roots—a testament to his insatiable curiosity and burning passion for music. This ambitious work, showcasing a new facet of his artistry distinct from his Red Hot Chili Peppers persona, serves as a starting point for this magazine's in-depth analysis of Flea's latest style.

【content】
- A long interview discussing the new album 'Honora' - A report on the public interview held at the special listening session - An interview with the other bassist, Anna Butters - A column on the relationship between free jazz and jazz
- A thorough analysis of the bass line in 'Honora' (Transcription/Commentary: Yuki Nagata)
・Akira Akira x Hidekazu Hinata: Free-play-loving bassists talk about 'Honora'


■Special Bonus Booklet◎Mini Bassist Book vol.2 - Aina Yamauchi (SILENT SIREN)

SILENT SIREN has released their first full-length album in six years, "TRIANGLE." To commemorate the album's release, a mini-artist book featuring bassist Aina Yamauchi is included. In addition to a long interview that delves into the two-year hiatus, their comeback, and the completion of "TRIANGLE," the book explores her current position through introductions to her favorite instruments and interviews with the band members.


■Specifications: A4 modified size / 172 pages

■THE BASS INSTRUMENTS 1
◎Starting with Multi-Effects Pedals Today Thanks to recent advancements in digital technology, multi-effects pedals have become popular items among a wide range of players due to their high performance and low prices. While digital models are becoming increasingly high-quality and feature-rich, there are also models that emphasize analog sound, and the multi-effects pedal scene is diversifying. In this feature, we will introduce the appeal of multi-effects pedals and key points for choosing one, along with features tailored to different situations, and introduce models in an affordable price range, categorized for easy purchase. We hope you will find the perfect model for you and discover a new bass life.

• Multifunctional and affordable, perfect for beginners!
ZOOM MS-60B+ / M-VAVE MK-300
• Easy to use and very user-friendly.
FENDER Downtown Express Bass Multi-Effect Pedal／Line6 POD Express Bass
Miniaturizing your pedalboard? A unique analog model.
TECH21 BASS FLYRIG V2/VALETON Dapper Bass
・The most anticipated model of 2026. The latest version of the hugely popular model has finally arrived!
BOSS GX-1B
◎Test player: OKbass

■THE BASS INSTRUMENTS 2
◎Spector NS Series
High-end and popular are inherently contradictory. Yet, Spector not only possesses a certain mass appeal, but has also earned the immense trust of bassists seeking aggressive and heavy sounds. Let's re-examine the true value of the NS series, the flagship model that has sustained this somewhat mysterious phenomenon for nearly half a century. We will introduce three representative series of the NS series, and Koji Mihara of Frederick will examine their capabilities.

■THE BASS INSTRUMENTS 3
◎BEE WING's remarkable progress: A new modern standard that defies conventional wisdom

With the evolution of modern PA/recording environments, basses are now required to have higher resolution than ever before. Reflecting this modern low-frequency landscape, the new bass brand BEE WING was born as one solution. Born from the perspective of professional bassist Takayuki Murata, who has a deep understanding of the field, what kind of capabilities does this brand possess? In this feature, we will unravel its dedication and true value from various angles.
User Interview: Wataru Suzuki

■SPECIAL INTERVIEW
◎Pinot Palladino

In conjunction with Pino Palladino's March performances in Japan, we conducted a long interview with him. We delve into the behind-the-scenes aspects of his performances with his quartet, featuring Blake Mills (guitar), Chris Dave (drums), and Sam Gendel (saxophone), and explore his career from multiple perspectives. In addition, we include a survey of nine bassists who respect Pino, and a conversation between Takayoshi Negishi and Hideyuki Kadono (TUBE).

Survey participants: AYA (OOIOO, Shintaro Sakamoto), Teppei Kawasaki, Shingo Suzuki (Ovall), Shinsakaino, Yuki Sekiya (TRI4TH, Kurofune), Keigo Tatsumi (never young beach), Yuta Hosono (Chappo, CHO CO PA CO CHO CO QUIN QUIN), Marty Holoubek, Haruna Makiyama


■Emergency lifting!
A collaboration T-shirt between Hiroshi (Garando) and YOSHIYAxxx (RADIOTS) is now available!

■THE AXES
◎Ichiro Yoshida's Untouchable World (Vaundy)

■GEAR
◎We take a closer look at the capabilities of Aguilar's three new models!
Test player: Yoshiyuki Yamamoto (Triple Fire)

■INTERVIEWS
◎John Myung (Dream Theater)
◎Tatsuya Ohno (Chevon)
◎Shota Horie (PENGUIN RESEARCH)
◎Hidekazu Hinata (Nothing's Carved In Stone)
◎Takuma Kaneko (DEZOLVE)

■BM SELECTED SCORES
"Black Summer" - Red Hot Chili Peppers "Sweet Child o' Mine" - Guns N' Roses *The digital edition does not include "BM SELECTED SCORES"

■Series◎Wakazaemon presents: Equipment is Romance!
◎ Koji Ueno's Born to Lose? Guest: Akihiro Tamura (Spitz)
◎Bass Magazine Lab: Bass Research Institute, Part 2: What are the equalizer settings for bassists?
◎BMG (Behind the Masterful Groove) ~Behind the Scenes of a Professional~ Episode 9: Daryl Jones ◎Bass Food ~A Bassist's Food Habits? BOH
◎Bassist's Life's Work: Tsuyoshi Kano

■Serial Seminar◎Yuichi Gamou's Showa Era Bass Maestro

■MY DEAR BASS
◎Ayano (Faulieu.)

■BASSMAN'S LIBRARY
CD/DVD/video reviews, etc.

■NEW PRODUCTS
Introducing new bass-related products