In today’s video, we asked Tony Franklin to dig into the fretless bass lines that helped define his long resume of gigs with artists such as Blue Murder, The Firm, and Whitesnake. We asked him about his time with Kate Bush, the history behind his allegiance to the Fender Precision and why he feels "liberated” playing an unlined fretless bass.

In this podcast, Ian and Sharon explore the highs and lows of playing a six-string bass, from the extra range it offers to the challenges of controlling those extra strings. They share their favorite models, riffs, and tips for anyone curious about diving into six-string territory. Curious about why they think every bassist should try one? Tune in to find out.

Bass guitars are beautiful and they can make anyone look good, but during its 70-year history there have been a few that are gloriously gaudy or just plain ugly (Precision Bass Lyte, anyone?!) In this episode we’ve set out to name and shame some of the ugliest bass guitars of all time! 

In this episode:

• Does Ernie Ball make the world’s ugliest bass guitar?
• Why aren’t Rickenbacker basses more popular?
• Some history behind Fender’s Antigua finish.
• Why Scott loves the Ovation Magnum bass.
• The Spector NS-2 - love it or hate it?
• And much, much more!

We all love our bass guitars, right? But what if your dream instrument sounds off? Or your longtime favorite bass isn’t playing as well as it did the day you bought it? By repairing instead of replacing, you can bask in the glory of knowing that you’re the kind of bassist who’s axe would survive an apocalypse movie. In today’s episode, Ian and Scott run through the basses they’ve transformed from duds into dream machines!

In this episode you’re going to learn:

Ian reveals the worst bass he’s ever bought (it’s not what you think)

Why Scott’s 1974 Jazz Bass behaves like the Millennium Falcon

Ian’s Gaffer tape hack for treating noisy pickups

Why it’s OK to invest in a bass that isn’t perfect

And much more.

Recording your bass at home can be a complicated process if you’re just starting out, but luckily it’s within easy reach of anyone with a smartphone! In today’s episode Scott and Ian talk through everything you need to know before you hit that red button, including what gear you need, how much it might cost, and what to expect during the process. 

In this episode you’re going to learn:

The simplest ways to record for social media

Why Roland’s audio mixer for smartphones is so awesome!

All about Ian’s favorite DI pedals

Why we’re revamping the SBL YouTube channel

And much more...

Most of us instinctively know when we need a new bass, and it’s all so easy to devote time and effort to finding the next best thing, but starting your own bass collection can easily spiral out of control and end up costing you if you don’t think it through. In this episode Scott and Ian talk through the pros and cons of guitar collecting, including the INSANE bass that’s kicked off Scott’s own habit.

To many musicians making an album has always been the epitome of their art, but with digital streaming taking a hold of the industry, do full length albums still matter? That depends on who you ask! Having recently released the first live album of his incredible career, John Patitucci has put together one of the standout recordings of 2022.

In this episode, we quiz John about his need to still be making albums, the basses he’s played over the years, his chance backstage meeting with Jaco Pastorius, and his Italian tour with Chris Potter and Brian Blade!

There are scores of cool slap bass players out there, but who are the truly great ones? In today’s episode Scott and Ian finish up their talk about slap bass, and why you need to check out their brand-new slap program, the Slap Bass Accelerator. If you want to get properly geeky about all things slap bass, this episode is most certainly for you.

Slap bass is the ultimate in-joke of bassists everywhere. But it’s also an amazing rhythmic tool that can be found in everything from Flea’s thumps to the sublime grooves of Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten. In the first of a two part special, we trace the course of its Marmite appeal and pick our top 3 slap bass players that you need to hear!

Despite there being countless benefits, many bass players never think beyond learning to play their first instrument. But for the few that do, a whole world of opportunities awaits. In this episode, Scott and Ian debate over whether or not you should learn to play more than just the bass, and unravel some insights that just might convince you to go for it.

Playing bass on a cruise ship is a great chance to hone your chops, save up some money and see the world. Sounds like an amazing gig, right? Cruise ship life can also be intense with long working hours and no days off for months. Ever wondered if gigging on ships is really worth it? In today’s episode, Scott and Ian talk through the pros and cons of gigging at sea!

If you take a punt on an electric bass as a financial investment, how do you know which one to invest in? In terms of making money, big returns are far from guaranteed. But still, if you stick to the biggest names and time your purchase right, you may get lucky and have a hit on your hands. In today’s episode, Scott and Ian discuss whether you can predict which brand is going to be worth the big money.

Turning on the radio or pushing play on your favorite Spotify playlist often means a few minutes to relax, but if that's the only way you listen to music then you're missing out on an invaluable skill that every bass player should have. In today’s episode, we dive into the science behind intentional listening, and how it can give you the full sonic picture as a musician.

The hate that some bass players have for jazz can transcend space, time, and the laws of nature. We get it. It can feel like your band mates are speaking another language, and you feel kind of left out. But, with practice, learning some jazz can give you musical superpowers. In this episode, we’re here to reveal why you should take the leap!

In this episode

• Scott’s worst EVER audition story.
• Why all the best musicians play jazz.
• How it can be a bass player’s best friend.
• Should non-jazz musicians study jazz?
• Check out Ian’s new Olinto Jazz Bass.
• And much, much more!

If you’ve got a few thousand dollars to spend on a bass, the chances are that you’re looking for more than just another bog-standard 4-string. This kind of money gets you into boutique territory and a world’s worth of luxury instruments. However, with a big budget comes a big responsibility. In this episode Scott and Ian dig into what the future holds for boutique brands like MTD, Ken Smith and Fodera Guitars.

Many of us will want to own a certain axe because it’s what our favourite bassist plays, be it Victor Wooten’s Fodera, Flea’s Fender Jazz Bass or Nathan East’s Yamaha. We’ve all done it when choosing gear. In today’s episode, Ian and I compare notes on our newly found Ken Smith basses, and discuss what makes them the most playable basses that money can buy!

Most bass players can’t afford to shell out thousands of dollars on a wall of classic amps to do their creative bidding, yet a good amp sim can save you tons of time and money. Run your bass through one of these plugins and you’ll have hundreds of iconic bass tones at your fingertips. In this episode Ian sets out to compare the flexibility of both recording options.

In today’s video, we asked Michael League to dig into his earliest influences and name the bass lines that helped define his career with four-time Grammy Award Winners Snarky Puppy. 

There were a few things we agreed on:

• Bootsy Collins belongs on every top 10 list.
• Your drummer is your best friend.
• David Hood is a bass guitar genius.

Everything else was up for debate. Well, almost everything…

In this episode:

• Michael names his favorite bass line of all time.
• And the British rock band he idolized as a teen.
• We talk through his Jaco Pastorius phase.
• Bootsy Collins - just check out his swagger on Do That Stuff!
• And much, much more!

Dodgy sound, meddling relatives, DJs who talk too much – every band has had bad wedding gigs and each one presents different annoyances and challenges to try and overcome. Yet weddings are still such a great way of earning an income for musicians. In today’s episode Ian and Scott talk you through all you need to know.

Scott always gets asked the same two questions: 'Why do you wear the glove?!' and 'Should I try wearing one?' He hasn’t always wanted to tell the full story, but he wants to tell it to you now. In today’s episode Scott reveals some of the key hurdles that he’s had to overcome as a result of a condition called Focal Dystonia, and the rehabilitation process that got him back to playing bass!

A few months back, we got into the argument that all bass players get into – what are the coolest, grooviest bass lines of all time? After hours of heated debate, we decided to get Nick Campbell to help make that decision for us.

In today’s podcast, Nick Campbell reels off the bass lines that shaped his sound. It’s the perfect way to introduce yourself to the worlds of Rocco Prestia, Ray Brown, James Jamerson and Colin Greenwood.

In this episode
Why Nick is a huge Radiohead fan.
The first time he heard Tower of Power.
Why nothing beats a Ray Brown two-feel.
Is this James Jamerson’s coolest bassline?
And much, much more!

What a stupid question, right? As bass players, there are few things more satisfying than pulling the trigger on a new bass, but would we be better served expanding our amp collections instead? Will a new amp really make your bass sound any better? In today’s episode Ian and Scott talk you through a couple of different viewpoints that will help you determine how you might spend your hard-earned money. A new bass, or a better amp?

Charles Berthoud has enjoyed a rapid ascent to bass stardom largely thanks to the success of his YouTube channel (Charles currently has more than 1,000,000 subscribers, 40,000 TikTok followers and 107,000 following him on Instagram). But it’s not all about stats on social media; his virtuosic bass chops and his battles with fellow YouTuber Davie 504 continue to push the role of the bass forward. In this interview Charles sits down with Jonathan Herrera to talk about his time at Berklee, his early recollections of Victor Wooten and the power of social media.

Social Media continues to revolutionize just about everything we do - and the music industry is no exception. But one question has so far gone largely unanswered - can you still succeed without a huge following on social media? In today’s episode Ian and Scott share some pros and cons of the rise of social media.

Is there ever a ‘right time’ to quit your day job and follow a full-time career in music? Being a professional musician sounds amazing, but can you really make enough money? And what if it just gets old like any other job? If you are already asking yourself these questions, then you’ve probably decided that one day you want to change your life and follow a career in music. In today’s episode Scott and Ian run through some of the key things to consider before quitting your desk job.

It’s understandable when casual music fans have no idea what’s going on in jazz. No other genre divides people so greatly – but why? If you’re outside of the jazz circle looking in, wondering why it can be so intimidating, then this episode is for you.

In today’s episode Ian and Scott share some great tips that will help streamline your bass playing roadmap. Want to manage your time better? Organize your brain space? Or make some literal space in your studio? Here’s how fine-tuning your workflow can help get you there.

Did you grow up dreaming about your favorite bass players tearing it up in the recording studio, hoping you could one day do the same? Working in a recording studio is quite different to practicing at home - some of the habits that you've picked up over the years just won't apply and you need to make sure you're properly prepared. In today’s episode, Ian and Scott run through their essential studio checklist.

Reading music is a subject that can strike fear into the heart of many aspiring musicians. It’s a tough skill to learn, but do bass players REALLY need to read sheet music? If your ambition is to be in a three chord punk band then you won’t be too worried. But there are TONS of great benefits, as Ian and Scott explore in this episode.

So which is better – a long-scale or a short-scale bass guitar? If you’ve ever wondered which is the right scale length for you, you’ve come to the right place! In today’s episode, we’re taking a closer look at the key differences between short-scale and long-scale basses, the pros and cons of each, and we’ll give you a few recommendations of short-scale basses to check out for yourself. 

In this episode

• What is a short scale bass? 
• Who plays one?
• Which is better, short-scale or long-scale?
• How does the scale length affect the sound? 
• What short-scale basses does Ian recommend? 
• And much, much more!

Born in Newport, Rhode Island, John Davis is a master of synth-bass tones and electronic music. A multi-faceted bassist with Jojo Mayer’s Nerve, John has developed an extraordinary facility to emulate almost any sequenced synth bassline from his bass guitar and pedalboard in real time.

Learning to invest in yourself could be the best move you ever make as a musician. By making small changes, the positive effects can be huge! In today’s episode Ian talks through some of the key decisions that he made to help change his life for the better.

​Should you or should you not write down everything that you practice? Transcribing for the sake of filling up pages with dots might make you feel like you’ve done your homework, but it won’t necessarily teach you as much as you think. In today’s episode, Ian and Scott discuss the ins and outs of learning by ear.