The SBL Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Here it is — the full, uncut conversation between Scott and the one and only Nathan East. Nathan opens up about the sessions and stories that shaped his career, from laying it down for Barry White and Hubert Laws to hitting the road with Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, and countless others. It’s a rare, behind-the-scenes look at one of the most recorded bassists in history. Dive in and enjoy.

Scott and Ian take on Reddit’s picks for the Top 10 Funk Bass Lines. From the undeniable classics to a few surprises they’ve never played before, they dig into what makes these lines so iconic—and whether Reddit really nailed it. Tune in and see if your favorites made the cut!

Enrollment for our brand new FUNK Accelerator open now! —Sign Up Today

Think your slap sound is dialed in? Think again.
 In this episode, Scott and Ian break down six things almost everybody gets wrong when chasing a great slap sound. They dig into the impact of string type, pickup settings, and technique—plus some of the overlooked details that can make or break your setup.

Whether you're just getting into slap or trying to fine-tune your sound, this one's worth a listen. Fixing just one of these might change everything.

Back in May, we went to the studio to record the first SBL album project. Originally it was going to be a pretty straightforward release… but having read through a bunch of comments, we decided to change things up. In today’s episode, I reveal some key takeaways from that first studio session, what you can expect over the coming weeks, and how you could win the bass I used to record with!

In this podcast you're going to learn:

• Why Scott’s a massive “jazz fusion nerd.”
• How he chose the right bass for the studio.
• How you could win it!
• What happened to his pedalboard?
• Why he hates using headphones.
• 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?

In this podcast you're going to learn:

• Why every studio has an Ampeg B-15
• How Ian became amp obsessed.
• Why Scott’s not a huge fan of combo amps.
• Whether a good amp can really make any bass sound good?
• Why some players insist on using tube amps.
• And much, much more!

There’s a reason more people listen to Guns N’ Roses than Victor Wooten, and it’s not because Duff McKagan is better at playing arpeggios! But still, good technique is something that every bassist should add to their skill set, and in this episode, I’m answering all of your questions surrounding our Technique Accelerator. I hope it gives you a little extra time to check out the course – and to find your next breakthrough on the bass!

In this interview you're going to learn:

• Why are we talking up our Technique Accelerator?
• How I developed my own technique (with a little help from Gary Willis).
• Why we’ve included a bunch of free bonuses with the course.
• Why might it not be for you?
• And much, much more!

In this week’s episode, Ian tells us about his experience playing with a full orchestra and navigating the social and musical intricacies he encountered, including confronting his imposter syndrome around classical musicians, the challenges of reading standard notation perfectly and everything in between. Additionally, he goes on to break down the basics of what you need to know around DI’s - Direct Inputs! 

In this episode you're going to learn:

• About confronting imposter syndrome when playing in a classical space
• Why being able to read music can be a true benefit
• All the things the DI has to offer
• Are short-scales finally over? Are they still a thing?
• And much, much more!

We love the bass community and will always maintain that it is THE best community in music to be a part of. BUT. Every now and then even our community members show an uglier side. In the world of content and running (online) businesses in particular, garnering hate online is almost too easy and, unfortunately, we did have a bit of a run-in with just that a little while ago.

But, lessons can be learned in every scenario and we hope you’re able to take away as much from this as we did!

In this episode you're going to learn:

• Some mindsets to adopt when dealing with online hate
• How haters can actually prove helpful!
• How much your bass playing may actually rely on technique
• And how some people actually might just ‘have it’?
• How Scott ALMOST got his dream bass..?
• And much, much more!

Are Fenders really the best option, especially when you’re looking to play professionally? Maybe not? In today’s podcast, we’re exploring why your bass doesn’t HAVE to be a Fender and some alternatives that can come close in sound and vibe. AND why you may not want a Fender style instrument at all! Is there such a thing as the perfect sound? The perfect bass? Can you love a sound on someone else but not yourself? Does it, in fact, actually all come down to technique, rather than the bass you’re playing?!

In this episode you're going to learn:

• About some basses and bass brands that come close to the Fender style and vibe, in various budget brackets
• About where you might want to look if you’re intentionally NOT going Fender
• All kinds of ways of thinking about bass tone and how you might find YOUR OWN
• Why Scott is turning away from the P bass?
• How it all ultimately might come down to technique
• And much, much more!

A veteran of the Nashville studio scene, Amos Heller has occupied the bass chair for Taylor Swift’s backing band The Agency since 2007. Whether you’re a Taylor Swift fan or not, when Amos agreed to check in with SBL after the record-breaking Eras tour, we knew we were in for one of our most fun and entertaining interviews to date!

In today’s episode, we get a full run down on Amos Heller’s gig with one of the biggest pop stars in the world.

Amos Heller YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AmosHeller
Amos' Latest Video: https://youtu.be/lw2LgyatO40

In this episode you're going to learn:

• How Amos got the gig with Taylor Swift.
• What life’s like on the highest grossing tour of all time.
• Why Nashville is the place to be for studio work.
• His top tips for making it as a pro bassist.
• And much, much more!