163 - The Genius Bass Lines of Tony Franklin

Josh Paul’s bass playing has powered everything from the aggressive energy of Suicidal Tendencies to the deep funk grooves of Infectious Grooves. In this conversation with Ian, he breaks down the lines, tone, and gear behind some of his most recognizable parts, along with the stories and approach that shaped his playing along the way. Turn it up and dig in.

This band broke the internet… and you’re not ready for who’s behind it. In this episode, we dig into Angine de Poitrine, where one player is somehow covering guitar and bass at the same time, stacking warped microtonal riffs while the drummer drives these unpredictable, high-wire grooves. It’s chaotic, it’s locked in, and it keeps you on edge the whole time. Trust us… the reveal is worth it.

Scott and Ian dive into the story behind the Walrus Audio Mantle DI, the pedal that somehow managed to make the internet furious. Ian shares why he reached out to Walrus to build it, what he was chasing after years of using boxes like the Noble and Jad Freer Capo, and the studio gear that inspired the design. Along the way they get into transformer tone, simple vs overcomplicated pedals, gig reliability, and what bass players actually want from a great DI.

Ian is joined by Mike Dirnt to break down the bass lines that shaped the sound of Green Day. From “Longview” to “Basket Case,” Mike shares how he builds his parts, what inspired them, and how simple ideas turn into massive, melodic bass lines that drive the song. Tone, attack, feel, and singing while playing — it’s all here.

Scott sits down with bassist Ellen Alaverdyan to break down some of her favorite bass lines, from iconic grooves like Money by Pink Floyd to Come On, Come Over and more. Ellen shares what makes these lines stand out, how she learns them, and the practice habits that help her really lock them in and make them feel great.

What makes a bass line stick with you for life? Joe Dart sits down with Scott to talk through some of his all time favorite bass lines and the songs that shaped his playing from day one, digging into influences like Sly and the Family Stone, Tower of Power, and Red Hot Chili Peppers that still influence him today.

Ian and Sharon start 2026 by putting the focus on bass players you should be paying attention to right now. No throwbacks, no nostalgia, just ten modern players who are shaping the sound of today. They each bring five picks and talk about what makes these players stand out and why bass is moving in exciting directions.

A full year of bass gear, boiled down to what actually ruled and what absolutely missed the mark. Scott and Ian run through the best surprises, the biggest disappointments, and the gear from basses to pedals to the truly questionable ideas of 2025. Hit play, grab your bass, and see how your picks stack up.

What do bass players actually want for Christmas? Ian and Sharon make it easy (and fun), running through gift ideas by category and taking it all the way from budget friendly to full bougie. In-ears, straps, strings, pedals, amps, gig bags, bass recs, and a few wildcard picks — it’s the ultimate bass player wish list, minus the guesswork.

What really happens when you post a bass video every day for two years? Scott sits down with Danny Sapko to dig into how he picked up the bass, what pushed him onto YouTube, and the honest truth about what worked and what didn’t. Dive in and see what really powered it!