145 - The Dark Side of Boutique Basses

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.

If you’re in any sort of environment that’s become toxic, chances are you’ve been bending and flexing for a while to try to make it work. It’s no different in a band. While the audience might not always see it, the band always feels it. In this video, Sharon and Ian talk through some of the common pitfalls to avoid.

Throughout the 1970s until Bob Marley’s last sessions and live shows in late 1980, the bass lines of Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett played a primary role in introducing the sound of reggae’s one-drop rhythm to audiences around the world. His full-bodied bass tone was a signature part of the Wailers sound!From Get Up Stand Up, to One Drop and beyond, in today’s video we’re taking a look at the 6 Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett bass lines you must have in your collection!

Tim Lefebvre has had a career that Forest Gump would envy. As a bassist, he’s provided the punch for Sting, David Bowie, The Black Crowes, Elvis Costello, Empire of the Sun, Wayne Krantz and Knower.So today we’re diving into the genius of Tim Lefebvre, what makes his bass playing so iconic and how you can bottle a little bit of that magic for yourself – Tim even breaks down a few licks you can try out.

There are so many cool slap bass players out there, but who are the truly great ones? In this video, we round up some of the best slap bassists to have laid down stone cold grooves and mesmerizing double and triple-slap technique on some of music's biggest and best loved tracks.In this episode:Who invented slap bass?What's the best ever slap bass song?Why Flea's slap style is a great place to start.How Marcus Miller carved his name into slap bass history.Who has the weirdest slap sound?And much more.

AI is already here, tempting everyone in music with a previously unimaginable menu of cheat codes. As the potential continues to unfold, Sharon and Ian reveal their newfound love for Logic Pro’s latest AI features.In this episode:Is AI a genuine threat to real bass players?Logic Pro 11 AI Session Players: Love, or Hate?Can AI trigger a scrunched up bass face?Is AI really the future of music?And much more.

Some bass players love to double down on a bad idea. And though we once bristled at the notion that there could ever be such a thing as a wrong musical opinion, we’ve since come to accept that there is such a thing. We know because we had one! Scott was colossally wrong about the Fender Precision AND slap bass!In this episode, Scott and Ian reveal their newfound love for Robert Palmer, and the big things they’ve changed their minds about, or wish they’d known sooner.In this episode:Who is Pierre Brock?Scott’s new F Bass - love it or hate it?How Ian found the perfect monitor engineer.Is slap bass still cool?Should you put reverb on bass?Where are you on the midwit meme?And much, much more!

Whether you’re an established bass player looking to add to your library of skills, a total novice picking up the bass for the first time or you're heading back to school and want to take your four-string skills to another level, there are five common mistakes that nearly every bassist will make on their learning journey. In today’s episode Scott walks through some of his own key mistakes (and how he overcame them).In this episodeWhat held Scott back as a beginning bassist.How do you know when you’re playing too fast?Why jamming with other musicians is a must.Why are bassists so obsessed with gear?Why you should check out the SBL Beginner Journey.And much, much more!

In the episode of "The Bass Lines That Made Me," Jon Button shares enlightening reflections on his early experiences as a bass player. Throughout the episode, Jon delves into the profound impact of iconic musicians such as Miles Davis, Weather Report, Marvin Gaye, and Journey, shedding light on the pivotal bass lines that have significantly influenced his musical path.