The Scott's Bass Lessons Podcast

There's something about playing a bass guitar that’s older than you that just feels incredible. But just because it’s old doesn’t mean it’s great. Mojo aside, do vintage basses really sound better than their new counterparts? In today’s episode, we’re delving into some of these key questions that often come along, namely: is the vintage bass you’re thinking of buying likely to be a bargain or a money pit?

2024 was the year of the HX Stomp, Jad Freer’s Capo, Boss being bosses and more effects than we knew what to do with! We seem to say this every year, but there's been so much competition for your cash in 2024, with the bass effects market bigger and better than ever. Of course, we've got our favorites. In today’s podcast you'll find our handpicked selection of the best bass FX money can buy.

As the hair-metal spandex of the previous decade met its end, the ‘90s ushered in a new breed of bass guitar. From Ken Smith to Lakland, to Spector to Tobias, basses of the '90s packed a memorable punch to the gut. In today’s podcast, we're running through the bass guitars that defined the decade.

We get it: bass players are extremely difficult to buy for and everything we want costs a small fortune. Well, you needn’t worry, as we’ve trawled through the Internet to compile a list of bass-friendly gifts that we'd be more than happy to receive ourselves on Christmas day.So, let us extend an olive branch, as we offer up some killer gift ideas that should have real appeal to the bass player in your life. 

While Leo Fender will be forever revered for his iconic electric guitar designs, without doubt his greatest contribution to the advancement of popular music was unveiled in October 1951 – the first year of the Fender Precision. Today’s podcast is a reminder of why the P-Bass has remained the ‘go-to instrument’ for so many bass players, for so long. What can we possibly say about it that you don’t know already?

If you’ve ever suffered from wrist pain after spending hours perfecting a John Entwistle bass solo, you’ll know that spending extended periods hunched over a bass guitar can cause all kinds of hand and arm problems, back pain, and even nerve damage. In this podcast, we talk through Scott’s recent health scare and share some advice to ensure that your “bass face” is a grimace of ecstasy rather than agony!

You might have an expensive custom shop bass and all the boutique stompboxes in the world, but you’ll still need a great bass amp to achieve your dream tone. In this video, we’re looking at some of the greatest amps, pedals and cabinets of 2024, handpicked by the SBL team – including tube, solid-state and preamp pedals!Here’s what we think are the best bass guitar amps on the market right now.

Let’s clear this up from the start – we LOVE bass amps, big stacks of speakers coupled with loud, monstrous amplifier heads. We want to feel the air move as we play! But when you’re a gigging bassist, one of the biggest struggles we face is the endless battle with the onstage sound. In this podcast, we’re asking if there’s a future for bass amplifiers?If you had to ditch anything from your signal chain, would you really wave goodbye to your bass amp?

Headless basses were two a penny in the 1980s and 1990s, and nowadays they tend to look pretty embarrassing. But we like crazy-looking gear, in case you hadn’t noticed! So, whether you love them or loathe them, if you’ve always dreamed of wielding a headless bass, then we urge you to watch today’s video! 

We’ve got some good news for you today. Dirk Lance, a co-founding member of platinum rock band Incubus, is here to break down some of his greatest bass lines. We also asked him about his ’65 Jazz Bass and why he went from a Fender P Bass Special to a Warwick 10-string! It's the ultimate inspiration to pick up your bass this week.

After he sold Fender and exited his collaboration with Music Man, Leo Fender founded a brand-new company that would play host to his final electric guitar and bass innovations. Leo called G&L Guitars the best instruments he ever made – the problem was that by the time he formed his new line of instruments, his accomplishments in the music industry were already etched in the history books. Could G&L Guitars REALLY compete with Fender?In this podcast, Ian and Sharon explore the history of G&L Guitars, compare some of the company’s most popular models, and take a look behind the scenes of Leo’s private workshop in Fullerton, California! 

Finally, a video that dispels some of the myths about achieving bass guitar fretboard mastery - like having to learn ALL of the notes in the Hungarian minor scale! In this episode, Scott and Ian reveal how they solved their fretboard woes, their newfound love for headless basses, and the simple steps you can take to elevate your own bass playing.

In today’s video, we asked Kelsey González to name the bass lines that helped define his career with American singer, drummer, and record producer Anderson Paak. You’ll hear nuances to his bass lines you never noticed before – and probably rush home to grab your bass!

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.