Latest articles by Nick Wells
“My custom 9-string bass is just as playable as any 4-string Fender!” ChaotH on the unorthodox world of the extended-range bass
Watch the Vvon Dogma I bassist put his fretboard fitness to the test on this custom-made 9-string bass guitar
Tommy Cogbill’s 1966 Fender P-Bass, reportedly used to record with Elvis, is going up for auction with an estimate of $100,000
The sunburst Fender Precision – which was photographed with Elvis at American Sound Studio – also helped shape hits for the likes of Wilson Pickett and Aretha Franklin
Guy Pratt: “I always thought that the second I walked out the studio, the producer would be on the phone to Pino Palladino”
The session stalwart discusses his career as a sideman, gigging with Pink Floyd, and chatting to Noel Gallagher and Suzi Quatro for his music podcast, The Rockonteurs
"Imagine Cream with Bill Frisell on guitar and Charlie Haden on bass": Charlie Haden's guide to his best work, from jazz to blues and beyond
In 1996, the legendary jazz bassist gave us a guide on where to start with his enormous and tremendous body of work
Snarky Puppy's Michael League: “I’m a 4-string guy. I just play better when I have less to work with”
The Snarky Puppy bassist on his bass collection – and where he stands on the 4-string vs 5-string debate
"You can’t talk about distorted bass without mentioning Ace of Spades": Listen to Lemmy’s isolated bass on Motörhead’s born-to-lose anthem
"His tone was so huge!" The secrets behind Lemmy's distorted bass tone
How a pair of weight-lifting gloves helped Louis Johnson play slap bass
Louis Johnson: “I wear gloves to slow me down. When I take them off, it makes me play too fast”
Tom Hamilton: "I thought, I'll be damned if I'm going to play eighth-notes on the root all my life!"
Aerosmith’s long-serving bassist reflects on becoming a "music-book junkie", channeling John Paul Jones and "smoking a bowl" before writing Sweet Emotion
Paul Weller: “People should check out some of my bass playing on that first solo album”
The former Jam frontman lifts the lid on his bass playing career saying: “I’ve written some great bass parts”
When Cliff Burton met Geddy Lee: “He started pacing, he started smoking pot, and he was like, ‘Oh my God!’”
Kirk Hammett remembers when Rush frontman Geddy Lee showed up at a Metallica show
Veteran record producer Don Was names his 5 all-time favorite bassists
Producer Don Was on his favorite players, how to get a great bass tone, and the most common mistakes people make in the studio
Ampeg SGT-DI review
With tube amp emulation and a built-in cab simulator, has Ampeg developed the perfect all-in-one pedal rig for bass players?
Flea names the one bassline that he would “go back and fix” from the Red Hot Chili Pepper's 1995 album, One Hot Minute
Flea on the making of One Hot Minute: “I thought it sounded like another stupid white boy trying to be funky!”
"Bewildering technique that went way beyond any standard root/5th ideas": Listen to John Entwistle’s isolated bass on My Generation
“You can’t talk about classic bass playing without mentioning The Who and Live at Leeds”
Tina Weymouth: “I know Bono used me to taunt Adam Clayton when U2 were starting out”
One of the bass world’s most influential female figures talks gender stereotypes and why her small stature was “almost like a dare to boys”
In 1965 Elvis Presley was playing bass guitar, with a little help from Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney: “He was trying to learn bass, so I was like, ‘sit down, let me show you a few things’”
“The phone rings and it's Jaco Pastorius. He says, 'I’m in room 265, come up here and get your lesson!'” Marcus Miller on an encounter with the self-proclaimed ‘greatest bass player in the world’
Marcus Miller on what he learnt from Jaco Pastorius and why replacing him in Weather Report was “a beat down waiting to happen!”
"I thought, 'Wait a minute – we never practiced this…'" Jimi Hendrix bassist Billy Cox remembers Woodstock
From the archive: Billy Cox on Hendrix, Band of Gypsys, his influences and that Woodstock show
Kate Bush on John Giblin: “We’ve all lost a great man and an unmatchable musician”
Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, Guy Pratt and many more pay tribute to bassist John Giblin
Sting, Nikki Sixx and Paul McCartney to guest on new Dolly Parton album
Rockstar sees McCartney reunite with Ringo Starr for a cover of The Beatles Let It Be, with Mick Fleetwood and Peter Frampton also making up the numbers
Listen to Paul McCartney’s isolated bass on Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
Paul McCartney: “That probably ended up being my strongest thing on bass”
Larry Graham on when you really need to use a 5-string bass
The godfather of slap bass says “I actually love playing a 5-string for other artists, but not for live shows”
Jeff Berlin: “Look at Jaco Pastorius: clearly a genius, but misunderstood”
Jazz bassist Jeff Berlin debunks a myth surrounding Jaco’s early years
