Nick Wells
Nick Wells was the Editor of Bass Guitar magazine from 2009 to 2011, before making strides into the world of Artist Relations with Sheldon Dingwall and Dingwall Guitars. He's also the producer of bass-centric documentaries, Walking the Changes and Beneath the Bassline, as well as Production Manager and Artist Liaison for ScottsBassLessons. In his free time, you'll find him jumping around his bedroom to Kool & The Gang while hammering the life out of his P-Bass.
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
By Nick Wells published
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
By Nick Wells published
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”
By Nick Wells published
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
By Jim Roberts published
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”
By Nick Wells published
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
By Nick Wells published
"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
By Nick Wells published
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!"
By Karl Coryat published
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”
By Nick Wells published
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!’”
By Nick Wells published
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
By Karl Coryat published
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
By Nick Wells published
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
By Scott Malandrone published
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
By Nick Wells published
“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”
By Gregory Isola published
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
By Nick Wells published
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’
By Nick Wells published
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
By Richard Johnston published
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”
By Nick Wells published
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
By Nick Wells published
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
By Nick Wells published
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
By Nick Wells published
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”
By Nick Wells published
Jazz bassist Jeff Berlin debunks a myth surrounding Jaco’s early years
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