BASSED.

Stu Brooks has spent decades making bass sound bigger, stranger, and more cinematic than most players think possible. In this episode, he breaks down how that approach took him from Dub Trio and live dub experiments to Dominic Fike, Nine Inch Nails, Danny Elfman, and the kind of tone-shaping that can turn one player into an entire atmosphere.

Carson Childers and Nick Bernard catch up with Stu Brooks for a deep gear-and-mindset conversation connecting dub, punk, ambient, industrial, and modern arena bass playing. Stu shares how a King Tubby tape changed everything, why he treats sound design as a core part of musicianship, and how years of multitasking on bass, keys, synths, and effects shaped the way he plays today.

In this episode:

How Dub Trio evolved from jungle and drum and bass into live dub, noise, and ambient experimentation

Why flatwounds, P-style basses, gates, compression, and clean gain staging changed Stu’s approach to tone

How he uses the Quad Cortex, amp sims, captures, and stomp mode across sessions and live shows

What it’s like balancing gigs with Dominic Fike, Nine Inch Nails, and Danny Elfman

The unusual gear that keeps him inspired, from the Swarmatron to a deconstructed piano

Carson and Nick also dig into the realities of live bass tone in huge rooms, why some pedals can be tough to capture digitally, and how Stu keeps chasing new sounds without losing the groove.

Stu Brooks is a bassist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist known for his work with Dub Trio, Nine Inch Nails, Dominic Fike, Danny Elfman, and other boundary-pushing artists. His approach blends adventurous sound design with musical feel—and brings dub-informed creativity to modern live performance.

Subscribe to the Bassed. Podcast for more conversations with musicians about their sound, gear, and creative process.

On this episode of Bassed., we sit down with legendary bassist Tim Lefebrve for a wide-ranging conversation covering his career, tone, gear, and the mindset that's kept him at the top of the session world for decades.

Tim opens up about coming up in New York City after moving there in 1993, saying yes to everything, and why he never learned the power of no — and why that approach paid off. We get into his journey from Sadowsky 5-strings to vintage P-basses and flat wounds, the practical reason he switched (hint: it was about front-of-house), and how his deep love of drum and bass and electronica ultimately caught David Bowie's ear and led to the Blackstar sessions.

We also talk in depth about the Jad Freer ecosystem — the Capo, the Sisma, and the new Luce DI. Tim also breaks down exactly how he's integrated the Quad Cortex.

🎸 Topics covered:

• Coming up in NYC & the power of saying yes

• P-bass, flat wounds & front-of-house

• Nate Smith live at Big Ears & backline upright stories

• Jad Freer: Capo, Luce & Sisma

• Quad Cortex in a stadium rig

• Empress compressor, Union Tube and Transistor LAB, Doc Lloyd DLA-2A & more

• Tyler Chester, Good Shepherd & session work

• Gear picks

Sorry for the clickbait.

WE ARE BUILDING A COMMUNITY, ARE YOU IN?

Discord https://discord.gg/BE9Fgqg88y

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bassedthechannel/?hl=en

Clanker Notes:

Carson Childers and Nick catch up on life updates, gear adventures, and their evolving perspectives on music production and touring. Dive into their candid conversations about studio setups, digital gear, touring logistics, and personal milestones.

Key Topics

Carson’s upcoming studio session at Mountain Art Center, featuring full live band recording with a big SSL console

The decline of traditional band experiences in the studio and the shift toward remote and digital workflows

Insights into touring logistics: Sprinter vs. Tour Bus, hotel stays, and driving long distances across the US

The transition from performing to tour managing: managing artists, logistical decisions, and new perspectives

The evolution of gear: quad cortex, HX Stomp, and the significance of capturing and processing in digital setups

Comparing gear options: size, processing power, workflow, and market pricing, including the mini quad cortex

The importance of signal flow, capturing chains, and custom presets for consistent tone

Personal milestones: Carson wins Bass Player of 2026 Award and celebrates mentorship and community

Exploring hobbies like coffee brewing and espresso gear as analogies for gear selection and investment

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction and updates on Carson and Nick

02:46 - The art of live band tracking in modern studios

03:47 - Unusual studio tricks: marching snare and goofy percussion toys

04:13 - The shift away from traditional studio experiences and remote work

06:15 - Touring stories: van vs. bus, hotel stays, and travel experiences

10:14 - The challenges and benefits of touring in Sprinters and high-top vans

12:34 - Logistics of gear: gear stays on the bus or in the van, packing routines

14:24 - Transitioning out of performance to tour management roles

16:23 - Producing and performing with artists like Taylor Lansdale and Nathan Evans Fox

17:45 - The journey of collecting gear, studio setup, and shifting priorities

18:41 - Nashville performances and touring logistics, including day trips and hotel stays

19:30 - New music releases and working with production teams

20:54 - Carson’s recent awards and mentorship reflections

24:14 - The significance of community, mentorship, and recognition in music

27:03 - The role of Discord as a community hub for gear tips and collaboration

28:58 - Deep dive into quad cortex capabilities, captures, and workflow strategies

33:45 - Gear size, analog vs. digital, and capturing complex chains for tone

36:00 - The mini quad cortex and its fitting into smaller pedalboard setups

39:48 - Managing gear sales, gear appreciation, and the importance of processing power

43:10 - The aesthetics and workflow of digital gear: the importance of interface design

44:03 - Recording with captures, presets, and creating versatile tone chains

55:45 - Strategies for capturing intricate gear chains for consistency and tone preservation

58:35 - The future of digital models: market evolution, open source possibilities, and market dynamics

62:17 - Personal hobbies: coffee, espresso gear, and analogies for gear investment

63:56 - Wrap-up and community engagement: join the Discord for tips and conversations

WE ARE BUILDING A COMMUNITY, ARE YOU IN?

Discord https://discord.gg/BE9Fgqg88y

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bassedthechannel/?hl=en

Clanker notes:

In this episode of the podcast, host Carson Childers interviews renowned bass player and producer Gus Seyffert. They discuss Gus's journey in the music industry, including his work with Roger Waters and the production of the Dark Side of the Moon Redux. The conversation delves into the challenges of performing with a legendary artist, the creative freedom in live performances, and the intricacies of gear selection, including basses and amplifiers. Gus shares insights on his approach to music, the importance of artistic expression, and the technical aspects of sound production. In this conversation, Gus and Carson delve into the intricacies of music production, focusing on amp selection, mic placement, and the nuances of mixing and recording techniques. They discuss their preferences for bass amplification, the importance of sound control, and the challenges faced when mixing classic records. The conversation also touches on the art of limiting and compression, as well as future music projects and releases.

00:00

Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

01:59

The Dark Side of the Moon Redux Experience

12:15

Navigating the Challenges of Playing with Roger Waters

22:24

The Art of Live Performance and Creative Freedom

25:03

Gear Talk: Basses and Amplifiers

28:01

Exploring String Preferences

30:19

The Evolution of Bass Guitars

33:41

Custom Strings and Unique Instruments

37:02

The Importance of Amplifiers

40:56

Tuning Techniques and Personal Preferences

46:40

Navigating Amp Brands and Their Characteristics

48:05

Choosing the Right Amp for the Job

51:03

The Importance of Speaker Selection

54:07

Navigating Live Sound Challenges

56:04

Recording Techniques and Preferences

01:04:03

Mixing 'Dark Side of the Moon Redux'

01:09:39

Finalizing the Mixes

01:12:30

Capturing Vocals with Precision

01:15:52

Drum Recording Techniques

01:27:48

Approaching Limiting and Compression

WE ARE BUILDING A COMMUNITY, ARE YOU IN?

Discord https://discord.gg/BE9Fgqg88y

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bassedthechannel/?hl=en

Summary by Clankers:

In this engaging conversation, Chase Chafin of 49 Winchester shares insights into the band's journey from its formation as an acoustic trio to its current status as a full-fledged band with a unique sound. The discussion covers their evolution, the dynamics of touring, the importance of fan engagement, and the role of technology in live performances. Chase also reflects on their recording experience with Dave Cobb for their upcoming album and the excitement surrounding their future projects and tours.

Chapters:

00:00

Introduction to 49 Winchester and Chase Chafin

04:12

Transitioning to Bass and Musical Influences

09:15

Instruments and Gear Preferences

12:00

Lighting and Performance Dynamics

15:02

Touring Life and Responsibilities

18:22

Logistics of Touring and Personal Preferences

18:50

Tour Logistics and Transitioning to In-Ears

21:40

Adopting Technology: The Shift to Modelers

24:51

Family Dynamics in the Band

25:51

Building a Dedicated Fanbase

27:57

Recording Live Shows and Maintaining Integrity

30:17

Navigating the Challenges of Live Performance

32:40

Flexibility in Performance Setup

36:15

Setlist Management and Song Transitions

38:20

Headlining at the Ryman: A Milestone

39:27

Reflections on Recent Performances

41:25

Milestones and Memorable Experiences

43:43

Navigating the Music Industry

45:34

Recording with Dave Cobb

53:13

Future Plans and Upcoming Releases

Weird pod but you can't win them all baby

WE ARE BUILDING A COMMUNITY, ARE YOU IN?

Discord https://discord.com/invite/BE9Fgqg88y

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bassedthechannel

Join us as we chat with (a personal hero) Shae Wooten. We chat things like the Union Tube and Transistor LAB Compressor, Dirty Bass, HX Stomp/Quad Cortex, life on the road, and being a better human. Huge thanks to Shae for taking the time to chat with us.

Shae has played with artists like Elevation Worship, Natalie Hemby, Jude Moses

Mike Rinne is a bassist, producer, and all around great guy residing in Nashville, TN who has played/recorded with a variety of awesome artists like: Miranda Lambert, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Alicia Keys, Rayland Baxter, and many more. We're thankful he sat down with us to share a peek behind the Nashville session curtain.

Please catch us on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bassedthechannel/

JOIN THE DISCORD https://discord.gg/wVkUTgFD

Welcome to the first episode of the HIT RECORD segment from Bassed. Carson Childers chats with Jesse Honig about the nuances of recording, music, mixing, and navigating the world of pedals.

They chat about:

-DI boxes

-Drum Micing

-Recording Engineering

-Ampeg for recording

-Pultec/Lang EQ

-In Ears

-SSL Bus Compressors

-Ethical building

and much more!

Thanks for listening!

Please catch us on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/bassedthechannel/

JOIN THE DISCORD https://discord.gg/wVkUTgFD

On this pod we chat about:

Practicing bass

Was Nashville the right choice for Nick

Flight cases

Reunion Blues Expedition

Drop Shipping

Tone X

Boosts

MonoNeon Bass Whammy

47 noise kick effects Seinfeld pedal

52 minutes good clip for podcast

Join Nick Bernard and Carson Childers as they chat with Seye Adelekan - known for his solo work and collaborative playing with Gorillaz, Hikaru Utada, and Yannis & The Yaw.

In his episode they chat about:

-gigging with a variety of artists

-his signature Eastwood bass guitar

-Baum guitars

-country music

-5 string vs 4 string basses

and much more!

BASSED. is the best BASS GUITAR related podcast ever to be hosted by Nick Bernard and Carson Childers. Where they talk about BASS GUITARS because BASS is cool. Okay, is that enough instances of saying "bass guitar" for the algorithm?

On the newest episode of Bassed., Carson and Nick chat with Omar Oyoque of Silverada/Mike and the Moonpies.

They chat about:

-Rotosounds

-Origin BassRig

-Tone preferences over time

-Plek machines

and much more!

Join the community: https://www.instagram.com/bassedthechannel/profilecard/?igsh=MTF6bXVoeXhka28xNg==

BASSED. is the best BASS GUITAR related podcast ever to be hosted by Nick Bernard and Carson Childers. Where they talk about BASS GUITARS because BASS is cool. Okay, is that enough instances of saying "bass guitar" for the algorithm?

BASSED. is the best BASS GUITAR related podcast ever to be hosted by Nick Bernard and Carson Childers. Where they talk about BASS GUITARS because BASS is cool. Okay, is that enough instances of saying "bass guitar" for the algorithm?

On this episode we talk to bass legend Kevin Scott about tour life, memorizing music, Jad Freer Sisma/Volta, pickups, basses, and more!

Thanks for checking out the latest Bassed. podcast!

We chat about things like: Texas, Whataburger, Show Emergencies, Laney Amplification, and more!

Carson Childers and Nick Bernard sit down with grammy award powerhouse JT Cure to discuss all bass and life. Thank you to Gnome Studios in Nashville, TN for allowing us to use their space.

Thanks for checking out our video! If you enjoyed it, leave subscribe and leave us a Super Thanks on Youtube. 😊

In this video we discuss:

-West Coast travel

-Tribute shows

-Digital drive pedals

-HX Pedal order

-Carsons new pedalboard build

-API

We sat down with the infectiously creative Philip Conrad.

We chat about things like:

-short scale basses

-overdrive preferences

-amps on stage

-in ears

-travel

-his future projects

If you enjoyed this, please subscribe for future videos!

The incredible ALANA ROCKLIN sat down with us on Bassed. We talk about things like: Lakland basses, the ULTIMATE travel hacks with bass guitar, pedals, midi, etc!

Please subscribe if you like this and consider leaving us a Super Thanks on Youtube!

We have with us the wonderful Jason Newberry, known for his work with Parker McCollum and being an all around insane live and studio bass guitar player.

In this episode we chat about:

-Jason's bass collection

-Jad Freer Capo, Sisma

-Bass tone live

and much more!

Thanks to Jason of sitting down with us.