Laney Welcomes Charles Berthoud: Redefining Bass Guitar
We’re thrilled to announce the newest addition to the Laney family: Charles Berthoud (pronounced BEAR-too), the British bassist who’s revolutionising the way we think about the bass guitar.
That Laney DIGBETH Sound
With close to 3 million followers, a lot of people are listening to Charles and when it comes to Laney gear, Charles Berthoud is impressed with what he hears.
“The first thing I noticed when I tried the Digbeth amps is how even the frequency response is, and that’s exactly how I like it,” he shares. “While the amp definitely adds character to the sound, it doesn’t over emphasise any frequencies which I’ve found to be a big problem on some other amps. It allows me to play whatever I want and I can be confident it’ll sound just the way I intend.”
Charles is particularly enthusiastic about the T85 bass interval pedal: “My favourite is definitely the bass interval pedal! When it comes to octave pedals, I want the tracking to be top-notch. If I’m playing some fast lines I can’t have the lower octave only kicking in half a second later – the bass interval pedal is lightning fast!”
In the studio, Charles keeps his setup straightforward. “I use the Digbeth DB200H in the studio for YouTube videos. I keep things pretty simple – I just plug into the amp and take a D.I. out of the back which goes into my Apollo Twin interface, into my computer where I run Logic. I use the Digbeth cab as a monitor while I’m filming, and if I’m using effects, I start with the bass interval pedal and plug that into my Quad Cortex where I’ve got loads of presets.”
A Master of Two-Handed Tapping
Charles’s unique approach allows him to play the bass like a piano, accompanying himself with multiple parts. This extraordinary skill led him to co-author an instructional book, “Two-Handed Tapping,” even before graduating from Berklee College of Music with highest honours.
Charting New Frontiers in Popular Music
With two remarkable solo albums under his belt, Charles continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible with a bass guitar. His innovative style reminds us that there are still new frontiers to be explored in popular music.
Influences and Techniques
Charles’s musical journey began with early influences like Flea and Cliff Burton. However, it was Victor Wooten who truly opened his eyes to the possibilities of the instrument. As Charles recalls, “When I was 17 I watched Victor Wooten play Amazing Grace and my mind was blown, leading me down the rabbit hole of amazing funky bassists like Marcus Miller, Jaco Pastorius, Mark King and more… They’ve all influenced my sound massively.”
While Charles is renowned for his tapping technique, he’s also delved deep into slap bass in recent years. “The tapping came first. I started playing piano before bass, when I was 7, so tapping came to me a bit more easily because I had a head-start with hand-independence and the general feel of the technique. But like every technique, tapping has its limitations and it’s only in the last 5 years or so that I’ve got really deep into slap, because it opens the doors to so much energy and rhythm.”
Upcoming Projects
Exciting times are ahead for Charles and Laney! He’s gearing up for a major European tour in January with Bernth and Ola Englund. Additionally, he’s working on some incredible collaborations with renowned guitarists and other instrumentalists.
Ola, Bernth and Charles.
“I have a big European tour in January with Bernth and Ola Englund!” Charles enthuses. “As for online stuff I’ve got some amazing collabs lined up with some awesome guitarists and other instrumentalists that I’m sure you all know! The Laney gear is going to be essential in giving me the crystal-clear sound that these collabs deserve.”
We can’t wait to see what Charles achieves next, and we’re proud to support him wherever his music takes him. Stay tuned for more updates and be sure to check out Charles’s mind-bending performances!