Charles Berthoud Interview | Berklee and Beyond

We’re used to Laney shipping us awesome stuff from across the pond, but they really outdid themselves this time. Because instead of just a few amazing amps and cabs, they sent the one and only Charles Berthoud!

And while he was here, we got to sit down with him to talk all about how he developed his signature two-handed tapping technique, his time at Berklee, and all about the new Laney DBF200H bass amp. Check out the AMS interview right here!

You might have noticed a few extra amps and cabs in the background for this video, and that’s because Laney just released a ton of new stuff, like the brand-new Digbeth Foundry 200-watt bass amp — or more commonly known as the Laney DBF200H.

Charles plays a lot of different styles. We all know he plays ridiculous tapping solo bass pieces from his ever-popular YouTube Channel, but did you know he was also in a Celtic bluegrass band called Cat and the Moon, a nine-piece Afro-Celtic Funk band called Soulsha, and a pop band called Skyler and the Brit — I guess he was the Brit…?

With that many genres to play, Charles needs a super-versatile amp that can keep up with his ever-changing needs. That’s where the Laney DBF200H comes in.

Charles likes to keep his amp dialed in at almost noon across the board with a slight mid scoop. Then he adjusts accordingly depending on what style he’s playing. According to Charles, the sign of a good amp is when you can have everything just about level and it still sounds good.

Because of its versatility, decent power, and price point, the Laney Digbeth Foundry is a perfect bass amp for anyone looking to get into the Digbeth world. It has just enough features to satisfy even expert-level players like Charles Berthoud without paralyzing newbies with too many options.

And if you're not a fan of head + cab setups, it's your lucky day! Because Laney also released four combo versions of the Digbeth Foundry in 8", 10", 12", and 15" variants. 

One listen to Charles Berthoud and you can instantly tell he has a very unique way of playing the bass — that or maybe he’s secretly two people. How did he discover his two-handed tapping technique? Apparently from the piano.

When Charles was 7, his parents signed him up for piano lessons. While he did enjoy classical piano, he wasn’t passionate about it. But he did discover a natural talent with hand separation.

Then one day, he heard Victor Wooten’s “Overjoyed.” That changed the game. Charles absolutely loved the sound and feel of the song. Then he caught a glimpse of Stuart Hamm, and it was all over. Charles decided to learn tap bass for himself and see how far he could take it.

Yeah, tapping can get flashy. But according to Charles, the key isn’t to be overly technical; it’s to be musical. Sure, you can show off and be flashy, but make sure it fits with the song and style. He always hears the melodies in his head when playing.

What’s on the horizon for Charles Berthoud? A few weeks after we filmed the interview, Charles got to go to Berklee, where he teaches, to jam with the legendary Victor Wooten! In a full-circle moment, Charles will get to play with one of his biggest bass heroes — who may or may not think he’s AI… Here at AMS, we know how much fun jamming with Victor Wooten can be!

Charles is also gearing up for the Escape the Internet Tour with fellow YouTuber BERNTH October 2025. They’re going to be taking on Asia and Australia after their successful European tour earlier this year.

Charles says it’s great to get out from behind the camera to play live. Anyone can play ridiculous compositions in their bedrooms when they have unlimited takes and a perfect environment, but it’s a very different thing when you’re on a stage in front of thousands of fans and you only have one take — just ask some… other YouTubers…

But while playing live might be a bit more daunting than playing for a camera in your home, the personal interaction with the fans can’t be overstated. According to Charles, “One of the main reasons that I do all this is to inspire people to play music.” Playing for the internet just brings back numbers and graphs. Playing live lets you talk directly to the fans and watch them interact with the music. It’s a wonderful thing!

People get to see him have fun on stage and maybe think to themselves, “I could have fun, too.” Then they go out and get themselves a bass.

When it comes to music, or even content creation for that matter, Charles says that it’s less important to play the right notes and more important to have fun. “You gotta have fun while you’re doing it. If you’re not having fun, they’re not having fun.” And if your audience isn’t having fun, would they listen to your music in the first place?

You can pick out a Laney amp from a mile away because of their unique sound, and you can pick out Charles Berthoud from even farther because of his unique technique. Two uniques must make a right, right...? because when Charles Berthoud plugs his Schecter bass into a Laney amp, magical things happen.

A huge shoutout to Charles Berthoud for swimming across the ocean (jk, he flew (I think...)) to hang out with us for the afternoon. We didn’t know a bass could make those sounds! And another huge shoutout to Laney for making it happen. Don’t forget to subscribe to the AMS YouTube channel for tons more content just like this, and grab all your favorite Laney goodies right here at American Musical Supply.