I dont have aspirations to be the next wooten, but I would like to improve my playing... while solid isnt too exciting. Though I can play pick, I predominantly stick to finger playing as I prefer the tone. In the current band I'm in I play alot of 50s rock and blues with the odd country song. This music is quite simple which doesnt bother me as it pretty well suits the level I'm at. I'd consider myself to be an intermediate to upper-intermediate player.

So besides working on scales, what could I do to improve my playing? It seems to me that just playing the same songs over and over isnt bringing me to the next level. Learning new songs should help some, but what else could I do?

A practice routine is a living document and I would say you just need to figure out what you want to learn. Reading, scales, arpeggios, soloing, walking, theory, and on and on. Then write up a little schedule with a minimum amount of time like 10 minutes up to your max like hour for each topic. Then try to keep a journal especially if you don't have a lot of time to practice. Sometimes I would make a check list with a place for notes and Xerox a bunch. The reason most important thing in practice is working on everything everyday. Even if only 5 or 10 minutes. You will progress faster that way than doing a hour a couple days a week and nothing other days. In the journal write down where you left off on a topic. That way the next practice sesson you pick up where you left off and continue.

Remember you don't have alway practice with your bass. Use the bass in your head to work out a lot of things. That will optimize your time with your bass. I used to practice things while driving drilling myself on theory. Thinking about scale fingerings. I have working on transcribing bass lines while driving to work. I get to work write down some notes and check myself when I get home and back to my bass. A lot you can do without your bass. When I was young I worked in a store and as I walked around doing my work I would sing bass lines. I got some weird looks now and then, but so what I was groovin' and making money.

a journal... i like that idea, thanks!

I find that when I'm in a rut I rifle through some old BP mags or bass books and pick out 3 excercises or things that are "outside my box" and do them-this often gets me out of it. The best would be a lesson with a great teacher, although there aren't any in my town. I had one lesson with Mike Dimin a couple of years ago that blew things wide open and propelled me for almost a year. He said he has some intermediate to advanced students who take only 4 lessons a year just to shake things up.