Bass Guitar Hero

[Sceptical1]

So who's your favorite bass guitarist and who do they play with? Why exactly do you think bass guitarists don't get as much recognition? Do prefer it that way? Personally I really like the subtlety to a certain extent. Also (this is random) are there any good bassists you know who play for hip hop artists?

[AcidFripp]

John Paul Jones and Geddy Lee are the greatest, in my opinion.

Arif Mirabdolbaghi (Protest The Hero) is absolutely brilliant, though. He's a hero of some sort, I think. Those chops... damn.

[fhm555]

The tightest, most tasty band I've ever seen live was Big Daddy Kinsey and the Kinsey Report. I've also been a fan of Tommy Shannon since I heard him with Johnny Winter.

[StrangerDanger]

I'm not crazy about the term "bass guitarist" for some reason. I prefer "bassist" or "bass player". But, I digress. My favorites are Phil Lesh, Goerge Porter Jr., Dave Schools, and Willie Weeks.

[PSPookie]

Phil Lesh is the man.

[CauliColin]

The first of a million to say Cliff Burton
That and John Paul Jones.

[Tituscrow]

Ron Royce, Phil Dakin, Rob Wright, Geddy, Les, Larry Boothroyd, Steve Harris, Michael Manring, Squarepusher...too many to name just one.

Even though I think it's programmed, the bass 'work' on The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy album is pretty damn cool.

[Matthew_84]

The bassist on the first Arctic Monkeys' album did a lot for me. That was my favourite band at the time and it was right when I started playing. The lines were fairly easy, but REALLY fun to play. He usually had his own catchy melody grooving underneath those guitars. It gave a huge chest of stuff to work with for my first year or two... Now I'd say Jamerson or Geddy Lee though.

[Meddle]

Originally Posted by StrangerDanger

I'm not crazy about the term "bass guitarist" for some reason.

I'm in the same boat. Its not the term as such, but the connotations. It implies all the worst "failed guitarist" or "two less strings" stereotypes out there, and also implies that as a species we have he same egotistical and vanity issues that guitards have.

[afinalfantasy]

Toshiya from Dir en grey for me.

[Russell L]

I have no idols. I've played a lot of Allman Brothers, though, so I like Berry Oakley (and I like the way he thought about wanting his bass to just be a tractor, simple). I've picked out Jack Bruce and James Jamerson parts, well, and many others in order to play covers, but can't say that I've studied anyone in particular. Some bassists who I hear folks rave about don't necessarily impress me as being anything so special. In my mind, they are just doing what they do, just like I do what I do. I know theory very well and have always figured things out for myself.

Back when I was playing jazz guitar a lot, a friend of mine who had just done a little stint with Sinatra came out to the club one night where I was doing a six-nights-a-week gig. I asked him how my playing sounded. he just said, "Hey, man, you do what you do, I do what I do." No way would he grade me.