Better bassist;Prince or Lenny Kravitz?

bassist15 · #1 03-12-2006, 12:33 PM

I know this is a matter of opinion but both of these guys can play mutiple instruments but who do you think is the better bassist. Ive only heard Lenny so i really dont know. I've been listening to Baptism by Kravitz and he has some very nice bass lines. CAn anyone recommend me some Prince cds that show his real funky side , with funky bass and all? Also the same for Mr. Kravtiz cause all I have is Baptism.

Crockettnj · #2 03-12-2006, 01:23 PM

while we are on the topic , let's toss George Michael into the mix.

Some very tastey bass lines on his OLDER (non wham thank you) era stuff.

Shearstown · #3 03-12-2006, 01:36 PM

Prince for me

James Hart · #4 03-12-2006, 01:41 PM

I own everything that Lenny has released and love his sound and vibe. Prince may be a more well rounded musician... but I don't listen to the disc or 2 of his I own that often (hardly ever actually)

Chopper · #5 03-12-2006, 01:47 PM

Prince

Dr. Cheese · #6 03-12-2006, 02:35 PM

I really like both guys. They are really apples and oranges. Lenny Kravitz is very into a classic rock sort of vibe. I remember how much he sounded like McCartney on "Let Love Rule." I also remember cool stuff on his "Mamma Said" album and that the bass line to "Kalifornia" on his current CD.

Prince is a funk monster straight out of the Larry Graham school. Check out "Head" from "Dirty Mind" or "Do Me Baby," "Lady Cab Driver," or "Let's Work." All of that stuff is super funky with great thumped/slapped basslines.

I say it's a draw. Both can really nail their influences, but their music is too different for direct comparison.

JRB · #7 03-12-2006, 02:39 PM

Prince, is a mind blowing musician. I have seen him live and his bass playing is very Larry Graham, funky and solid. As an over all musician he is a better guitar player but great as both. I don't want to say one is better then the other but I like Prince's playing more.

bassist15 · #8 03-12-2006, 05:51 PM

What cds by Prince have alot of his funky lines?

i_got_a_mohawk · #9 03-12-2006, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crockettnj

while we are on the topic , let's toss George Michael into the mix.

Some very tastey bass lines on his OLDER (non wham thank you) era stuff.

Hehehe, George Micheal . . . toss . . . hehehehe

Why Price? "Morris Day and the Time" all the way!

DWBass · #10 03-12-2006, 06:34 PM

Prince is years ahead of Lenny in terms of bass playing skills! Probably all instruments for that matter! Both do a great job of creating and recording their music by themselves! Lenny was heavily influenced by Prince in his early days and even tried to copy the look and sound until he came into his own! Remember Romeo Blue?

SGT. Pepper · #11 03-12-2006, 07:15 PM

Prince gets it by a hair.

Matt Till · #12 03-12-2006, 08:15 PM

Prince. That said, I prefer Lenny's (earlier) music. He seems to be trying for the "sensitive rocker" thing. If we are going by hair, cutting off his dreads = selling out.

The Metallica theory.

mcbc · #13 03-12-2006, 08:42 PM

+1 Prince. look for princes "black album" he plays mostly bass on this album.

**j-raj** · #14 03-12-2006, 09:54 PM

Prince.

willgroove2 · #15 03-13-2006, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

Hehehe, George Micheal . . . toss . . . hehehehe

Why Price? "Morris Day and the Time" all the way!

prince and Morris day played most of the instruments on the time's records

jerry · #16 03-13-2006, 04:02 AM

They both took past genres of music and built on them with their own unique voices. That said.......Prince can throw down!!!

JimK · #17 03-13-2006, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willgroove2

prince and Morris day played most of the instruments on the time's records

Morris Day?
I was not a huge fan of The Time; I just assumed Day was the frontman/hipster-doofus while Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, & Jesse Johnson did the music.

Best version of "The Bird" I ever heard was from a local '80s Top-40 band called The Squares(Oteil on bass)...made me run out & buy Ice Cream Castles ASAP.
The Time's version was a let-down.

DWBass · #18 03-13-2006, 05:46 AM

I believe Morris Day was a drummer originally but had so much charisma and lead singer qualities he was picked by default(see Stokely/Mint Condition)! If I'm not mistaken, Alexander O'Neal was the first choice/auditioned for that spot.

jerry · #19 03-13-2006, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWBass

I believe Morris Day was a drummer originally but had so much charisma and lead singer qualities he was picked by default(see Stokely/Mint Condition)!

It's another topic, but Mint Condition are great!!! I think they are one of the most overlooked R&B bands out there! Man, can they play!

sorry for the hi-jack.

Billy Low · #20 03-13-2006, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist15

What cds by Prince have alot of his funky lines?

"For You", "Prince", "Dirty Mind", "Minneapolis Geniuses",

For the most part, Prince writes most of his hits sans bassline! He pretty much uses the bass as accent. This was very common when he was more into his synth-rock days. I saw a rare interview with him where he states that the bassline is usually the last piece to his musical puzzle. He continues to state that he had been encumbured in his earlier writing by allowing the bassline/drummer dominate the direction of a song. In alot of his tunes you can hear that the bassline is very transparent, implied, or non-existant.

Most of the bass players that have played for him have echoed the amount of talent he has as a bass player. When he does record with a bass, he shows the bass player EXACTLY what to play. Or so I've heard...