Bill "The Buddha" Dickens

[alexssandro]

I just read this interview of the Buddha by Victor Wooten.

http://www.billthebuddhadickens.com/about/about01.html

I've heard his name and seen some pictures here and there, but I haven't heard him play yet. Would anyone care to comment on his playing, both technically and musically? It sounds like he's a real monster!!!

[Josh Ryan]

Click Bill the Buddha Dickens .com go to sound samples. there are a lot of real audio samples up. He is quite amazing, and he uses Conklins.

[Bass Guitar]

Originally posted by Blisshead
... he uses Conklins.

There is a signature 7-string Groove Tools by Conklin after his name, and he is famous for playing a 9-string.

[melvin]

About his playing:

Yes its quite amazing cause its so fricken fast, but in my opinion I dont think he could really fit in with a band, especially if they were playing a balled or something slower.

[embellisher]

Monster chops, no soul, IMHO.

[john turner]

Originally posted by melvin
About his playing:

Yes its quite amazing cause its so fricken fast, but in my opinion I dont think he could really fit in with a band, especially if they were playing a balled or something slower.

funny you should say that. he's been on tour all summer with barry manilow

[Yvon]

Originally posted by embellisher
Monster chops, no soul, IMHO.

Agreed, I downloaded the files on his web site, and I didn't like him at all.

[melvin]

Originally posted by john turner


funny you should say that. he's been on tour all summer with barry manilow

Really? Didnt know that (quite obvious), Im saying that since its all fast stuff in the things Ive heard of him.

So Ill just say what the most have said: Monster chops, no soul.

[john turner]

i've heard billy play a lot - he's got a _lot_ of soul, a _lot_ of feel. the issue here is that when he is doing a clinic or playing at a namm show, he accentuates what sets him apart from the crowd - there aren't that many guys that can play as fast or clean as him, so he focuses on that. i've seen him do things that really impress me, and believe me, i'm pretty hard to impress.

if he were to get up there and show his soul, it wouldn't be as big a sale. believe me, he's got it.

[Peter Parker]

Originally posted by john turner
i've heard billy play a lot - he's got a _lot_ of soul, a _lot_ of feel. the issue here is that when he is doing a clinic or playing at a namm show, he accentuates what sets him apart from the crowd - there aren't that many guys that can play as fast or clean as him, so he focuses on that. i've seen him do things that really impress me, and believe me, i'm pretty hard to impress.

if he were to get up there and show his soul, it wouldn't be as big a sale. believe me, he's got it.

That's probably true. I've only heard Bill in situations where technique over taste was most important to the listeners, NAMM shows and the like. I don't care for his tone or playing and when I've heard him speak, I didn't like or agree with what he had to say. I would like to hear him in a more musical atmosphere to hear what he can truly do but I don't think I'll suffer through a Barry Manilow show to do it.

[Yvon]

I think groove is ALWAYS more imprtant than technique.

Anybody listen to the song fight for your mind(live) from Ben Harper?

That bass solo is much better than anything I ever heard from Bill Dickens. Of course it's only my opinion, and I respect all of yours too. But for me speed is not important at all, it take a lot more than that to impress me.

[XavierG]

Originally posted by embellisher
Monster chops, no soul, IMHO.

Agreed. Like watching a machine play bass. (IEHO*)













*In Embellishers Humble Opinion

[melvin]

Originally posted by Yvon
I think groove is ALWAYS more imprtant than technique.

Anybody listen to the song fight for your mind(live) from Ben Harper?

That bass solo is much better than anything I ever heard from Bill Dickens. Of course it's only my opinion, and I respect all of yours too. But for me speed is not important at all, it take a lot more than that to impress me.

Juan forgot his last name (guy from Ben Harper) is a groove machine.

[Bass Guitar]

Originally posted by melvin
Juan forgot his last name (guy from Ben Harper) is a groove machine.

Juan Nelson.

A self-confessed funk bass player.

[Peter Parker]

I agree that the groove is the most important thing but unfortunatley at the big shows nobody grooves, they just shred. I personally don't care for the shredding but that's all anyone does at NAMM and there's a horde of people hanging around just waiting to blow smoke up someone's ass about how fast and great they are. You read the article Victor Wooten wrote on Bill and you see he's the same way. The thing that got VIC to notice Bill was how fast he could play.

[narud]

i just checked out the sound files on his site and i liked his playing. he can solo in an eighth note feel through changes. imo, something you should be able to do when you're in that category of players. i hear "virtousos" just wiggle their fingers in the upper register of a 6 string and do the stanley style b.s. runs, but dont hear any harmony.

i also thought from the limited examples i heard that he seemed to have a great groove and a definite command of the instrument. it wasnt something i would clasify as monster chops and no soul, but maybe i need to hear more of his playing.

[Josh Ryan]

Originally posted by john turner
i've heard billy play a lot - he's got a _lot_ of soul, a _lot_ of feel. the issue here is that when he is doing a clinic or playing at a namm show, he accentuates what sets him apart from the crowd - there aren't that many guys that can play as fast or clean as him, so he focuses on that. i've seen him do things that really impress me, and believe me, i'm pretty hard to impress.

if he were to get up there and show his soul, it wouldn't be as big a sale. believe me, he's got it.

This is very true, as proof, check the discography on his site. He did the bass for the Cosby show damn it!!

[The Mock Turtle Regulator]

I like the tracks on his site with chordal playing, but on the high C and F strings it sounds virtually identical to a guitar- or is that the whole point?