Can a bass player

[JAUQO III-X]

Can a bass player them self, really be their favorite bass player?

[Meyatch]

are you asking for permission?

[waynobass]

Yes. I think that's a good attitude. There's too much hero worship in "the bass community."

[Deluge Of Sound]

Entirely possible, but I'm not mine.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by Meyatch

are you asking for permission?

No not at all.

I could never think that I myself could be my favorite bass player, especially when I don't have a favorite at all.


How does one really have the ability to think such a thing about them self with out putting ego in the way? and believing the hype that they may have about themselves, created by them.

[Dave Muscato]

I'm confused as to what you're asking... you mean, can a bassist be his own favorite bassist?

In that case, sure. Your favorite can be anybody you'd like. But, I'd be careful about going around and telling people that you're your own favorite. It's akin to a millionaire saying he's his own favorite charity.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by Dave Muscato

I'm confused as to what you're asking... you mean, can a bassist be his own favorite bassist?

Yes.

Originally Posted by Dave Muscato

I'd be careful about going around and telling people that you're your own favorite.

I totally agree.

[Dr_Funkdamental]

As much as some misinterpret it as arrogance, I think you can. I think ppl often relate "favorite" with a background nuance of "looking up to", partly because alot of bass players equate their fav bassist's skills with what they wish they had.

[()smoke()]

i think so...and although it's probably widely assumed that this would be narcissism of the worst kind, i'm not sure that i think it is actually a bad thing in all instances

in a very ideal world, if one doesn't think he/she is the best at what he/she does, there could be argument for one to stop doing what he/she does

[dukerutledge]

This is a question best posed to Jaco...

[Dr_Funkdamental]

Originally Posted by Dave Muscato

It's akin to a millionaire saying he's his own favorite charity.

I guess I have to disagree with this. I think its more like a car engineer saying his car is his fav to drive.

[tmart937]

If you listen to your own bass lines and say 'I wish I could play like that!'. Then yes you can be your own favorite bass player.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by dukerutledge

This is a question best posed to Jaco...

That is close to where my head is. I'm pretty sure that Jaco was Jaco's favorite player with the possible exception of Jerry Jemmott.

[*smb]

Sure, why not. I've heard plenty of people say they're in their favourite band. If you don't like what you're doing artistically, you're doing it wrong.

[Nikoubis]

The thread title led me to think something along the lines of "bass player in a can".

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by ()smoke()

in a very ideal world, if one doesn't think he/she is the best at what he/she does, there could be argument for one to stop doing what he/she does

There really is a difference in being proud that you may feel that you are the best vs you being your favorite bassist.

I was in a music store a few years ago with Bernard Purdie and we were in the drum department and there was a drummer there(he didn't know who Bernard was)and me and him started a conversation and during this conversation I asked him who was his favorite drummer, he ran of a few names and then he included himself(and yes the tone was of strong arrogance) , so I waited for the right moment and asked him would he mind if I checked him out on a kit.

When he got on the kit he was just terrible. Timing was horrible, etc. and I think he really didn't have a clue that he was so bad.

[Jonyak]

Originally Posted by ()smoke()

i think so...and although it's probably widely assumed that this would be narcissism of the worst kind, i'm not sure that i think it is actually a bad thing in all instances

in a very ideal world, if one doesn't think he/she is the best at what he/she does, there could be argument for one to stop doing what he/she does

if one thinks they are the best at something then what would be the reason to get any better??

[tZer]

That's a very hard to answer question.

Because a 'favorite' can be designated for a wide variety of reasons; Favorite technical player, favorite because of accessibility, favorite because of the way they handle their role in a band - it's hard to imagine any single player being or remaining one's favorite.

My favorite "rock" player was John Paul Jones - then Geddy Lee and Chris Squire. I modeled my playing style after these guys initially and really enjoyed my own execution of that amalgam - but I couldn't be my own favorite because then I discovered Stanley Clarke, Jaco, Victor Wooten and more...

I began to blend aspects of their styles into my personal amalgam - but then I discovered...

If you designate yourself as your favorite - to me that implies you've stopped being impressed by what other players do and see no need to update your style to adopt what you've been impressed by. That sounds like creative death to me...

[cnltb]

sure, I recon.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by tZer

If you designate yourself as your favorite - to me that implies you've stopped being impressed by other players to the point that you want to update your style. That sounds like creative death to me...

I think that may be a strong possibility.