Cliff Burton or Rex Brown?

TSkills · #1 05-14-2010, 10:16 PM

Tone, technique, influence...whatever you think

Cliff or Rex?

Hollywars · #2 05-14-2010, 10:18 PM

Well, Rex always held it down in the pocket. Not a flashy player. He supported the band well, and I think he is probably one of the few musicians who deserves a signature instrument.

However, I think Cliff was probably much better. I don't think that he changed music though really. I don't really feel like he has a signature sound or style, besides maybe making fingerstyle in metal and rock legitimate in the 80's.

metallicafan18 · #3 05-14-2010, 10:20 PM

I like Cliff better because he changed the whole view of Metal bass playing IMHO. And he was a super cool guy and wasn't stuck up and greedy. He just wanted to make music.

Sartori · #4 05-14-2010, 11:47 PM

I prefer Cliff, but mainly for his influence on Metallica's songwriting. Unfortunately buried in Metallica's mixes on the albums, he was a competent bassist but a very good songwriter. Rex is awesome, too, though.

IPS · #5 05-15-2010, 01:18 AM

they are both good and have very different styles, like its been said, rex played great in the pocket. I think metallica would be a much different band today if cliff were still here and his work is also enjoyable. Sense when did music become a competition, ive never understood teh bassist vs threads, sure some musicians are better than others but when your talking about two obviously talented people, I just dont get it.

Sartori · #6 05-15-2010, 01:52 AM

Indeed, both were suited to their bands.

tycobb73 · #7 05-15-2010, 09:08 AM

Its hard to tell because the band dynamic was so different. Metallica was awash in guitars whereas Pantera - Rex was more often than not the one holding the song together.

somegeezer · #8 05-15-2010, 09:12 AM

Cliff all the way. Not only because his role within the band [as far as composition, not in recording] was quite prominent, but he also did what no other bassist in Metal was doing at the time. He brought fingerstyle and lead bass into the public eye so to speak.

chanson · #9 05-15-2010, 09:15 AM

Cliff was just as much in the pocket as Rex was, in my opinion. Listen to some isolated bass tracks of Cliff and you'll be impressed. People always label him as a flashy lead player, but in truth there were only a couple songs where he played like this. The rest of the time he was laying down the low end and doing a good job at it.

TheHegemon · #10 05-15-2010, 01:36 PM

^this is true, he was pretty in the pocket in most of their songs.

Im dead even on this one, love em both

Kromwarp · #11 05-15-2010, 01:39 PM

Yeah, its hard to choose between them, because they both have a different influence on my playing, though I would say my tone is closer to Rex's

slipkyes · #12 05-15-2010, 01:44 PM

It's a really strange question, each one is like the total opposite of what metal bass players should be, one the very flashy and melodic type of metal bass and the other the super solid and groovey metal bass, both kings of their own craft

Sbociol · #13 05-15-2010, 01:45 PM

Rex hands down,monstruous tone and bottom end.This is my favourite bass line from him

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBEi4SOJsT0

Darkstrike · #14 05-15-2010, 01:53 PM

Rex's style and tone is far, far more interesting to me. Then again, I also think Jason was the better fit for Metallica than Cliff.

HollowSound95 · #15 05-15-2010, 01:56 PM

Their styles are really different but I feel like Cliff was more of an innovator. Rex probably doesn't get enough recognition though. As musically competent as Cliff was, Rex did get a scholarship to play bass for the University of Texas.
Cliff influenced my 3 finger technique and chops, Rex influenced my tone and role in a band

Daveomd · #16 05-15-2010, 02:02 PM

Apples and oranges as far as style, but Rex has been around longer and had more time to mature so IMO plays what is better for the song plus his tone is insane. Love 'em both, though. Orion or STFU!

Qvist · #17 05-16-2010, 05:23 AM

I'm a big fan of both of them, and equally inspired by them. Cliff as a musician, and Rex as a bass player.

tom once dead · #18 05-16-2010, 05:48 AM

Rex hands down. Better tone, better grove, better style of playing.

bstringkyle · #19 06-13-2010, 12:51 PM

I like Cliff Burton more. He is a great player and really changed metal bass playing. Rex is also a great player, though.

RandomRaab · #20 06-13-2010, 01:04 PM

I like Rex a little bit more, he played a key role in developing the groove metal sound in Pantera, and when he wanted to, he could play some great jazz inspired lines, like the walking bass line he plays underneath the Floods Solo. That one is my favorite.