The Jimi Hendrix of Bass

[tch90]

Jimi Hendrix was a man beyond his time in terms of music and his life. His guitar playing changed the face of music and the colors he created through his songs painted emotions we can not describe on our own. Who would you pick as the equivalent to the bass guitar and why?

[JimmyM]

why? i think that's self-explanatory.

[Jefenator]

That would be Jaco.

[Bloodywanker1]

Michael Manring...! The man.

[champbassist]

Can't really think of any equivalent apart from Jaco.
May be John Paul Jones if we're talking about rock.

[HeavyRockBasser]

Jimi was one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century. Not only was he a complete master of electric guitar, he was also a pretty good bassist in his own right. He performed much of the bass work on Electric Ladyland, and all of the bass work on a little known disc called La Dorriella Du Fontaine. He wrote incredibly creative songs and lyrics, and made major contributions to rock, blues, and jazz. He was incredibly prolific, creating a massive body of work, mostly within just the four years preceeding his murder. I have almost fifty of his discs, and there are still hundreds (maybe thousands) of hours of stuff we still haven't heard, yet.

I'm not sure how you could compare him to a bassist. There are very few guitarists you could compare to him. Robin Trower is most frequently compared to Hendrix, but it hurt his career more than it helped it. Robin doesn't deny the Hendrix influence, but Robin Trower does Robin Trower. I've never even heard him do a Hendrix cover, and I've got everything by him, too.

I play a lot of Hendrix, but I wouldn't ever compare myself to him. Noel and Billy, maybe, but not Jimi. hrb

[Andrew Jones]

IMHO

Larry Grahm.

[billy ayers]

artfully said, HRB. right on.

[KNURRR]

Easy pick... Jaco ofc!

[Codymb]

Similar in so many ways; innovative, creative, changed the way people thought about their instrument, insane stage antics, drug problems, died way too young.



/THREAD

[Chrisk-K]

Sir Paul, hands down.

[Orchardlows]

I think of Jaco more like the Andres Segovia of bass.

I love Jimi Hendrix, but the truth is that I don't hear many serious guitar players talking about him. He is a youth fantasy, something that people mature past, and something that is taught to first year guitar students.

I think Larry Graham and Jimi Hendrix are a lot alike in what they meant to their instrument. They both require some chops, very situation to play in the style of, flashy, and often covered by 14 year olds on youtube.

[idoru]

Jimi was a household name - I think if you're going to proclaim the 'Jimi of bass' he'd have to fulfill the same criteria. Narrows the field a little, as very few non-musicians even know what a bass is, let alone the dudes playing them.

c-

[KNURRR]

I don't know how much serious guitar players talks about Jimi, but maybe they talk about him less because of two suspect reasons: first, just a guess, but is it possible that he is too established and therefore taken for granted?! second, technicallywise there are sure alot of other players now that can do even more crazy stuff with theri guitars.
But for me, and i guess i'm one of many, Jimi was a pure artist. His music has this magic of evoking strong emotions. imo, he was a master in stylizing, providing timbres that are more shining and electrifying than it's actual frequency... i don't know how to express it. It's like more green than green, more red than red and more blue than blue. He was a very poetic man.

For me Jaco has this same artistic source, but realized very different.

Just my personal thoughts.

[blackbass54]

Larry Graham changed the way the bass guitar is played probably forever. He's also very respectful and down-to-earth if you ever get a chance to talk to him.

[Thunder_Fingers]

Originally Posted by idoru

Jimi was a household name - I think if you're going to proclaim the 'Jimi of bass' he'd have to fulfill the same criteria. Narrows the field a little, as very few non-musicians even know what a bass is, let alone the dudes playing them.

c-

By that standard, I would say Geddy Lee.

[D.M.N.]

Seriously, no mention of Entwistle?

[fenderphil]

bootsy baby!

[__HM__]

Talking persona, I'd have to say Bootsy. But over all, I'm gonna go with Mr. Graham.

[murseli]

Originally Posted by Orchardlows

I love Jimi Hendrix, but the truth is that I don't hear many serious guitar players talking about him. He is a youth fantasy, something that people mature past, and something that is taught to first year guitar students.

I think Larry Graham and Jimi Hendrix are a lot alike in what they meant to their instrument. They both require some chops, very situation to play in the style of, flashy, and often covered by 14 year olds on youtube.

If this is the criteria, then I would suggest it would be Flea. I love Jimi Hendrix playing, and I certainly like Fleas playing too and he indeed was one of the influences along Geddy and few other players that made me want to choose bass in the first place.

On the other hand, if we compare as a person then I'd say Jaco would be more reasonable comparison.

Though honestly, I don't really like to compare people, too much variables and umm, stuff. You could name anyone as long as you come up with some explanation. (Don't know if this was actually the intention )