Poll: Billy Sheehan or Dave LaRue?

[rtav]

OK... let's say you are a producer and you find out that Billy Sheehan and Dave LaRue are both not only available, but want to work on a progressive rock project with you producing (not playing). Who do you choose, and why?

My drummer asked me this hypothetical situation and we can't decide, so he thought a poll among TBer's would help.

So who would you choose?

*edited to clarify the question*

[Eublet]

Neither. I'm going to play the bass on my own project.

[dbd1963]

I know Billy Sheehan is probably more famous, but I don't really like what he does. Dave LaRue can do anything and never sounds out of place, so I'd definitely prefer him.

[SolarMan]

So, you won't be playing bass?

(I'm going to vote Billy - everyone knows him for his "shredding" - but he can do ANYTHING!)

[rtav]

OK - I reworded the question - sorry for any confusion!

[Eublet]

In all seriousness, if the goal was to play stadiums and have the crowds go crazy, then Billy is the man for this. If the goal is to record great music that can go in a variety of different directions without having a single stylistic stamp on it by the bass player, Dave is undoubtedly more versatile in this regard.

[kevteop]

I met Dave La Rue once.

And I'm going with Billy Sheehan.

[jmac]

This, like almost every discussion here, is preference.

My preference would be Dave LaRue.

[pacojas]

BILLY =

DAVE =

[Eublet]

Originally Posted by kevteop

I met Dave La Rue once.

And I'm going with Billy Sheehan.

And I've spoken with Dave several times. Great guy. It seems you judged him on one encounter perhaps?

[MostlyBass]

Why not both?

[Eublet]

Originally Posted by jmac

This, like almost every discussion here, is preference.

My preference would be Dave LaRue.

I agree. Both guys are great players. Billy seems to have more of an easily identifiable style and approach to the instrument, which is great and unique, but also seems to kind of pigeonhole him in everything he does. That would make him perfect if you wanted that, but perhaps less perfect if you didn't.

Dave is a chameleon that can do just about anything except perhaps be Billy Sheehan.

So there you have it, IMHO.

[Meddle]

Neither! Both! Who cares. Too much reductionist and collectivist schtick on this forum.

[Eublet]

Originally Posted by Meddle

Neither! Both! Who cares. Too much reductionist and collectivist schtick on this forum.

Respectfully, I don't think this comment is fair though. People choose one person over another for all matter of business and artistic endeavors, thousands of times over, everyday, all over the world, for many different reasons. All the OP is asking is which one would you choose? This is quite different from the typical "which bass player is better" thread.

[Ric5]

Originally Posted by Eublet

Neither. I'm going to play the bass on my own project.

+1


And the best studio bassist is still Tony Levin.

[Musiclogic]

Dave LaRue. He fits with most everything he plays on, Billy's sound and style are very limited. Even doing som of the fusion stuff he has done, you can still tell it's Billy Sheehan.

Pure player preference for a project, hands down LaRue.

[El-Bob]

For prog, I would definitely have to pick LaRue.

[cnltb]

Originally Posted by dbd1963

I know Billy Sheehan is probably more famous, but I don't really like what he does. Dave LaRue can do anything and never sounds out of place, so I'd definitely prefer him.

+1.
On my own project I'd play myself though.

[4001]

Dave LaRue

[pacojas]

kinda like asking, Billy Sheehan or a guy off the street! do you want a guest celebrity on the album or someone that no one knows. i know who DL is, but can't distinguish his sound from a TB'er if blinded!

remember, Billy can bring it down a notch. can Dave take it out there?!!