Go Back   TalkBass Forums > Bass Guitar Forums > Bass Guitar Forums > Bassists [BG]
Register Rules/FAQ/CUP Members List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read



Supporting Membership
Thank You

Latest Supporting Member
Donate to Upgrade Today

View Poll Results: Talent and Creativity: Harris or Ellefson?
Steve Harris 74 80.43%
Dave Ellefson 18 19.57%
Voters: 92. You may not vote on this poll

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
  #1  
Old 06-26-2008, 08:42 PM
bassalo's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: CT
Supporting Member
Steve Harris vs. Dave Ellefson

Sign in to disble this ad
I'm a closet metal head, but I love Jazz, Funk, Blues...my iPod is full of it all. However, my top 2 influences in my favorite music genre are Steve and Dave....I have an idea who will win this poll as the 'better bassist', but...I feel both are VERY talented, unique in their own way, etc.

...consider their playing styles and how their lines fit the respective songs they played. Which one is BOTH more talented AND better at writing bass lines that FIT the songs they played them for?
__________________
Hagstrom #1 | Fender Precision #538 | Carvin #196 | Five String Club #67
MIA Precision | Carvin SB4000 | Carvin Icon 5W | Hagstrom HB-4 | SWR

Last edited by bassalo : 06-26-2008 at 08:47 PM. Reason: spelling correction...who cares???
  #2  
Old 06-26-2008, 08:44 PM
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2008
I perfer Ellefson, myself. I think Steve Harris is awesome, but he plays too much like a guitarist for my liking. I'm also going to get flamed for that, but w/e.
  #3  
Old 06-26-2008, 08:53 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Burlington, NJ
Send a message via AIM to DayoftheGreek
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrBorisSpider View Post
I perfer Ellefson, myself. I think Steve Harris is awesome, but he plays too much like a guitarist for my liking. I'm also going to get flamed for that, but w/e.
I just think you are very wrong. I don't think Steve Harris plays like a guitarist at all. I don't know too many guitarists who rock the three note gallop for a lot of their songs. I feel like he fills the bassist role perfectly. He does jump into the higher registers and plays some fills, so I can see where you are coming from... but only a bit.
  #4  
Old 06-26-2008, 09:13 PM
Lesfunk's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: S.E. Connecticut, USA
Supporting Member
Steve Harris with no reservations.
  #5  
Old 06-26-2008, 09:20 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Boca Raton, Florida
My vote is for Steve Harris
Dave Ellefson is no slouch either
__________________
"I cannot teach anybody anything; I can only make them think" – Socrates
Bongo Club Member #28: Florida Bassists Club #15: Avatar Owners Member #52
  #6  
Old 06-26-2008, 09:23 PM
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2008
Quote:
Originally Posted by DayoftheGreek View Post
I just think you are very wrong. I don't think Steve Harris plays like a guitarist at all. I don't know too many guitarists who rock the three note gallop for a lot of their songs. I feel like he fills the bassist role perfectly. He does jump into the higher registers and plays some fills, so I can see where you are coming from... but only a bit.
Again, I love Harris for his presence, his attitude, what he brought to bass etc. But I don't like him stylistically. He is a one-trick pony. He either gallops or plays pentatonic runs. His tone is awesome, mind you.
  #7  
Old 06-26-2008, 09:25 PM
Lesfunk's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: S.E. Connecticut, USA
Supporting Member
So he's really a 2 trick pony!
  #8  
Old 06-26-2008, 09:27 PM
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2008
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lesfunk View Post
So he's really a 2 trick pony!
  #9  
Old 06-26-2008, 09:30 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Westfield, MA, USA
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrBorisSpider View Post
Again, I love Harris for his presence, his attitude, what he brought to bass etc. But I don't like him stylistically. He is a one-trick pony. He either gallops or plays pentatonic runs. His tone is awesome, mind you.
Steve Harris is the founding member, leader, primary composer and bass player for one of the longest running and most important metal bands of all time.

Dave Ellefson is just some guy who did what he was told in a fairly trivial band.
  #10  
Old 06-26-2008, 09:35 PM
landry.bass's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Peterborough Ontario Canada
Supporting Member
What a hard choice... I think that they are both amazing... really, REALLY amazing. Ellefson was my hero for a long time. But now, Harris is one of my biggest heros. I think that really, IMHO they actually are almost on the same level. Ellefson fills in the low end a little better I think, but that being said, I don't think that thats all bass is about. On the other hand though, Steve has a much more defined style that lends to the overall appeal of Maiden. So I'm gonna give them each a breakdown of different traits. Please, no one take any of this too personally.

Tone - David Ellefson I think has superior bass tone in general, right from the beginning of Megadeth. Even on their first album it is solid and low and defined. That being said, Steve Harris also has amazing tone, but I don't find it as strong as Dave's.

Creativity - This has simply to do with basslines. I give more points to Harris here, but really not by alot. Ellefson's basslines are actually underappreciated IME. If you listen to Megadeth basslines, there are actually quite a few lines that don't follow the guitar, and do their own thing. However, Harris is quite creative with his lines, and shows them off a bit more (in a good way).

Bare Bones - Um, this means really just holding down the rythm, and providing a solid base to the music. I call it a tie. Ellefson is a super solid straight eights or sixteenths kind of guy alot of the time, giving some of the riffs a more ordered listenable sound. Harris however has that amazing gallop that just ties everything together along with the drums.

Style - Harris wins. While Ellefson does have hi own style, I think it's less unique. He knows how to be a great bassist that holds to tradition, but also ventures off of the beaten path. Harris though lends alot more to the songs in general than Ellefson. I hate to say it considering my huge respect for Ellefson, but Dave is more replaceable. Harris just has this awesome style that always works with everything and is so integral to Maiden's sound. A true bass master.

So, they're both awesome and they both rank in my top five bassists, but I think just by a little bit Harris is better. Just IMO though,
__________________
P-Bass Club member # 545
Spector Club member # 111

What do you mean I hurt your feelings? I didn't know you had any feelings...
  #11  
Old 06-26-2008, 09:48 PM
landry.bass's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Peterborough Ontario Canada
Supporting Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by projectMalamute View Post
Dave Ellefson is just some guy who did what he was told in a fairly trivial band.
Sorry, I just noticed this. Um, I think you're dismissing Ellefson a little much. True he didn't have as huge a part in writing and such as Harris did/does in Maiden, but he definately wasn't just a "do as your told bassist". Also, Megadeth isn't really a trivial metal band. They are a massively successful metal band. Maybe not as much as Maiden, but 20 million albums isn't at all insignificant or trivial, neither is being nominated for seven grammies (they should have beat Enter Sandman with Hangar 18).
__________________
P-Bass Club member # 545
Spector Club member # 111

What do you mean I hurt your feelings? I didn't know you had any feelings...
  #12  
Old 06-26-2008, 09:50 PM
Lesfunk's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: S.E. Connecticut, USA
Supporting Member
I have reason to believe that Dave Ellefson was heavily Ghosted during Megadeths height of popularity.
  #13  
Old 06-26-2008, 10:04 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Edinboro, PA
Send a message via AIM to Matt Till
Vs. threads were banned from TB. It's been made apparent why within theses few posts, it's just an excuse for pointless fighting.
__________________
Mediocre Bassist Club Member #4
  #14  
Old 06-26-2008, 10:06 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Edinboro, PA
Send a message via AIM to Matt Till
That said, I voted for Ellefson, no question.
__________________
Mediocre Bassist Club Member #4
  #15  
Old 06-26-2008, 10:16 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Steve Harris all the way.
  #16  
Old 06-26-2008, 10:19 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Harris owns all the posers
__________________
Battles, Blonde Redhead, The Mars Volta, and Hella = Best bands :D
Quote:
Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X View Post
I say lets Plek the Panda :)
  #17  
Old 06-26-2008, 10:23 PM
robertusf's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Chicagoland
Supporting Member
Harris, but Ellefson was good on Peace Sells

Harris definitely no question.

Ellefson, however had some great bass lines on Peace Sells but who's Buying.

Take a listen to 'The Conjuring' off that Cd....and of course the main hook to the title track


But, HARRIS!
__________________
Fender American Jazz, The Fender Jazz Bass Club #657, Ampeg PF500
Square Peach Royalty Free Music
  #18  
Old 06-26-2008, 10:27 PM
Eublet's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Supporting Member
I think these comparisons would be cool if you could have them go back in time, have them switch bands, and then see what happens. Would both bands "make it." If so, what would the tunes be like? That would kind of tell you how good or important they were.

Otherwise, I'm just glad I don't have to choose, but I'm not really a fan of either of them, or their bands. Good stuff, just not really a fan.
__________________
Jason
  #19  
Old 06-26-2008, 10:35 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Earth
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrBorisSpider View Post
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by danjl131 View Post
oh by the way here's some fancy english if thats what ur looking for: You are an inept maestro. Have a jocular day, you unpleasant drip.
  #20  
Old 06-26-2008, 10:42 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Long Island N.Y.
Gotta bow out of this one, too tough to decide!
__________________
Lone Wolf - No Club
Closed Thread


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

Follow TalkBass on Twitter   Visit TalkBass on Facebook  

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:38 PM.




Copyright 2011 Talk Music Group Inc. All rights reserved.
Play guitar? Visit our new sister site TalkGuitar.com [beta]
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.12
Copyright ©2000 - 2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.