The bassplayer equivalent to U2's The Edge?

BassMonstrum · #1 07-02-2010, 11:33 AM

I guess we can all agree that The Edge (guitarists, for those who don't know) pretty much needs his gigantic FX-rack. I once saw a clip where some guy played The Edge's guitarlines first with all effects, then without; I was pretty shocked to learn how effortless one can play these songs as long as you have the right gear.

So my question is; who is the bassequivalent of The Edge?

And oh; while they are not my cup of tea, I have nothing against U2.

dalkowski · #2 07-02-2010, 11:36 AM

I'll open with Simon Raymonde of Cocteau Twins.

NicJimBass · #3 07-02-2010, 11:37 AM

While I don't think there are many bass players that could get away with playing simple stuff like the Edge has, I would put either Juan Alderete or Justin Meldal Johnson in league with him, simply due to the number of effects either uses, and their effectiveness (no pun intended).

**jmattbassplaya** · #4 07-02-2010, 11:39 AM

Justin Chancellor (Tool) and Chris Wolstenholme (Muse) come to mind pretty quick.

MNAirHead · #5 07-02-2010, 11:41 AM

Is the question who relies on effects.

Bootsy

BassMonstrum · #6 07-02-2010, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

Justin Chancellor (Tool) and Chris Wolstenholme (Muse) come to mind pretty quick.

I do love both bands, but you're quite right.

rratajski · #7 07-02-2010, 11:43 AM

Yeah, Chancellor and Wolstenholme don't play anything complicated...Are you nuts?!

I am neither a TOOL nor a Muse fan, but I what I do know by the bands' songs that I know is that they are not effortless songs. Sorry man. Just because they're not playing runs upon runs doesn't mean it's simple.

kid_AbC · #8 07-02-2010, 11:47 AM

If you watch the documentary "It Might Get Loud" The Edge himself talks about (and demonstrates) how simplistic his playing style is without all the delay and stuff.

BTW, I've been a lurker here for sometime, I don't post often. I'm Chris, nice to meet y'all

BassMonstrum · #9 07-02-2010, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rratajski

Yeah, Chancellor and Wolstenholme don't play anything complicated...Are you nuts?!

I am neither a TOOL nor a Muse fan, but I what I do know by the bands' songs that I know is that they are not effortless songs. Sorry man. Just because they're not playing runs upon runs doesn't mean it's simple.

You are quite right as well! They are depending on their effects, yet their playing is not a walk in the park.

bigchiefbc · #10 07-02-2010, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassMonstrum

I do love both bands, but you're quite right.

I think you're quite nuts. Neither of those guys play what I would call simple lines. Particularly with Tool, many of the basslines are pretty technical and in difficult time signatures.

I also don't think you're being quite fair to The Edge. The whole POINT of his creativity is his usage of effects to create memorable guitar lines. Of course they sound stupid and simple without the effects. They were WRITTEN through the effects. Check out the quote in the sig.

BassMonstrum · #11 07-02-2010, 12:48 PM

If I offended you, then I apologize. If you see the post above yours (my post, that is) you can see that I did bow on my previous claim, admitting I was wrong.

As for The Edge, I do not mean to bash him. I, myself, rely heavily on effects (though not as much as him). I'm simply after the bassequivalent. So again, if I offended you, I deeply apologize.

BassMaster4s · #12 07-02-2010, 12:56 PM

Chancellor can sound good with or without effects. Using effects properly on any instrument is a talent that requires practice. Chancellor has worked hard at both styles.

SC Bassboy · #13 07-02-2010, 12:57 PM

Jared Followill from Kings of Leon plays brilliantly simple bass lines and makes great use of effects. There's a lot of stuff on their albums that I thought was guitar but it's actually Jared. I'm not really saying he's "The Edge of the bass world", but he deserves a nod.

bigchiefbc · #14 07-02-2010, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassMonstrum

If I offended you, then I apologize. If you see the post above yours (my post, that is) you can see that I did bow on my previous claim, admitting I was wrong.

As for The Edge, I do not mean to bash him. I, myself, rely heavily on effects (though not as much as him). I'm simply after the bassequivalent. So again, if I offended you, I deeply apologize.

I'm not offended, I'm not related to or married to any of those guys

I didn't see your post right above mine because you posted it while I was typing my post. It's cool. I just think that The Edge gets slagged on a lot. Mostly by metalheads and shredders.

Swimming Bird · #15 07-02-2010, 01:39 PM

John Davis. By nature, 'bass as the carrier signal for a modular synth' players rely on effects. But that's cause they become part of the instrument.

FilterFunk · #16 07-02-2010, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

Is the question who relies on effects.

Bootsy

He uses them a lot, but I wouldn't say that he necessarily relies on them in the sense that The Edge "pretty much needs his gigantic FX-rack", to quote the OP. Effects helped Bootsy shape his signature sound, but this cat tore it up with James Brown before the Mu-Tron III was even invented. Give Bootsy a bass and an amp, and I guarantee he'll throw down!

Jared Lash · #17 07-02-2010, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SC Bassboy

Jared Followill from Kings of Leon plays brilliantly simple bass lines and makes great use of effects. There's a lot of stuff on their albums that I thought was guitar but it's actually Jared. I'm not really saying he's "The Edge of the bass world", but he deserves a nod.

If the question (and I believe I'm understanding it correctly) is, "which bass players create lines based around their effects" I'd say that Jared Followill is a very good answer.

Not that he does so a lot (or even the majority of the time) but songs like "Black Thumbnail (tremolo), Closer ("whammy" and delay) are clearly created with the effects as an integral part.

John Davis for sure. His effects use is absolutely integral to the sound of Nerve and his lines would sound nothing like they do without the effects. Of course, that's the nature of the band since he's a great player with or without effects.

Implosion · #18 07-02-2010, 02:48 PM

This thread absolutely needs this:

Bill Bailey demonstrates a technical failure at a U2 gig

chuck3 · #19 07-02-2010, 02:56 PM

how about the guy in Porcupine Tree?

Marco A. Mayer · #20 07-02-2010, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chuck3

how about the guy in Porcupine Tree?

No way! Colin Edwin barely uses effects at all; maybe a chorus here and there and distortion on the solo section of Cheating the Polygraph. I think you've heard his fretless bass lines and confused it with some kind of effect. And BTW, his technique isn't simple; he uses harmonic glisses, syncopation and has perfect intonation on his unlined fretlesses. Listen to Porcupine Tree's Metanoia album. No effects and flawless technique.