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100 great bass players

#21
Helix said:
Agreed.....and honestly I don't think there has ever been a "100 Greatest" list of anything that everyone has agreed on

But I still think if your going to put Cliff Burton in there, you got to put Robert Trujillo somewhere on the list :):)
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This is the problem with this kind of list. Why 100 and not 200?

I think it's also a question of generation. Personally, I would have put Jean-Jacques Burnel, Duff McKagan and Mike Dirnt, even if they are not my primary influences. But I understand that if you were born in the Internet age, Hadrien Féraud, Thundercat or Esperanza Spalding can be your references. If it is, in 10 years Davie504 will be on this list.
 
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#23
OK first of all, Buh-Geezis Guitar World Editors...1 woman out of 100? This is pitiful. It's 2020, get your arse out of your parents basement. Hope my daughter doesn't stumble upon one of your crappy lists.

Left out Tina Weymouth. Probably 2/3 of us hummed one of her bass lines today.

Left out Ed Cynar, everybody leaves out Ed Cynar. If you play Rock, Blues, Modern Country or Any branch from these trees your favorite influence was influenced by Link Wray and the Raymen. Time to remember Ed.
 
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#24
I don't see Cachao on the list, but I'm accustomed Afro-Caribbean/Latin music getting short shrift in spite of its broad influence.

Also these lists tend to conflate "best" with "most popular." A lot of rock star musicians have crap technique, but they catapult to the top of this kind of list by virtue of people having heard them on the radio.
 
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#25
Pings Bass said:
I don't see Cachao on the list, but I'm accustomed Afro-Caribbean/Latin music getting short shrift in spite of its broad influence.

Also these lists tend to conflate "best" with "most popular." A lot of rock star musicians have crap technique, but they catapult to the top of this kind of list by virtue of people having heard them on the radio.
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I totally understand that this is subjective. To some, "best" or "great" means holding the bottom completely and to some it means playing the most notes in a measure and to others it may mean member of the most famous act known to the author. but totally agree if you're going to title it "The 100 Best Bass Players of All Time" it might need to be a little more expansive. Not discounting any of the names on this list. Just saying maybe it's a little narrow.
 
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#27
Pings Bass said:
I don't see Cachao on the list, but I'm accustomed Afro-Caribbean/Latin music getting short shrift in spite of its broad influence.

Also these lists tend to conflate "best" with "most popular." A lot of rock star musicians have crap technique, but they catapult to the top of this kind of list by virtue of people having heard them on the radio.
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He is at position #24. I agree with you, this list does not make much sense if we do not take into account the musical genres with which they are generally associated.
 
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#29
Vinny_G said:
He is at position #24. I agree with you, this list does not make much sense if we do not take into account the musical genres with which they are generally associated.
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Well there he is! Thanks; I don't know why my text search failed the first time. Good to see Bobby Rodriguez on the list, too. Anyway, I dislike these lists because so often they elevate pop/rock players who got famous copping the styles of lesser known players who innovated in their native idioms and rarely get their due.
 
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#33
Lagado said:
Tom Jenkinson not in there? They don't know what to make of him do they.
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Great call...how can you miss out on squarepusher when talking about influential/innovative/great/bassists to know about?

Even more shocking, how can you miss out on Janek Gwizdala? The dude is literally EVERYWHERE these days and if you want to talk about influential bass players...just look to how many people name Janek as an effects hero, plus he is one of the leading virtual bass educators out there. Also if we are to talk about modern and active players, I really don't see how you can leave Mike Gordon from Phish off this list. Sure you can make the argument about any number of bassists that are still in popular touring bands, but Mike is literally at the forefront of an entire musical genre. Yeah, I see phil lesh on the list, but c'mon...no Mike Gordon? So many greats missed on that list, but Janek is REALLY surprising as he is one of the top players out right now and you'd have to be living under a rock to be a bassist and have never heard of Janek.
 
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#34
I seriously dislike some of the top players named in this poll, but hell, if there was ever a time to try and appreciate what others see in the noodling string chatter of these so-called greats, it's during the plague. Off to listen.
 
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#36
It's easy to argue with where people are ranked because you have to decide what the criteria is beforehand . Willie Dixon may or may not have been as good technically as some ranked above him - but his influence is vastly underrated due to his songwriting and having played on so many seminal albums . The same can be said of Duck Dunn to a lesser extent - his influence as an inspiration to future players was huge . There is no mention of some folks like Norbert Putnam who was so instrumental in helping to craft J.J.Cale's unique sound or Johnny B Gaydon who played on so many fine blues albums put out by the likes of Albert Collins . It's simply a jumping off point to fire up a discussion while we while away the time till it's presumably , safe to hang out together again ..... Kelly
 
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