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Any love for Stu Hamm?
- Thread starter Rexylab
- Start date
How can you say that Sheehan floundered?
That is rather perplexing, because the opposite is true. Even though he's known as a virtuoso, Sheehan has always been part of a band and never released solo albums to showcase his skills. Just check out his resume; this is a guy who played with multiple successful bands, sold records, had hit songs, and is recognised as a force to be reckoned with on his instrument. I'd say that Sheehan is actually a bassist who IS a star.
How can you say that Sheehan floundered?
I would venture that Sheehan's NV43345 is the bass equivalent of Eruption.
Nothing like that had been heard or attempted prior to that. Or since, really.
I see millions of YouTube slappers, tappers, and they all blur together with similar tone, style, and note choice. But, hardly any tackle Sheehan. Even the big YouTube bassists steer clear of him (Charles Berthoud, Davie504, etc).
Regarding NV43345, Sheehan's precision, fluidity, and finesse are all in a world of their own, not to mention the insane innovation, technique, originality, and pure skill exhibited in that track.
It ripped my head off the first time I heard it.
Much like Eruption did years earlier.
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Wow, thread derail, or what? 
Sheehan is one of the greats, in my book.
Stu Hamm: I have no interest in his music. But for a few years I had a mexi-version of the Stu Hamm signature Urge (medium scale), and it was one of the finest Fenders I have ever laid hands on. I tossed its (noisy) stock pups and preamp and installed EMGs instead, but even stock that bass had a great feel and great tones.
Sheehan is one of the greats, in my book.
Stu Hamm: I have no interest in his music. But for a few years I had a mexi-version of the Stu Hamm signature Urge (medium scale), and it was one of the finest Fenders I have ever laid hands on. I tossed its (noisy) stock pups and preamp and installed EMGs instead, but even stock that bass had a great feel and great tones.
I am not crazy about his style of playing, but really dug that Urge bass . I ended up buying a Forrest Green a few years ago, which was used a lot for gigging pre COVID -great instrument, light, lots of tone options and no neck dive. After getting this bass, I recall checking his website where he showed his Green Urge -Larry 33-, being played as a piccollo and having a nice engraved pickguard. I wrote inquiring about who made the pickguard. Never heard from him. I believe he endorses Warwick now.
I know very little about him but several things I read pretty much inferred what you mentioned in the above. He sounds a lot like Tinsley Ellis in that respect.
That could be the case. It's hard enough to stay at the forefront and consistently release material that sells as a guitarist. For every Steve Vai, who is still making jaws drop with his performance at the age of 60+, there are probably hundreds who have tried and have been forgotten.
It's even harder for bassists. Right now I can't think of any bassist who's had success as a solo artist like Vai, Satriani, and Jeff Beck. But that's also due to the nature of the instrument itself.
Rock bassists who are successful are those who can also write songs, maybe play another instrument, and steadily get those gigs with multiple high profile bands/artists. And release the solo stuff on the side when they have the time.
Think Jeff Pilson, Bob Daisley, Marco Mendoza, Rudy Sarzo. Those guys have been in the game for decades, they are in their 50s or older, and are never out of work. Just check out their resumes, mindblowing.
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Having seen Stu with Satriani during the '96 G3 tour as well as seeing many of his live performances on video, I really appreciate the way his playing serves the song. Since the YouTube "virtuosos" are everywhere now, I can see how Stu's skills can get lost in the mix. I wonder, however, how some of these YouTubers would fit into a band situation; could they hang with the Satriani's/Vai's of the world?
Also...I love my Urge bass; it's been rock solid for me since '93. I'd love to get a Kubicki one day, though.
BW
Also...I love my Urge bass; it's been rock solid for me since '93. I'd love to get a Kubicki one day, though.
BW
True, a lot of those guys love to slap and tap, but few of them will tackle the fingerstyle stuff that Sheehan plays. At least I have not seen them doing it.
There's a good reason why Vai went on tour with him, along with Virgil Donati, and Tony McAlpine. Those are elite musicians and Sheehan fits right in. It's still a joy to watch their performances every now and then.
I just realised now that he's almost 70 years old and still out there playing and making guest appearances like on the Thomann music channel, where his video is one of the most viewed.
Alway loved Stu, first heard him on one of those plastic records they'd out inside Guitar Player Magazine. He was on Steve Vai's Attitude song. Very cool. Kinda sad to go to his site and see a video of him begging for money. Hoping he gets back on his feet soon.
I'll add that he used to dress a lot like Weird Al Yankovich. Now he's dialed it back and I like that more.
Indeed! I quickly edited that part, because I realised that all of them are older than that. Even Pilson is almost 60.
And that really proves what I said earlier even more; those guys have incredible longevity due to those qualities mentioned in my previous post.
I just checked it out.
Even more sad is his "Support Stu" video which has been on YouTube for over a year and only has 168 views and 1 comment.
Dude might want to put some applications in at Guitar Center or McDonald's at this point.
Sad to see him online asking for money. Realistically instead of asking for money sell a few pieces of gear. Warwicks, Urges and Kubicki all command decent dollar. Not included is provenance.
I remember in the early days of YouTube seeing his solo and learning moonlight sonata and linus and lucy.
He's a fabulous player but sometimes as a bass player less is more. But a fantastic solo player.
Kubicki tone all the way.
He has the worst tattoos I've seen in a long time. Stars on his hand, tatted knuckles. Your not 20 dudeeee
I remember in the early days of YouTube seeing his solo and learning moonlight sonata and linus and lucy.
He's a fabulous player but sometimes as a bass player less is more. But a fantastic solo player.
Kubicki tone all the way.
He has the worst tattoos I've seen in a long time. Stars on his hand, tatted knuckles. Your not 20 dudeeee
Billy Sheehan has had international smash hits. He has (literally) had Yamaha bass commercials broadcast during the Japanese World Series. He can't walk down the street without security in a few countries. He has toured the world dozens of times. He is one of the foremost expert rock bassists of all time. And he is, quite simply, bar none, one of the nicest humans I've ever met.
He has never floundered a day in his life. If there's a break in a tour, he's recording an album, or two, or three, with projects ranging from prog rock to in your face radio rock.
I can't see the word "floundered" being uttered in the same room as that guy. When has he ever not been a focused-like-a-laser-beam pro?
If Stew Hamm (chops) and Verdine White (stage presence) were crossed, the result would be unstoppable! 
Hahah... a buddy of mine is a nuclear medicine doctor. He went to a Jeff Beck concert and realized most of the audience could be in his waiting room at the prostate clinic at any time...
Exactly my feeling. NV43345 IS the Eruption of bass. It is one of the best bass solo's of all time. God-level composition and originality.
They're both ridiculous in the best possible way, man. I think it holds up too haha.
