Anybody Play Like Entwistle?

[flashboom]

I'm fascinated by the late John Entwistle's technique, even though I have no desire to emulate it. It seems very unique (in fact, I'm not quite sure what he is doing most of the time). I'm wondering just how unique it is. So I ask you; is there anybody out there, well known or not, that uses Entwistle's style exclusively. Especially for non-Who material? I realize it was his personal expression and all, so no one is going to be exactly the same. And, I'm sure people have adopted bits and pieces over time. I get that. My question is... Does anyone use his style as their core technique? I guess I'm just trying to judge how big an impact he had on the bass playing world, other than inspiring untold individuals to want to play the bass. Thanks for your time and let the discussion begin

 

[thunderstation]

at the risk of sounding Obvious....."No - Nobody plays like Entwistle.

 

[nysbob]

I've been accused of it.

I never consciously try to play like him, but he certainly was a big influence. I'm a 3-finger player on the right hand, I'm not positive but I think he may have used 3 as well. He also used a pick for certain things, which helps to add some sonic variety.

When I was growing up and learning the instrument, the rock guys that were particularly influential were Entwistle, Jack Bruce, and Paulie. If you can absorb and assimilate what those three gentlemen have to you show you, you're well on the way to becoming a competent rock bassist.

 

[avvie]

Without intentionally doing so, I emulate him a lot; I just didn't notice it until recently. Same with Townshend and guitar... It seems that the Who left a bigger impression on me than I thought.

Given Moon's raucus drumming style and Townshend's sparse guitar (with hard attack), Entwistle had little choice but to fill up a lot of space by playing the parts of all the missing instruments. Townshend claims this to be why they opted for a huge band when they went on tour in '99 and afterwards; playing quieter would mean having to replace everything that Entwistle usually played with a host of other musicians.

The other thing that defined Entwistle's style was.... himself. There were no great rock bassists around at the time for him to be influenced by- he was one of the first, if not THE first. He changed the role of bass because history gave him the advantage to do so.

 

[UnfortunateTony]

The greatest Bass Guitarist of all time.

I use his style now and then, but the problem is that when I set the action low enough to be able to use it, I can't play any other way without making the strings buzz. And when I try and use it with my normal action I get barely any attack. Still looking for a compromise...

 

[Buster Brown]

I, personally, would consider it a HIGH COMPLIMENT if anyone were to EVER compare my playing to the Ox......





Sadly.........that will most likely never happen.....:scowl:

 

[Marc61]

Love the Ox...to me it seemed like he was hitting with the front and back of his two fingers sounding like he was playing with two picks at the same time.

I always found it interesting...him and Moon because if you were to put together a rock and roll rhythm section, you'd never advise the players to use the kind of counterpoint they did but, for the Who it worked.

 

[Stick_Player]

at the risk of sounding Obvious....."No - Nobody plays like Entwistle.

Well, maybe Danny Partridge.?

 

[MOSCOWBASS]

I’m disappointed that Pino doesn’t follow on from Mr Entwhistle, I hoped he would go for the huge contemporary rig and Alembic style basses rather than a P bass and SVT’s. It’s not as if Pino doesn’t have the ability, he is a brill bassist. I wonder if this was his decision or a “WHO” band decision?
I’ll never forget the playing and sound of John Entwhistle thro’ that huge Sunn rig in the 70’s.

 

[SoCal1]

I

 

[SoCal1]

I'm disappointed that Pino doesn't follow on from Mr Entwhistle, I hoped he would go for the huge contemporary rig and Alembic style basses rather than a P bass and SVT's. It's not as if Pino doesn't have the ability, he is a brill bassist. I wonder if this was his decision or a "WHO" band decision?
I'll never forget the playing and sound of John Entwhistle thro' that huge Sunn rig in the 70's.

Pino had literally one rehersal to prepare for his first Who tour. He also listened to some Who CD's and decided...as he puts it...to play in a style similar to Entwistles early, more blusey style on the Who material...throwing in a bit more of his Jamersonesque type of influence. Entwistles style was so unconventional (as compared to bottom groove bass playing) that it's unlikely that anyone could have done it much justice.

 

[MOSCOWBASS]

Pino had literally one rehersal to prepare for his first Who tour. He also listened to some Who CD's and decided...as he puts it...to play in a style similar to Entwistles early, more blusey style on the Who material...throwing in a bit more of his Jamersonesque type of influence. Entwistles style was so unconventional (as compared to bottom groove bass playing) that it's unlikely that anyone could have done it much justice.

Thanks for the info

 

[Premierbass]

The greatest Bass Guitarist of all time.

I use his style now and then, but the problem is that when I set the action low enough to be able to use it, I can't play any other way without making the strings buzz. And when I try and use it with my normal action I get barely any attack. Still looking for a compromise...

I'm paraphrasing here, but long ago, in the old days of bass discussion on TBL (The Bottom Line listserv), Rick Turner (of Renaissance Guitars and previously Alembic) realted a story about getting one of The Ox's basses in for a tuneup, and asking how he liked it set up. The response was that he (paraphrasing) liked it to "buzz evenly up and down the neck".

So much for standard methods for setting up a bass. Entwistle had his own style that worked for him, tough for most of us to duplicate.

 

[Premierbass]

Well, maybe Danny Partridge.?

Is that an Ovation neck grafted on to a Gibson bass body, or what model Ovation is that. I must have been asleep or otherwise compromised when that bass was released!

 

[RobJ]

I believe it's a Typhoon... no sure which series though; I, II. III, etc. I think the IV series ended in like '72. I played one of those and dug it.

 

[Buxtehude]

Not anymore. I guess we will have to get on playing like ourselves.

 

[etechstan]

Watch his right hand closely. Even when he is not playing, like between notes, his fingers are always in motion. I try to play like him but my fingers just don't work that way.

 

[Scott549]

The individual talent in that band was just ridiculous. Moon, Entwistle and Townshend are all among the best ever rock musicians at their instruments.

 

[son_of_mogh]

I try to play like him, I admit it. I try to play like John ( Wetton ), Geddy, Jack ( Bruce ) and Billy ( Sheehan ) too. Never got a compliment about it though...

 

[JMac- Wiskerface Designs]

This cat does a darned fine job of pulling off the Entwistle thing. I watched this a while back and had to double take as I thought it was really the OX himself.
The WHO -The Real Me w/bass WCSX by LIVE THE WHO Tribute - YouTube