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Bass player who influenced you?

Charlie Haden, a professional's professional who started his musical career at the ripe old age of 2.

I also saw Pastorius play at Blues Alley in Washington about two months after I had taken up the bass. It was so amazing to see and hear live -- and clearly so far from what I'd ever be able to achieve -- that I told my wife I was switching to harmonica.
 
Geddy Lee is why I started playing bass. And is my biggest rock influence, behind him is Sting, his lines are just solid.

Marcus Miller was who I looked towards when I got into slap.

James Jamerson has had the biggest impact on my playing, his lines groove harder than anyones in my opinion.

Paul Chambers and Mingus are who I listened to when learning jazz.

And I have always tried to get Jaco's tone when playing fretless.
 
For me it was Bugsy Maugh. After his sixties and early seventies "fame" he kind of retired to NW Missouri, I met him right after I started playing bass. Didn't even know who he was at the time. We'd mess around with a guitar (him) and me on the bass. Eventualy he put a band together with him on guitar. So I basically learned the bass behind a legend.
 
I played a cheap*** mail-order guitar when I was 17. Quit as I had no drive to learn (or resources at the time).

Then, in the summer of 2007 heard Mastodon's Blood Mountain. Got me to wanting to play music (yearned, actually).
Came upon Motohead (and GOD, aka Lemmy). Saw him play Stay Clean. The bass line in that song hooked me.
After a few dreams I was playing a bass somewhere at the end of 2007, beginning of 2008 I knew I had to get a bass. Waited for the stimulus check to arrive, scooped out the starter bass I needed, and voila'.... July 2008 I became a bassist.

So... to cut to the chase, Mastodon/Lemmy did it.
 
I learned on the electric by playing along with ZZ Top and Kiss records mid 70's. I always liked 60's & 70's rock that had improvised solos. That led to me to Jack Bruce, Stanley Clarke, JACO, Ron Carter, Charlie Haden, Scott LaFaro, Dave Holland, JACO, Paul Chambers, Gary Peacock. And don't forget Francis Rocco Prestia, Jamerson, Anthony Jackson. Music in general, Coltrane, Miles, John McLaughlin, everybody. Did I mention JACO? ;)
 
...This is weird. I hope the snippets are OK.

Fred Turner (C.F.) - he and the same song, Not Fragile, at the same age, 13, as me too! For me it was the 2nd or 3rd song after 25 or 6 to 4 by Chicago - and maybe Smoke on the Water... but Not Fragile as an album - as a whole was the first whole album I learned.

I never find fans of CF Turner, BTO, or Not Fragile but he was a big influence I sometimes forget because I moved on to Geddy, Squire, et al rather quickly.

Did you ever really listen to bassline for Taking Care of Business .... you have to really listen carefully .. but to me it sounds like "mommy's little baby likes shortening bread ..."

Weird ....
 
Well, my influences are mostly in my profile. Mcartney, Wetton, Levin, Jaco, etc. but I also have to give some credit to John Maron. I played with him in college. He turned me on to Jaco and really taught me a fair bit about bass.