Bassist With Best Distortion Tone

[joshmickelson]

James Tweedy from the Bronx:

 

[KratosNL]

Dixie Dave from Weedeater, buzzov-en and some other ****.

 

[scarified]

Billy Sheehan - winner.
Cliff Burton - runner up.
Lemmy - notable mention.

 

[coreyfyfe]

I've always been a big fan of Manny Carrero from Glassjaw/Saves the Day's dirty tone. He has recording details up on his myspace, but I believe EYEWTKAS was clean DI/rat into a B15 and for Sound the Alarm it was a clean DI/route 66 into a B100R. Very tasty blend, and surprisingly two very similar sounds.

 

[Barkless Dog]

Larry Graham nails it in so many ways.

 

[Getaway Driver]

Tasteful mix is a must. Of course, the guitarist has to leave some room for bass distortion to work. It can be very touchy.

Brian Cook on Russian Circles' Geneva:

 

[skulletwhip]

I love the grindy bass tones on Failure's Fantastic Planet.

As well as Trevor Dunn's distorted sound on Mr. Bungle's Everybody I Went to High School With is Dead.

Brian Cook's tone throughout Russian Circle's Geneva album is great.

I just got into a band called GodheadSilo, they were a two piece noise rock band from Fargo. The bass tone is just nasty and rocking.

 

[MN_Bass]

The Ox
Lemmy

 

[Mongo Slade]

+another one for Doug Pinnick.
Simply the grindiest, fullest distorted tone I have ever heard.

Amazing how subjective these things are, huh?

Peace

 

[Calaverasgrande]

5 pages and nobody mentions David Sims of Scratch Acid, Rapeman and Jesus Lizard? Always had Dietz cabs and a Rat box (and a Memphis Jazz ripoff!)everytime I saw him.
Of course Rob Wright as well. He used to play an Acoustic 460 when I first saw NoMeansNo. he ran it with the built in distortion on. Last time I saw them he had a superbass and a 1x15.
Dale Flattum of Steel Pole Bathtub was another one with ruthless tone. IIRC he had Sunn and Ampeg amps.

 

[dutchwife]

Bummed. Read the thread's first page & thought that I'd skip straight to the end to post David Wm. Sims and Rob Wright only to find C.Grande had beaten me by one post. Great taste Sir!

 

[Bassmingo]

some me my faves already mentioned. Justin, cliff, tim c, mca. I'll add my latest fave, jon from karnivool.

 

[bearhart74]

Tony Levin's distorted tone on "Im loosing you" by John Lennon is perfect.

 

[bassninja7]

Well, Tim C. He's the only bass player who uses distortion and playes songs that I actually like.

WAIT! NO! Here's one of the greatest bass distortion tones I've ever heard, in a song that rocks, but in a funky way. Armand Sabal-Lecco is the player. I've heard him a couple of times, doing the super fast and honestly quite boring slap stuff, so my jaw really dropped when I heard this one

damn! thanks for the link!
great bass tone!!

 

[boomtisk]

In my opinion, Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon really knocked it out of the park with her distorted on Invalid Link Removed, it's so fuzzy and rich on the entire record. Not sure what equipment was used for it but I suspect that they layered multiple tracks together. Too bad it seems like it was an one-album affair and she went back to more subdued tones after "Dirty", but to be honest it did seem like she got in the way of the guitars a bit.

 

[basslover24]

+100 For Timmy C. As much as i love his distortion on his albums, he goes even crazier live!

 

[thombo]

the Armand Sabal-Lecco clip reminded me, tone wise, to Zach Smith's tone in Pinback. imo, he's got some nice, mild distortion sounds. This could also be that I listened to the youtube clip on my macbook speakers though.

 

[xjeremiahx]

So glad someone mentioned cave in!! caleb is amazing.

(not very high in the mix, but you can hear it)

LOT of good names in this thread, just wish there were more sweet videos

 

[Flipper43]

Kurt Danielson hands down IMO. Just listen..



Those are only 3 of his truckloads of distortion tones.

 

[Calaverasgrande]

I also cant believe anyone would give Les Claypool respect for his distortion tone. I have seen primus many times, think he is a hell of a bassist, but ugh HATE his distortion sound.
again
(warning abrasive heavy stuff)
Dale Flattum:


I couldnt find any good vids of David Sims. He has an epic tone live. But it doesnt come across very well on most of the recordingsI have heard. Suffice it to say he makes midrange his (rhymes with witch). Not a very technical player, just holds the song up.