Bassist with most UNIQUE tone

[Ostinato]

Another vote for Steve Swallow. If we're just talking pure tone, and I think we are, he's got a totally unique tone.

But I keep seeing votes for Jaco and Marcus in here?...I don't understand how anyone could describe their tone as being unique, they are the most copied bassists out there.

 

[Matt Till]

Wow.... oooollllldd thread

Peter Steele of Type O Negative - dare I say the King of Bass Distortion? (and yes, I've heard Sheehan. )

I think Pete's got unique tone... but... I don't mean that in a good way. It sounds almost all high end. He just sounds like a distorted guitar.

I think Ben Strange has the best example of distorted bass... seriously, get Ministry's Dark Side of the Spoon... or at least download the song "Nursing Home"... it's also a fantastic bass n' drum interaction. Very Groovy.

 

[phxlbrmpf]

I agree. I love Paul Barker's tone. Especially on songs like So What and Burn Inside. Great tone.

Do you know what his rig consist of usually?

I love "Jesus built my hotrod", awesome song. The cool "bass line" is probably synth, though.

 

[CodeYbassboy]

I'm going to say Al Cisneros. He did the fuzz and the wah the thing and it rocked. Take a song like Dragonaut. You think its just another Sabbath rip off, and then the bass comes in, and it goes to a whole new level entirely. I know his new band is called Om, I wonder if they're any good.

 

[Mark Wilson]

girl from School of rock

Man, the way that G note rings out? Killer. Also the dummers snare sounds pretty good too....Not.



Best tone? Geddy Lee, because it's NEVER the same. Always different in every album, in one way or another.

Rush in Rio for example? Woah!

 

[heath_the_great]

Meshell Ndegeochello
especially with the spirit of music sextet

andy hess
on john scofields up all night

hub
nuffin but jazzzzzzzz baby

 

[Pearldiver]

Kim Coletta (Jawbox)
Go listen to For Your Own Special Sweetheart. What a tone.

Sergio Vega (Quicksand)
I can't even describe his tone. You have to listen to Slip.

Billy Gould (Faith No More)
The classic Peavey grunt. I remember listening to The Real Thing in high school and realizing. "Oh, that's what the Treble knob on my amp is for"

 

[Sonorous]

James Jamerson?

 

[heath_the_great]

James Jamerson?

a p bass with flatwounds isnt really unique IMO..great tone, not unique

 

[JamesM]

aston 'familyman' barrett.

 

[paz]

joey demaio from manowar

 

[Clayman]

DD Verni from Overkill, especially noticeable on the earlier records. I think he used a Ric on the first record before switching to BC Rich’s with P style pick-ups after that, all played with a pick.

He had the most distinctive tone in metal for years. When they added a second guitar player he seemed to back off the cutting tone a bit. Still, his sound was very distinctive and is still one of my favorites.

 

[eldave777]

Billy Sheehan, and Les Claypool

 

[Phil Mastro]

+1 for whoever said Steve Swallow. I can't think of anyone who sounds remotely like him.

 

[Sound Chaser]

Most unique goes to Sheehan, easily.

 

[Sonorous]

a p bass with flatwounds isnt really unique IMO..great tone, not unique

Not anymore, but it was.

I happen to think that a fretless J-bass with rounds isn't a particularly unique sound. Yes, great.... not unique.

 

[GSPLBASSDC]

I didn't read thru the first 5 pages of this thread, so I don't know if anyone else has listed:

Jimmy Haslip from The Yellowjackets

Not only does he play an "upside -down" leftie, the dude is as cerebral as he is talented....very unique sounding

 

[JamesM]

But I keep seeing votes for Jaco and Marcus in here?...I don't understand how anyone could describe their tone as being unique, they are the most copied bassists out there.

They're the most copied bassists out there because they're TONE WAS SO UNIQUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mud Flaps]

I agree that Norwood is pretty unique. IMHO Miller's isn't in the same park of originallity as Jaco's or Norwood's. My vote would have to be one of the most popular ones. Les Claypool. I have no idea how he gets that rubbery midrange sound of his.

Besides these guys, I'd add Stanley Clarke, Geddy Lee, and Victor Wooten.

 

[heath_the_great]

Not anymore, but it was.

I happen to think that a fretless J-bass with rounds isn't a particularly unique sound. Yes, great.... not unique.

how was it back in the day? p-basses were pretty much the only available, and so were flatwound strings......i think they were the standard