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Best Bass Player?
- Thread starter TimtallicA
- Start date
wmhill
Inactive
- Aug 20, 2012
- 4,054
- 17,209
- Disclosures
- MTD basses endorsed artist Bartolini pickups emerging artist TECAMP bass players gear endorsed
Something tells me the average intelligence of the bass community has dropped drastically.
How many of these clowns even had strap locks ?
I honestly say this in a non-condescending/non-snarky/non-confrontational manner: I think the OP must be in his teens or, at most, early twenties, to have started this thread.
I think it's safe to say that most of us started bass in this age range, and probably largely because we (the majority of us at least) became enamored of certain "name" players.
However, I think it is also safe to say that most of us - at least those who started to look at the big picture/the role that bass plays in most situations - outgrew the whole "Bass Player X is the best" thing fairly quickly.
Whether we're talking bass, guitar, drums, or whatever, there really is no "best", and although certain players have rightfully been recognized for elevating the state of the art on their respective instruments, I have read countless interviews with the Steve Vais, Neil Pearts, and Billy Sheehans of the world in which they first and foremost assert the notion that not only are they themselves not necessarily the "best" at their instruments - but such a person simply doesn't exist.
Steve Vai said something to the effect that the late Danny Gatton is about as close to a "perfect" guitar player as he has ever seen, but the wording there (I think I got it right) is pretty telling: "about as close..." - which I interpret as, as good as a guy who was nicknamed "The Humbler" was, he wasn't the "best", because guitar playing/music in general is art, and therefore subjective.
There are countless guitarists, bassists, drummers, etc., who blow my mind, but I don't necessarily consider any of them better than the other, because they all bring something unique/often amazing to the table...which to me, at its core, is the beauty and power of music.
I think it's safe to say that most of us started bass in this age range, and probably largely because we (the majority of us at least) became enamored of certain "name" players.
However, I think it is also safe to say that most of us - at least those who started to look at the big picture/the role that bass plays in most situations - outgrew the whole "Bass Player X is the best" thing fairly quickly.
Whether we're talking bass, guitar, drums, or whatever, there really is no "best", and although certain players have rightfully been recognized for elevating the state of the art on their respective instruments, I have read countless interviews with the Steve Vais, Neil Pearts, and Billy Sheehans of the world in which they first and foremost assert the notion that not only are they themselves not necessarily the "best" at their instruments - but such a person simply doesn't exist.
Steve Vai said something to the effect that the late Danny Gatton is about as close to a "perfect" guitar player as he has ever seen, but the wording there (I think I got it right) is pretty telling: "about as close..." - which I interpret as, as good as a guy who was nicknamed "The Humbler" was, he wasn't the "best", because guitar playing/music in general is art, and therefore subjective.
There are countless guitarists, bassists, drummers, etc., who blow my mind, but I don't necessarily consider any of them better than the other, because they all bring something unique/often amazing to the table...which to me, at its core, is the beauty and power of music.
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This is easy. He/she's the one who shows up on time, in decent attire, adequate working knowledge of the material, listens to bandmate's woes, and despite any personal hardship/insecurity, proceeds to drive the band successfully to a good show. He/she is ALL of us!
Pig-Pen!!! He is the reason I started playing bass and remains a huge influence on my style.
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There's an art to tapping on a fishtank.
You, my friend, don't have it.
You, my friend, don't have it.
