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David Ellefson vs. Cliff Burton

#41
Just for fun...

Ellefson iso.


For what it's worth, I think Rust in Peace is one of the greatest metal albums ever recorded, but I don't like Megadeth all that much, otherwise... and can't stand Dave Mustaine. I used to really love Metallica when I was younger, but their output since the 80s has destroyed almost every ounce of love I ever had for them. Sad, but true. :p

I don't really have an opinion one way or another regarding who's "better"... I'll just say I prefer Ellefson's playing to Burton's.
 
#42
Cliff always sounded sloppy to me. I much prefer the precise tone of the pick for Metallica. The band got 10X tighter when Jason joined. Dave Ellefson's playing and tone perfectly fits the complex rhythms that Megadeth has in their music. If he was a fingerstyle player I don't think it would sound as good. If John Myung ever decided to play with a pick he would be deadly. He is such a good player, but his tone gets lost because DT's sound is so dense.
 
#43
Interesting how people are talking about Burton's playing on the first three albums. I've been listening to those albums for 18 years or so and I can't hear him on Lightning & Puppets except for those iconic bass parts we all know.

As far as who is better? I don't know who is better technically. I prefer finger style more and I like Burton's stage presence and wild soloing but I dislike his messy-sounding tone. Ellefson always comes across as a very cool mang in the interviews I've seen. I like his more traditional bass playing role with the cool fills thrown in here and there.

I've always listened to Metallica more than Megadeth but at this point, I like both bassists equally.
 
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#44
Up the dose said:
If John Myung ever decided to play with a pick he would be deadly. He is such a good player, but his tone gets lost because DT's sound is so dense.
Click to expand...

He played These Walls and the coda of The Dark Eternal Night with a pick. And I think he's pretty audible nowadays thanks to his switching to Bongo basses.
 
#45
I'd go with Cliff. He had the skills and just looked like a dude. Great playing style and huge stage presence.

However Rust In Peace is in my opinion the best metal album of all time.




note: no i'm not a Cliff wannabe. The karl_em _all tag was something a buddy of mine put on me like 10 years ago and stuck. It comes in handy as a user name on things like TB :)
 
#48
The reason I started playing was because of Cliff, but...As I get older I like Ellefson more and more. I think he has the perfect balance between supporting the band, being heard sonically and melodically. Something I feel is very important in my own playing. Both awesome though, just in their own way.
 
#51
Well considering Elellefson can be heard on every record he is on he has a major competitive advantage.

I do find it comical that the OP picked Ellefson for writing lines. Cliff taught Metallica theory while Ellefson didn't even play all of his own bass tracks. I think in a "bass off" Cliff would probably have the upperhand while he is not the better group player.
 
#52
I like both very much but they are so different in so many aspects. To be honest I have been listening to a lot of Megadeth recently and enjoy Dave's playing a lot. There is a lot of tight playing there, and it is very admirable that they can pull it off live.

That said though I also love Newsted and I feel he combines elements of both guys. Too bad he was never that much audible.

Some have been name-dropping some other people claiming to be "better". Keep in mind though if it wasn't for Metallica and Megadeth (and Anthrax and Slayer) a lot of those bands would have never been there.

That said another metal bassist from around that era I absolutely love is Rex Brown, from Pantera. Boy his playing is tight.
 
#53
They are both great players. I play with a pick almost exclusively and I much prefer Megadeth to Metallica, so Ellefson is ahead on points in my book. However, I love Cliff's playing and think he really made a mark for himself in rock history. He was the Geezer Butler of thrash. It's so tragic that he died at 24.
 
#55
I think at that level, ranking bassists is pretty silly. It's just going to be personal opinion.

And besides, this isn't sports. It's not a competition.

Personally, I like Burton's tone, playing, and songwriting, more than Ellefson's. But that's just my personal taste. They're both great players.
 
#57
Korladis said:
I think at that level, ranking bassists is pretty silly. It's just going to be personal opinion.
Click to expand...

This is truth. I don't even like Megadeth but Ellefson is a master in his style, as was Cliff Burton. The fact that he still remains such a huge influence really says something for the abilities he had. If you could effectively hold down the low end for either of those bands at their respective peaks, I think you've earned a place at the top.
 
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#58
Both were/are skilled enough to sound as they want to sound. And at the end, isn't that the paramount personal achievement for a musician? Plus they developed their own unique voices. I can tell you which one I like to listen to more, but I can't tell you who is "better."
 
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#60
Let's be honest: The bass isn't the central point of either of these bands. Metallica and Megadeath are all about roaring guitars and associated solos. In terms of supporting roles, they did fine. At least Cliff took a little bit more of a risk, but I felt that when he did, it was mostly unsuccessful. For me, even Tom Araya has more street cred than Ellefson because he can at least "sing"...or at least pretend to sing.

To each their own.

For me, much more interesting bassists playing similar music would be Steve Harris or Geezer Butler.
 

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