Does anyone like Cliff Williams?

[Plain Old Barry]

I like him and respect him. He plays bass old school fundamentals, the definition of electric bass. I few month ago I was touring with an AC/DC tribute band playing only Bon Scott years. Playing Cliff Williams lines is not as easy as it look, he seems simple but is not.

There are interesting intricate details to Malcom Young's "simple" rhythm riffs as well.

 

[bmusic]

I wasn’t sure who Cliff Williams was when I clicked on this thread. I’m not a huge ACDC fan and have never given any attention to their bass lines.

But come on, man. The Back in Black album grooves so hard and sounds so amazing, even today. Hats off to Mutt Lange and Cliff Williams for knowing exactly what is needed from the bass on those tunes, and just nailing it.

 

[Freekmagnet]

Cliff Williams is f***ing great bass player. In fact, I’ve often cited AC/DC as one of the most effective rhythm sections in stadium rock. They’re like Booker T and the MG’s - not a single note wasted or out of place.

 

[r_bnks]

I wasn’t sure who Cliff Williams was when I clicked on this thread. I’m not a huge ACDC fan and have never given any attention to their bass lines.

But come on, man. The Back in Black album grooves so hard and sounds so amazing, even today. Hats off to Mutt Lange and Cliff Williams for knowing exactly what is needed from the bass on those tunes, and just nailing it.

Yup, Back In Black is the ultimate hard rock album for bass, on par with Appetite for Destruction.

 

[Kevnn4]

One of my faves!
Pumping 8th notes: Check
GREAT tone (IMHO): Check
Placed perfectly in the mix: Check.

If anyone still thinks its only pumping 8th notes all the time... Give a close listen to "Shoot To Thrill". That is a BASSline!

 

[r_bnks]

One of my faves!
Pumping 8th notes: Check
GREAT tone (IMHO): Check
Placed perfectly in the mix: Check.

If anyone still thinks its only pumping 8th notes all the time... Give a close listen to "Shoot To Thrill". That is a BASSline!

Shoot to Thrill was exactly in my mind. Or Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution.
It's only the talkbass HiVeMInD who thinks it's just 8th roots all the time.

 

[RGerhart]

Learning AC/DC tracks and for the first time listening to the bass: Cliff Williams. Dear god his tone is dull like old roaps and his playing is repetitive!

He clearly does his job well because AC/DC have solve more albums than almost anyone. Maybe the bass needs to be dull to compliment Angus’s electric playing. However, Cliff has to be one of my least favourite bassists ever!

What do you think?

Does anyone like Cliff Williams?

Yes, a lot of people (me included). He's a solid player, gets the job done. He's the epitome of a bass player.

 

[MegaSwing]

He’s totally been successful. Can’t fault him there.

 

[Root 5]

I love Cliff Williams. His note choices make the tunes very heavy. He doesn’t fly around like Wooten or Caron but he is an excellent BASS PLAYER, which we should all strive to be.

 

[rtslinger]

Solid pocket player lays the foundation and drives the songs. Tone actually fits very well with the kick no out of control overtones just a tight steady thumping which works just right for the songs he is performing.
now Cliff before AC/DC

 

[IPA]

He's my kind of player. I'll take a fundamental player with fantastic timing over should-have-chosen-guitar bass player acrobatics most days.

 

[higain617]

Like Michael Anthony, his playing was a little more adventurous in the early days, i.e., "High Voltage." There was a clear formula later that they wouldn't really deviate from.

 

[r_bnks]

Like Michael Anthony, his playing was a little more adventurous in the early days, i.e., "High Voltage." There was a clear formula later that they wouldn't really deviate from.

It's not Cliff on High Voltage. And there wasn't a clear formula later because Back In Black has the most bass groves of AC/DCs catalog and it just happened about 7ys after they formed. The bass became kind of stripped down years after BiB

 

[JC BASS 91]

I believe that he is very good at what he does.

 

[FRoss6788]

What do I think?
It's a shame, but if we were to make a list of bass players that seem to be doing the bare minimum in every song, it would be a very very long list.
The fact that many of these bands have seriously made it seems to have no bearing.

When I've mentioned this sort of things to friends they dismiss it, claiming they listen to the songs as a whole & a boring bass arrangement shouldn't matter.

Similar to the O.P., I found AC/DC arrangement snooze-worthy, except a few of the really old ones where Cliff hadn't even joined the band yet.

Your friends may be on to something.

Every song does not need to be a technical shred fest showcasing every lick in your arsenal.

That is boring.

Many of the top session players, who can play damn near anything, know that less is more. Lee Sklar and Tony Levin come to mind. Lots of what they've played has been simple, to serve the tune.

 

[FRoss6788]

I'd wager those critical of his playing would fail at recreating any of his tunes accurately, timing and palm muting.

It's not as simple as you think.

 

[E2942]

Those friends don't play bass.
It is as simple as it gets.

 

[FRoss6788]

Those friends don't play bass.
It is as simple as it gets.

So, do we only play for bass players?

Let's hear your rendition of any of Cliffs tunes.

 

[fishdude101101]

Yea, for sure. And a lot of them forget that he (or sub any famous bassist who enjoy general hatred here) had to write those bass lines.
I'd die to listen some of these virtuouso's own version and what is lacking in these songs in their opinion. Slap, shred or overplay an AC/DC?

Yeah either that, or full on Lemmy bass tone/style. Or maybe Fodera on a bridge pickup only jazz fusion lines.

 

[fishdude101101]

The band I was in got great responses to covers of AC/DC, people love it. I wonder if Bassist's who dislike his playing could "hold it down" with timing, and feel needed. Its why country music, while not for me, is hard to play correctly. Also, listen to the early Beatles stuff. Hofner, very simple, but cool, basslines. Do we hate the sound of that too?

Yep the other thing about country music, is that live and the studio it is mixed very clearly, so your mistakes are exposed.

Doing sound in a previous life I worked with a lot of country acts. Trust me they can do way more than what you hear in the songs. 90% of talk bass, myself included, will never sniff one of those gigs.