JPJ vs Geddy Lee

[mellowinman]

Big fan of both here. I'm going with Geddy for the win though. He can play circles around John Paul Jones, plus he played on a stream of albums that IMO rival the Beatles(Farewell To Kings-Moving Pictures).

I'm not seeing how Geddy can play circles around JPJ. I would put their technical skill pretty close, and maybe even give a small edge to JPJ for his overall fretboard knowledge. That guy can run from lowest note to highest on any bass, and always stay incredibly musical while doing so. He is definitely among the greatest to ever play the instrument.

 

[OldDirtyBassist]

No way. JPJ's hands would turn stone and crumble away during "La Villa". Jones is obviously a master musician, and he does a great Carol Kaye impersonation..but his stamina is that of a girly-man's compared to the Great Geddy Lee.

 

[stratovani]

Both are influential, as much as Jack Bruce, Paul McCartney, John Entwistle, and James Jamerson. It all depends on which flavor you like. Me, I try to take a little something from all of them, along with Ron Blair, Andy Roarke, and John Lodge.

 

[two fingers]

Two different kinds of influences.

Geddy probably influenced my actual playing more (once I had reached a certain level).

But JPJ made me want to play more.

(And Jamerson taught me how to play and be a bass player.... while we're on the subject.)

Wouldn't be a bass player today, and certainly not the kind of bass player today if it weren't for the influence of all three.

 

[jd-ns]

I like both JPJ and Geddy. I prefer Geddy. But I wouldn't credit either one as being a significant influence of mine...

 

[mellowinman]

No way. JPJ's hands would turn stone and crumble away during "La Villa". Jones is obviously a master musician, and he does a great Carol Kaye impersonation..but his stamina is that of a girly-man's compared to the Great Geddy Lee.

That's silly.

Half the players on this site can play La Villa. It's not ridiculously hard; it's just hard.

 

[JMacBass65]

That's silly.

Half the players on this site can play La Villa. It's not ridiculously hard; it's just hard.

Right?

I don't get posts like that one. Don't get me wrong, I can't play it, but JPJ? I'm sure he could.

 

[JMacBass65]

This is either on a 10 or 12 string.

 

[JMacBass65]

I do prefer the vibe of this one though:

 

[mellowinman]

Right?

I don't get posts like that one. Don't get me wrong, I can't play it, but JPJ? I'm sure he could.

Well, honestly I can't play it either, but I've never worn my fingers into nubs trying, either!

 

[OldDirtyBassist]

The mere mention of Geddy would send JPJ packing for the hills of shame.

 

[joebar]

I give JPJ the nod because he was a session guy first and I always see myself alongside those types of players.

 

[JMacBass65]

Not taking the bait.......

 

[jd-ns]

I wasn't sure what that La Villa bassline thing was - Just checked it out and WOW - it is one of the most unmusical things I have ever heard...

 

[xUptheIronsx]

I wasn't sure what that La Villa bassline thing was - Just checked it out and WOW - it is one of the most unmusical things I have ever heard...

because....

 

[greenslank]

It's hard ti decides who's the best., coz both guys are big hero for me..

 

[JLY]

It is not really fair to compare the two other than their influence
I am a huge fan of each band and both Geddy and JPJ
Both are incredible musicians in legendary bands but each were different in style feel and tone

Geddy is much more aggressive in both style and tone and it fit the Progressive genre Rush played
Zep played many different styles and JPJ fit into each of them like a glove
When I play at home I want to sound/ play like Geddy but when I play with a band I want to sound/ play like JPJ

Each would likely be able play/copy anything that the other did at least technically, but that doesn't mean that Geddy would sound like JPJ ( or vise versa) in doing it.

 

[Turock]

90% of the time, JPJ is just doubling Jimmy Page's killer riffs.

You sound as if you haven't done much listening to Zep. That statement is not even close to being true.

 

[JLY]

I once read an early interview with Geddy. In the early days, they were criticized for sounding like Zeppelin. Geddy stated that he took that as a compliment.

 

[JLY]

You sound as if you haven't done much listening to Zep. That statement is not even close to being true.

?
Just like Geddy copied Alex on Freewill, Spirit of Radio, YYZ, Working Man, etc....
It works when both are playing the same riffs at the same time....its generally the time when the Guitarist plays chords that allows the bassist the sonic space to play different notes/melodies under the chord
There are some exceptions of chorus