Most Underrated Bassists

[lowsideonacurve]

Totally agree with that. Not flamboyant at all buy he laid down some great lines that made many of the Guess Who's early work easily recognizable. Do you know what kind of bass he played? I have know idea.

Yeah, "These Eyes" would sound like elevator music without the solid lines he put in it. The same goes for several other songs.

He played a Jazz mostly, but there is one floating around of him playing a Ric

 

[robbotbass]

Rob Squires of Big Head Todd and the Monsters is just a super solid bassist. Great hooks in their tunes, and it's usually his fault.

+150

Never has gotten the credit he is due. Just listen to his hooks on their newer album Rockstedy guys carries the band!

Big Head Todd & The Monsters- Rocksteady - YouTube

 

[IStoleYourCar]

Johnny Christ of Avenged Sevenfold.

+1
I think this guy is really underrated. He uses pick, slap, and finger, just depends what the song calls for. He mainly sticks plays the same thing as guitar, but he throws in enough fills to keep it interesting.

 

[MN_Bass]

Ray Manzarek

 

[hufe]

Ray Manzarek

Now, there's a good one, haha

 

[hufe]

T-Bone Wolk

Hell yeah, T-Bone was a good one. In fact, that whole Hall & Oates band from the early 80s had some talent: T-Bone Wolk, Charlie DeChant, G.E. Smith...
That episode of "Live from Daryl's House" where they all reunite to pay tribute to T-Bone is a personal favorite

 

[corinpills]

I haven't looked through this whole thread, but I hope I am not the only reason who loves the way Ronnie Lane played in the Small Faces and later the Faces. He had this very unique loping bass style where he would often not be playing the root on the 1 of a measure, but when he eventually wormed his way around to it, it really had impact.

 

[pbass888]

percy heath... who was modern jazz quartet main bassist... studied with ray brown and also played with dizzy and countless others.... great walking lines and solid rythm section player. Also leroy vinnegar... mr walking... had walking bass solos and the known as mr walker for his great solid walking bass lines.

Finally on the fender bass... in the lineage of jaco and definately a leader of the modern jazz sound ... dario deidda



1. below heath brothers in japan
HOT HOUSE - Heath Brothers (
2. leroy vinnegar
Leroy Vinnegar Quintet....i'll string along with you - YouTube
3.Dario Deidda- the grand master

 

[FrenchFenderFan]

What about Dennis Dunaway from Alice Cooper, Dee Murray from Elton John's best period, Graham Maby from Joe Jackson Band, Bruce Thomas from Elvis Costello's Attractions, Huh??

 

[Root 5]

Dave Young. Bassist for Oscar Peterson.

Many session bassists aren't as widely known as they should be: Carol Kaye, Tommy Cogbill, Bob Babbit. Even most laymen have no idea who James Jamerson is.

 

[Root 5]

Carl Keesee. I knew him as the bass player for a Canadian folkie named David Bradstreet. Carl was and is a very fine bassist.

 

[ack]

Dan Maines - Clutch
Craig Bloxom - Spy V Spy
Les Pattinson - Echo & the Bunnymen
Graham Maby - Joe Jackson

 

[KCLRbass]

Carl Keesee. I knew him as the bass player for a Canadian folkie named David Bradstreet. Carl was and is a very fine bassist.

Wow! Unique pick. Speaking of Cdn folk bassists, what about David Woodhead?

 

[emdsd]

One of my favorite and highly influential (singing) bassists who rarely gets much love around here:
Randy Meisner!!
Yeh, there was another bassist with the Eagles before Timothy B. Schmidt...

 

[rocknrollmouse]

Paul Gray – Damned (plus others)
Norman Watt-Roy – Blockheads
Pete Agnew - Nazareth

+1 - Bruce Foxton - The Jam
+1 - Ronnie Lane - Small Faces
+1 - Kim Deal - Pixies
+1 - Klause Floride - Dead Kennedys
+1 - Rodger Glover – Rainbow

 

[obstinatus]

Hmmmm....

A list would be nice to have here because tend to repeat bassists a lot. And people tend to add already highly appreciated bassist, especially Cliff Burton(Bass Legend is kind of some form of appreciation right?)

Jayen Varma - Khayal Groove
Slap Bass ( Free Raga Funk ) Jayen Varma - Bassist, Sumesh - Guitarist ( RagaZZ Guitar Player ) - YouTube

Ryan Martinie - Mudvayne
RyAn MaRtInIe-Dull Boy - YouTube

Pete Trewavas - Marillion, Transatlantic
TransAtlantic - The Whirlwind: I. Overture / Whirlwind - YouTube

Mike Gordon - Phish
You Enjoy Myself (Studio Version) - YouTube

Are some bassist that aren't mentioned a lot and they all are really good!

 

[mcblahflooper94]

I'm sure Geezer Butler is in here. Or at least he should be. >.>
An +1 to Duff McKagan.
Both of these bassists always deliver really solid nice bass. Never have I been disappointed with a bass track either of them have worked on. Both always give the song the thing that just makes it that much more of a good song. Well, for me anyways, I'm a hehe.

 

[GMO]

Sam Rivers - Limp Bizkit

Tim Commerford - RATM

Hunter Burgan - AFI

Ryan Martinie - Mudvayne

Robbie Merrill - Godsmack

Dirk Lance - Incubus

Tobin Esperance - Papa Roach

Juan Calleros - Mana

 

[Emilym80]

pino palladino. i hadnt heard of the man until like a few months ago. wouldve helped me in my playing early on soo much

I'm pretty sure he's won awards for being the best bassist in the world about 7 or 8 times... lol. If they haven't been mentioned, Chris Baio from Vampire Weekend and Mark Stoermer from the Killers. Stoermer's the only reason I can tolerate their music- Jenny was a Friend of Mine has such a great bassline!

 

[rocknrollmouse]

whoops - almost forgot...

Pete Overend Watts - Mott the Hoople

Not sure if he counts as "underrated", but I only seem to see him mentioned in relation to his use of Thunderbirds. Was lucky enough to see one of the Mott reunion shows, in the live dynamic Pete really is the glue that binds the whole thing together.
Surely the holygrail for all bass players. Respect is due.

oh and when away from the bass there's also his production work (some people have more than their share of talent!)