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Overrated bass players

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#941
I know I'm about to get smashed, but I like Flea, Claypool, and I respect Fieldy. Have you ever tried to tremolo slap? I mean, his tone sounds like my balls flapping in the wind, but if he can slap with both his thumb and his pinky tremolo style, he deserves props. He does things his way. I also don't really like Paul McCartney all that much, mainly because I really don't like the Beatles all that much.
 
#944
*takes several steps back* Tony Levin :ninja:, I saw a few jamming things between a few bassists on the great internet...everyone there had some groove to add to the mix, Levin got the nod for a solo spot and came out with a bucket of dischordant notes which sounded utterly out of place. It was gopping. I've heard other songs featuring him and he is, without a doubt, a bloody good bassist. But after all I'd read about him in various magazines...I was expecting the 'second coming' or something...

haha...Fieldy is taking a bashing! Admittedly the bassline to KoRn: Got The Life was one of the reasons I noticed bass when i was younger. He's good at what he does, though I would agree he is limited in his appeal.
 
#950
I think often people are confusing the music with the musician...it's not the same...bass is a support instrument, so it must be played in support of the music (good or bad)...

I don't think there are really a lot of over-rated players out there that are successful...they appeal to their audiences and that's it...

I don't like Korn, hence I don't like Fieldy...but I can't say that he is over rated.
Similarly, I don't much care for Flea's work...but he's been solid for the Peppers for YEARS!

Vic Wooten, I love...not his solo stuff...but the stuff he's done with the Flecktones is just great.
I'm also a huge fan of Jimmy Haslip...but not a big fan of Patitucci, even though JP has incredible chops...

it's just different musical strokes for different musical folks...
 
#952
thetawaves said:
*takes several steps back* Tony Levin :ninja:, I saw a few jamming things between a few bassists on the great internet...everyone there had some groove to add to the mix, Levin got the nod for a solo spot and came out with a bucket of dischordant notes which sounded utterly out of place. It was gopping. I've heard other songs featuring him and he is, without a doubt, a bloody good bassist. But after all I'd read about him in various magazines...I was expecting the 'second coming' or something...
Click to expand...

No worries - you get to have that opinion. But, Tony Levin is probably my favorite bassist. I don't think on-the-spot soloing really defines him at all. The textures, tones and articulations he plays with are very interesting and dynamic in ways I don't hear from many others, IMO. Peter Gabriel's So album contains a great collection of his stuff, and is when and where I got hooked. I also got to see him live with King Crimson many years ago, and he was grooving pretty heavy overall lots of improv stuff.
 
#953
rekesbass said:
all of the players mentioned here are truly innovators who changed the way we all look at bass playing as we know it.
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Dude, I agree with the spirit of what you're saying, truly, but come on, Fieldy an innovator? Who changed bass? No, man. Sorry. Fieldy is a barely capable fluke who rode along with more talented childhood friends when they got a break. Right place, right time, right friends; that's all. His greatest accomplishment is not getting replaced by a good bassist.
 
#955
superfunk47 said:
Wanna run that by me again? :eyebrow:

So you're saying the bass can't make solo music?

Or that it has to contribute to the song as a whole in some way (all instruments do that anyway, in their own way...)?
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no...primarily bass is a support instrument...and generally when we speak of "bassists" we speak of those in the supporting roll...very few actually do the "solo" thing, but there are a few exceptions

and yes, other instruments also contribute...

so you disagree with this 10% of my post...you must agree with the other 90%...:)
 
#956
Jake the snake said:
I know I'm about to get smashed, but I like Flea, Claypool, and I respect Fieldy. Have you ever tried to tremolo slap? I mean, his tone sounds like my balls flapping in the wind, but if he can slap with both his thumb and his pinky tremolo style, he deserves props. He does things his way. I also don't really like Paul McCartney all that much, mainly because I really don't like the Beatles all that much.
Click to expand...

Me either but check out wings?
 
#957
If bass is a supporting instrument and we should view bassists on the quality of their contributions to their respective groups than how can Flea be over rated if he's been "solid for the Peppers for years"? :confused:
In my opinion, most of the shred metal bands out there don't have an actual bassist. They just have a guy that can play fast and play something close to what the lead is belting out.
It takes way more effort to play slow and creative, like in a blues band or something of that nature, than it does to play fast and repetitive.
 
#959
I am not a fan of Flea, nor do I like RHCP that much.

Not that I hate their music.

But I don't think Flea is overrated. In fact I admire his technique, his overall performance, and the way he fills in his part in RHCP. I think he is a very good bassist.
Although I never got into the music he or his band plays.
 
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