Overrated Bass Players

[eddododo]

If you take time to worry about who is overrated youre probably pretty insecure..

Because anyone boasting enough actual talent to make this claim :
A) shouldn't be affected one way or another, theyd simply dislike the music and move on
B) is way too busy gigging and practicing to try to take time on TB to measure their bass-wiener using metric and swearing it was inches..

 

[shtik]

There are quite a few bass players that are overrated IN MY OPINION, but what's the point in shouting it out loud?

Funny thing is - one of the most overrated bass player IMO, is the same one that inspired me to play bass in the first place... He just happened to play with my favorite band at that time at the best live rock show I've ever seen.

A lot of "legendary" bass players became legendary mostly because they played in "legendary" bands.

There are no overrated bass players. There are better known bass players and less known bass players, there are good bass players and ones that suck. We haven't heard so much of the latter type before the You Tube age, that's for sure.

 

[zortation]

No such thing as being overrated in rock.

 

[musicianary]

The only overrated bassists are the ones who are trying to play like another bassist. If you're your own musician, then you're better than any guy who has chops for days and tries to be someone he's not. IMHO

 

[Marty Forrer]

There are quite a few bass players that are overrated IN MY OPINION, but what's the point in shouting it out loud?

Funny thing is - one of the most overrated bass player IMO, is the same one that inspired me to play bass in the first place... He just happened to play with my favorite band at that time at the best live rock show I've ever seen.

A lot of "legendary" bass players became legendary mostly because they played in "legendary" bands.

There are no overrated bass players. There are better known bass players and less known bass players, there are good bass players and ones that suck. We haven't heard so much of the latter type before the You Tube age, that's for sure.

This is the truth. If a bass player can play in good time, with good taste, and with good tone, he/she is perfect for the job.

 

[Phendyr_Loon]

So one the most significant musical figures in the history of civilization is overrated in your opinion? Alrighty then.

If you would have READ my post, I was basing my comment about Sir Paul on nothing but shear talent as a bassist. Yes, he was a huge part of what defines rock and roll in Beatles early years, but I don't think significance of musical figures meets the criteria of the OP.
I don't consider Carlos Santana as anything more than a mediocre guitarist, sure he might have been associated with a very popular act early in his career, but his talent is very overrated in my opinion.

 

[Vinnyboonbots]

If you would have READ my post, I was basing my comment about Sir Paul on nothing but shear talent as a bassist. Yes, he was a huge part of what defines rock and roll in Beatles early years, but I don't think significance of musical figures meets the criteria of the OP.
I don't consider Carlos Santana as anything more than a mediocre guitarist, sure he might have been associated with a very popular act early in his career, but his talent is very overrated in my opinion.

Well, if you're talking about the ability to REPLICATE what Paul does -- yes. Someone can learn to play a Beatles bass line after playing for just a couple of years. But his TALENT as a bassist goes far, far, far beyond technical prowess. His ideas are brilliant. Genius. That must be recognized. Hell, few people could execute what Joey DeMaio does. But it's utter garbage.

As for Santana, when he hit the scene , he sounded like no one else. A true innovator. I have to give him props for that. However, I don't think he's evolved in the last 30 years other than his tone today isn't as good as it was on the first two Santana albums.

 

[Tupac]

Problem is most people here mistake gymnastics for talent. I bet Nikki Sixx laughs his ass off on the way to the bank with the checks he gets from writing almost ALL of the Motley stuff himself. I'd take that talent over the slappidy slap crap any day! But of course YMMV...

So you'd take a pile of cash over doing what you love, pushing yourself to the limit, and mastering your craft? Why didn't you just go be a lawyer

There are quite a few bass players that are overrated IN MY OPINION, but what's the point in shouting it out loud?

Funny thing is - one of the most overrated bass player IMO, is the same one that inspired me to play bass in the first place... He just happened to play with my favorite band at that time at the best live rock show I've ever seen.

A lot of "legendary" bass players became legendary mostly because they played in "legendary" bands.

There are no overrated bass players. There are better known bass players and less known bass players, there are good bass players and ones that suck. We haven't heard so much of the latter type before the You Tube age, that's for sure.

Well said. If any other bassist happened to end up in McCartney's shoes, I doubt much would have changed. And then there's guys who really are up there with the rest of their band like good ol' JPJ.

 

[Jackie Clark]

Wow! I'm just now seeing this thread and it's kinda funny to be honest.The very first list includes players that are on hit records so there's nothing overrated about that.You may or may not like their abilities as individual players but,the most important factor is they do what they do best within their own band setting and that's success in my opinion!

Having said that,I have seen some of my favorite players live and they didn't sound as good as I expected but,that doesn't take away from the years of hit records they've played on and their influence on millions of fans and players over the years.Everyone can have a bad day on their instruments.

As for the guy who says Paul Mc Cartney is overrated,someone once told me the best way to argue with a fool is by silence so,on that note...

 

[guitar<bass]

Neither of my two favorites are on here.

Epic win?

 

[bassman700]

Nikki Sixx is more of a songwriter than a bassist

 

[karl_em_all]

Hmm. Not with you on that one.

It's true that he didn't really demonstrate chops like Geddy or Flea, but Paul was the master of the bass counter melody. He wrote some beautiful rifs.

+1 Brilliant player. Always tasty.

 

[Red_Label]

Problem is most people here mistake gymnastics for talent. I bet Nikki Sixx laughs his ass off on the way to the bank with the checks he gets from writing almost ALL of the Motley stuff himself. I'd take that talent over the slappidy slap crap any day! But of course YMMV...

Have never been a fan of Nikki's playing/writing, or of his schtick on his radio show.

He might be cashing lots of checks, but I'd rather be a good bass player, playing music that I like, in a local club for next to nothing than be someone I don't wanna be, playing big shows and cashing big checks. He can have his life. I'll keep mine. That's how I roll...

 

[zakedodead]

victor wooten. Everything I've seen of him is technical jackoffery (the least entertaining kind of jackoffery) He can play, but god his music just doesn't work for me.

 

[Red_Label]

victor wooten. Everything I've seen of him is technical jackoffery (the least entertaining kind of jackoffery) He can play, but god his music just doesn't work for me.

I hate to agree... but he's never moved me musically. I dig plenty of "out there" musicians (like Les Claypool), but Wooten is just WAY too out there for me to get on any level. I've always been a fan of virtuosity in music, but it's got to move me on some level and the playing has to support the music. The guy is obviously mind-boggling as a technical player, but I don't bother to listen any more.

 

[kikstand454]

Ill go ahead and bite on this troll thread by admonishing the ignorant people who commented against cliff Burton's playing. If your only exposure to cliff was Anastesia, then you're way off base.

Furthermore: yes....the world would still be suckling at his teat if he hadn't died young, because the world was already singing his praises when he was alive. Lets say Your band is taking over its (new to the world) genre, selling awesome...touring the world.... and your record company lets you put a 6minute BASS solo on your record? Yeah..... that happens if you're a talentless nobody.

 

[rsm]

+1

Ill go ahead and bite on this troll thread by admonishing the ignorant people who commented against cliff Burton's playing. If your only exposure to cliff was Anastesia, then you're way off base.

Furthermore: yes....the world would still be suckling at his teat if he hadn't died young, because the world was already singing his praises when he was alive. Lets say Your band is taking over its (new to the world) genre, selling awesome...touring the world.... and your record company lets you put a 6minute BASS solo on your record? Yeah..... that happens if you're a talentless nobody.

 

[Jack Butler]

Nikki Sixx composed most of Crue's and songs. He's not overrated.

Cliff Burton is overrated. He didn't compose. He didn't write lyrics. His solo "Pulling Teeth" is laughable at best.

I'm mostly in the camp of everyone brings something interesting to the table , even if some things(like super technical slapping stuff) aren't my cup of tea. That said I agree about Nikki 100%. And I'm on the same page re:Cliff Burton - I just don't get it at all. It's tragic he passed away, but musically they upgraded significantly when they hired Jason.

 

[Bassisgood4U]

Every player the op originally listed is awesome.

 

[Thrust Meatnozl]

Personally, I think musical virtuosity is overrated. I'd rather listen to a tight band play a simple song than an album full of instrumental histrionics.