IMO technical means comprehensive knowledge of theory plus the ability to play anything convincingly and be creative with note choices.
Cats like Victor Baliey, Jeff Berlin, Jaco, Manring et al fit this bill.
Technique is a different ball game.
Which question do you ask?
Maybe there's a language issue here...
What I meant was musicians who do have a comprehensive knowledge of scales and can play fast.
I could have named bassists like Jaco and many others, but I was aiming at rock musicians.
I could have made a better job of explaining what I was after with this thread...
There is a contrast in my mind between bassists like the ones in the poll and, for example, Simon Gallup, Kim Deal or Krist Novoselic (to stay in rock). For me, they are all excellent bassists. Yet there's nothing amazing in terms of technique with the latter: They simply do exactly what their own genres require, without amazing youy with speed and pyrotechnical stuff.
I've realized over the years that some musicians, as well as some music lovers, will tend to prefer the former type, whereas others prefer the latter.
I'm definitely more of the latter type myself, and rarely enjoy music of the former type. The musicians in the poll are notable exceptions for me. And JPJ is like the quintessential bassist inasmuch as he's generally very laid back in his style, yet he can impress you with his chops any time he wants.
