Simple question, Newsted or Trujillo? Reasons why ??

[MattZilla]

For filling, rounding, balancing, & complimenting the soundscape of Metallica’s three permanent members?

Matt Freeman. Lemmy. Just about any bassist who’s more of a guitarist playing a bass guitar than a bassist.


Someone mentioned in another thread an observation which I’d never made but certainly clicked when I read it, something along the lines of musicians who are vocalists with instruments having a better ear for the mix than pure instrumentalists. I think it applies here.

JK&L created a soundscape which is difficult to make a bass guitar not superfluous, likely due to being grossly under-educated in music in general.

They’ve made great musical art. Post-Cliff, I think they could’ve done “better” than either Rob or Jason in the way that Salvador Dalí could’ve done “better” paintings with International Klein Blue to work with.

 

[Ulf Buck]

Jason Newsted was the perfect bassist for Metallica.

 

[stuntbass77]

At the end of the day it’s sad they get swept right out of the mix. Jason did finally get heard on the Black album but that seems to be the last time we really heard the bass. I like both and both are/were more than capable. They need another Black album that mix’s both the hard and classical softness James can play/write. Black album was not my favorite but over time I really came to like it. I don’t listen to anything heavy anymore as I’m older and it was music all my skateboarding friends were playing all the time so I am aware of most of their stuff.

 

[TheOtherSteveM]

It’s a tough call. I really love both of their styles in different ways. Strictly talking about their time with Metallica though, I’m inclined to say Newsted. As loathed as Load & Re-load are, he definitely got his time in the spotlight with some nice bass lines on those albums. Since transitioning to bass last year and training my ear to listen for the low end, I’ve found myself revisiting those two albums more and more, to really focus on what he had going on.

 

[Dynomuttasaurus]

They're both great players, but Robert has that extra something. Both can rock a solid groove. Robert can funk it up too, though. His work in Suicidal Tendencies and Infectious Grooves is insane. He pushed boundaries in metal before setting down with Ozzy then Metallica. And the crab walk...come on...the crab walk!

Oddly enough Flotsam and Jetsam is the band that I've seen the most. Never with Jason. But, man, what a great band and just some solid dudes.

 

[BassFalcon]

Off topic but related:
This thread reminds me of the story, I wanna say I read it in Bass Player in an interview with Les Claypool, that when Jason left and Metallica held open auditions for his replacement that Claypool went and stood in line and auditioned. Would’ve loved to have been in that room.

 

[jdaunt]

Off topic but related:
This thread reminds me of the story, I wanna say I read it in Bass Player in an interview with Les Claypool, that when Jason left and Metallica held open auditions for his replacement that Claypool went and stood in line and auditioned. Would’ve loved to have been in that room.

Actually that was in ‘86 after Cliff died that Les tried out, but both sides saw it wasn’t a good fit.
Les Claypool Auditioned For Metallica, But It Was A Complete Disaster

 

[BassFalcon]

Actually that was in ‘86 after Cliff died that Les tried out, but both sides saw it wasn’t a good fit.
Les Claypool Auditioned For Metallica, But It Was A Complete Disaster

Thank you for the fact checking! I found a clip of the man himself talking about it shortly after I posted that. The details were hazy, that’s a random fact that’s been floating around in my memory unused for decades, hahah, thanks for clarifying!

 

[SC Bassboy]

Newsted. He had a pure love for the music, an overwhelming love for the fans and seems to be a genuinely good dude. There are certain bands I completely quit listening to after a key bass player left, Metallica is one of them. This list includes Stuart Zender, Matt Sharp and Dirk Lance among others.

 

[coy garcia]

It's kinda unfair cause Rob is allowed to be heard in the mix. Both great players though.

 

[jdaunt]

Thank you for the fact checking! I found a clip of the man himself talking about it shortly after I posted that. The details were hazy, that’s a random fact that’s been floating around in my memory unused for decades, hahah, thanks for clarifying!

No problem, and you’re absolutely right that it would’ve been amazing to have been a fly on the walk during that jam!

 

[HardNHeavy]

Rob - cuz i always was a big ST fan before his wetdream of joining metallica. Cliff/Jason brought their own distinct flavor as well....Tho Cliff should be there to begin with and by now he'd of been incredible, just cut too short in life..I dig them all.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I felt like picking some brains today have some fun. Simply just tell us why you prefer 1 over the other. Or why you love both. Any opinion allowed. Please refrain from putting down either bassplayer. Let's keep it positive. For me personally I always loved newsted. I loved his stage presence , the man never stopped windmilling his hair on stage. And he played that 5 string like he was fighting for his life. Passion gets me. Trujillo also has alot of passion for his craft. But Jason is my fav personaly.

Trujillo. Hands down .
Suicidal Tenancies.
Infectious Grooves.
Robbie is a monster.

 

[JoshS]

It’s a tough call. I really love both of their styles in different ways. Strictly talking about their time with Metallica though, I’m inclined to say Newsted. As loathed as Load & Re-load are, he definitely got his time in the spotlight with some nice bass lines on those albums..

Newsted.

Almost exactly what I wanted to say. Trujillo might be a better player, but I loved what Newsted did with Load & Re-Load and actually like the risks they took with those albums. After that? Basically irrelevant. Also, as several others have said, he did pour everything into it.

 

[dpaul]

Just enjoy each player for the contributions they bring to the instrument & music. No need to make it competitive...

 

[tb-player]

Newsted. That way Trujillo can go back to playing with bands like Infectious Groove and Suicidal Tendencies!

 

[arbiterusa]

Newsted is the guy I’d want for my band, if I were Metallica. Dude can sing!

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Jaco

 

[Deleted member 261632]

No need to repeat what is being said (JN got me into bassplaying -- so I might be biassed )

I think hands down, Robert is the better player... BUT, I think Jason worked better in the Metallica setting. It's a bit hard to tell as the band's music has been circling the bowl since about the time Trujillo joined the band (I'm not blaming him).

It’s a tough call. I really love both of their styles in different ways. Strictly talking about their time with Metallica though, I’m inclined to say Newsted. As loathed as Load & Re-load are, he definitely got his time in the spotlight with some nice bass lines on those albums. Since transitioning to bass last year and training my ear to listen for the low end, I’ve found myself revisiting those two albums more and more, to really focus on what he had going on.

 

[Mastodon2]

If anyone thinks they can't hear Newsted, listen to "And Jason For All" on YouTube, the black album, Load, Reload, Garage Inc and S&M, he is loud and present on those.

I think Jason is the best bassist they ever had because his attack and timing was just so damn tight. Metallica were at their absolute pinnacle of precision and tightness when Jason was in the band, plus he had amazing stage presence and backing vocals. Rob, I'm just not a fan of and Cliff too, just too loose for my tastes.