Steve Harris vs. Dave Ellefson

I perfer Ellefson, myself. I think Steve Harris is awesome, but he plays too much like a guitarist for my liking. I'm also going to get flamed for that, but w/e.

 

I just think you are very wrong. I don't think Steve Harris plays like a guitarist at all. I don't know too many guitarists who rock the three note gallop for a lot of their songs. I feel like he fills the bassist role perfectly. He does jump into the higher registers and plays some fills, so I can see where you are coming from... but only a bit.

 

Steve Harris with no reservations.

 

My vote is for Steve Harris
Dave Ellefson is no slouch either

 

Again, I love Harris for his presence, his attitude, what he brought to bass etc. But I don't like him stylistically. He is a one-trick pony. He either gallops or plays pentatonic runs. His tone is awesome, mind you.

 

So he's really a 2 trick pony!

 

Steve Harris is the founding member, leader, primary composer and bass player for one of the longest running and most important metal bands of all time.

Dave Ellefson is just some guy who did what he was told in a fairly trivial band.

 

What a hard choice... I think that they are both amazing... really, REALLY amazing. Ellefson was my hero for a long time. But now, Harris is one of my biggest heros. I think that really, IMHO they actually are almost on the same level. Ellefson fills in the low end a little better I think, but that being said, I don't think that thats all bass is about. On the other hand though, Steve has a much more defined style that lends to the overall appeal of Maiden. So I'm gonna give them each a breakdown of different traits. Please, no one take any of this too personally.

Tone - David Ellefson I think has superior bass tone in general, right from the beginning of Megadeth. Even on their first album it is solid and low and defined. That being said, Steve Harris also has amazing tone, but I don't find it as strong as Dave's.

Creativity - This has simply to do with basslines. I give more points to Harris here, but really not by alot. Ellefson's basslines are actually underappreciated IME. If you listen to Megadeth basslines, there are actually quite a few lines that don't follow the guitar, and do their own thing. However, Harris is quite creative with his lines, and shows them off a bit more (in a good way).

Bare Bones - Um, this means really just holding down the rythm, and providing a solid base to the music. I call it a tie. Ellefson is a super solid straight eights or sixteenths kind of guy alot of the time, giving some of the riffs a more ordered listenable sound. Harris however has that amazing gallop that just ties everything together along with the drums.

Style - Harris wins. While Ellefson does have hi own style, I think it's less unique. He knows how to be a great bassist that holds to tradition, but also ventures off of the beaten path. Harris though lends alot more to the songs in general than Ellefson. I hate to say it considering my huge respect for Ellefson, but Dave is more replaceable. Harris just has this awesome style that always works with everything and is so integral to Maiden's sound. A true bass master.

So, they're both awesome and they both rank in my top five bassists, but I think just by a little bit Harris is better. Just IMO though,

 

Sorry, I just noticed this. Um, I think you're dismissing Ellefson a little much. True he didn't have as huge a part in writing and such as Harris did/does in Maiden, but he definately wasn't just a "do as your told bassist". Also, Megadeth isn't really a trivial metal band. They are a massively successful metal band. Maybe not as much as Maiden, but 20 million albums isn't at all insignificant or trivial, neither is being nominated for seven grammies (they should have beat Enter Sandman with Hangar 18).

 

I have reason to believe that Dave Ellefson was heavily Ghosted during Megadeths height of popularity.

 

Vs. threads were banned from TB. It's been made apparent why within theses few posts, it's just an excuse for pointless fighting.

 

That said, I voted for Ellefson, no question.

 

Steve Harris all the way.

 

Harris owns all the posers

 

Harris definitely no question.

Ellefson, however had some great bass lines on Peace Sells but who's Buying.

Take a listen to 'The Conjuring' off that Cd....and of course the main hook to the title track


But, HARRIS!

 

I think these comparisons would be cool if you could have them go back in time, have them switch bands, and then see what happens. Would both bands "make it." If so, what would the tunes be like? That would kind of tell you how good or important they were.

Otherwise, I'm just glad I don't have to choose, but I'm not really a fan of either of them, or their bands. Good stuff, just not really a fan.

 

Gotta bow out of this one, too tough to decide!