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The elites - who are they?

S

Suckbird

Inactive
May 4, 2004
1,047
1
35
Sweden
#1
I hear people talk about the "elites" of bassists and i guess they mean the bassists with best technique, so who are they?

Stu hamm, Wooten, Miller, Pastorious?

Or would you count steve harris, Butler, Geddy etc.. as the elite also?
 
#2
Stanley Clarke
Paul Mcartney
Cliff Burton


Jaco Pastorius
Les Caypool
Jhon Entwistle

These bass players are 'elites' because each one is completely original. Players like steve bailey and victor wooten are as good, if not better technically then these players. But, listen to wooten, then Clarke. What about Bailey then Pastorius. Hear a difference?
 
#4
OK here goes , I appreciate pauls playing and love his writing, but I think if your going to talk about ELITE bass players, that should imply serious technical prowess and creativity. So here's my Top Ten Elites in no particular order, electric only, although some play both, my upright list would be different:
Jaco Pastorious
Stainly Clarke
James Jamerson
Chris Squire
Anthony Jackson
Geddy Lee
John Pattituci
Rocco Prestia
Marcus Miller
Victor Wooten

I know theres plenty of other great players, but too me they have to have impact beyond bass playing , They need to have started trends that end up in pop music somewhere, and they have to be bass players first, technical showman second. They also have to have a track record, they can't be just the flavor of the mounth. These are not necessarily my favorite players, just the ones I would call ELITE
 
#5
burk48237 said:
OK here goes , I appreciate pauls playing and love his writing, but I think if your going to talk about ELITE bass players, that should imply serious technical prowess and creativity. So here's my Top Ten Elites in no particular order, electric only, although some play both, my upright list would be different:
Jaco Pastorious
Stainly Clarke
James Jamerson
Chris Squire
Anthony Jackson
Geddy Lee
John Pattituci
Rocco Prestia
Marcus Miller
Victor Wooten

I know theres plenty of other great players, but too me they have to have impact beyond bass playing , They need to have started trends that end up in pop music somewhere, and they have to be bass players first, technical showman second. They also have to have a track record, they can't be just the flavor of the mounth. These are not necessarily my favorite players, just the ones I would call ELITE
Click to expand...

I agree with your list but I think adding guys like Paul Jackson (maybe cause he doesn't play much anymore -- doesn't qualify?) or Jeff Berlin (he really should qualify in a group like this regardless of playing style or preference) and Billy Sheehan -- would round out my own personal list.

The thing is, if they seem like one of the best players in any given category of music, they are 'elite'.
 

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