cliff was just like what you wrote about how a bass player should be
Cliff gained alot of control in the band from Kill 'em All to the Master of Puppets album! he was some sort of leader 
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THE Favo(u)rite Bassist Thread
- Thread starter shkinnyBOB
- Start date
cliff was just like what you wrote about how a bass player should be
Cliff gained alot of control in the band from Kill 'em All to the Master of Puppets album! he was some sort of leader james jamerson hands down. even though i don't play any music similiar to his, he was just amazing. but you all already knew that.
Keith Horne
Used to go down and see him with the Wooten Brothers when I lived in Nashville as often as I could. I remember being disappointed somewhat whenever Victor showed up - Keith is just that freakin' good. (Sorry, Vic - you're amazing, too)
Used to go down and see him with the Wooten Brothers when I lived in Nashville as often as I could. I remember being disappointed somewhat whenever Victor showed up - Keith is just that freakin' good. (Sorry, Vic - you're amazing, too)
I'd have to say my favorites are
Jaco, Steve Digorgio (Death), Eric Langlois (Cryptopsy), John Myung, and that Bryan Taylor guy who's on the forums. Some of the loop stuff is actually driving me to save for a looperlative
Erik
Jaco, Steve Digorgio (Death), Eric Langlois (Cryptopsy), John Myung, and that Bryan Taylor guy who's on the forums. Some of the loop stuff is actually driving me to save for a looperlative
Erik
My favourite bass player has changed many times. At the moment I like Willie Weekes alot. He's cool and melodic and tasteful. Other bass players I respect include John Paul Jones, Chris Squire, McCartney, Sting, Colin Moulding (XTC), Bruce Thomas (Elvis Costello & The Attractions), Graham Maby (Marshall Crenshaw, Joe Jackson), Mark King. There are some great bass players getting around in Australia as well. One in particular Michael Galeazzi plays in a cool mainstream band with a jazz feel called Karma County. He and I trade emails and he's been very helpful and encouraging.
I like Eric Wilson of Sublime. The music, the style, and the smoking on stage is tight too. He borrowed from other bassists to make original lines. I want to do somethin like that if I'm ever in a band.
Hi Folks --
I just recently found/joined this forum, and its gotten me thinking about who my favorite bassists are. I wanted some way to actually back up my feelings. Here, then, is the completely unscientific and open-to-debate method I came up with.
A few weeks back I started a thread on the most recorded bassists. I got some great input, and learned some names that had completely passed me by. I went to allmusic.com and checked out their credits, then tallied up which songs and albums by each bassist I really enjoy. I gave one point for a single, four points for an album, and half a point for theme songs. You can see already how rigorous and well thought out my whole approach is (mild sarcasm aimed at myself, but decisions had to be made somehow.) I didn't count "best of" albums, and my emphasis was on songs where the bass made things work. You all know what I mean. What follows are my point totals. I'd be very interested in what others have to say, but please, no flames. My asbestos long-johns are at the cleaners. What follows is pure opinion, and omissions reflect my lack of background in different genres more than any dislike of them.
#1 Donald "Duck" Dunn -- 110 points
What can I say - I love that Memphis soul. The Duck lays it down smooth and tasty, supporting and moving things along. Truly, this is a man that can "turn goat piss into gasoline".
#2 Paul McCartney -- 80 points
The man can build a memorable bassline, it cannot be denied. Every point I gave him was for albums, but none of them less than 25 years old. Am I dating myself?
#3 Carol Kaye -- 77 points
I LOVE Carol Kaye. She epitomized class, in my book. I acknowledge that she has said controversial things, but everything I've read from people who've worked with her speaks glowingly of her professionalism and mad skillz. Read over her list of credits, and marvel. She's still teaching, and a real inspiration.
#4 Chuck Rainey -- 68 points
Chuck was totally under my radar until folks here pointed him out. The cat has more cool licks to his name than you can shake a stick at. Thanx Talkbass!
#5 James Jamerson -- 67 points
Funk Brother #1 was taken from us way too soon. Just think of all the grooves he still had to lay on us. . . Look up the word "tasty" and Sir James' picture is right there.
#6 Lee Sklar -- 28 points
How did I never hear of him before now? Did I forget to read all those liner notes back in the day?
As I said at the top, this is certainly not a very scientific way to figure out which bassist is best by any means, but these are the ones that have grooved me the most. Please don't ask me to put my money where my mouth is and actually drag out my crates of LPs to see which bassists are on actual vinyl I've purchased. I need that time to practice.
I just recently found/joined this forum, and its gotten me thinking about who my favorite bassists are. I wanted some way to actually back up my feelings. Here, then, is the completely unscientific and open-to-debate method I came up with.
A few weeks back I started a thread on the most recorded bassists. I got some great input, and learned some names that had completely passed me by. I went to allmusic.com and checked out their credits, then tallied up which songs and albums by each bassist I really enjoy. I gave one point for a single, four points for an album, and half a point for theme songs. You can see already how rigorous and well thought out my whole approach is (mild sarcasm aimed at myself, but decisions had to be made somehow.) I didn't count "best of" albums, and my emphasis was on songs where the bass made things work. You all know what I mean. What follows are my point totals. I'd be very interested in what others have to say, but please, no flames. My asbestos long-johns are at the cleaners. What follows is pure opinion, and omissions reflect my lack of background in different genres more than any dislike of them.
#1 Donald "Duck" Dunn -- 110 points
What can I say - I love that Memphis soul. The Duck lays it down smooth and tasty, supporting and moving things along. Truly, this is a man that can "turn goat piss into gasoline".
#2 Paul McCartney -- 80 points
The man can build a memorable bassline, it cannot be denied. Every point I gave him was for albums, but none of them less than 25 years old. Am I dating myself?
#3 Carol Kaye -- 77 points
I LOVE Carol Kaye. She epitomized class, in my book. I acknowledge that she has said controversial things, but everything I've read from people who've worked with her speaks glowingly of her professionalism and mad skillz. Read over her list of credits, and marvel. She's still teaching, and a real inspiration.
#4 Chuck Rainey -- 68 points
Chuck was totally under my radar until folks here pointed him out. The cat has more cool licks to his name than you can shake a stick at. Thanx Talkbass!
#5 James Jamerson -- 67 points
Funk Brother #1 was taken from us way too soon. Just think of all the grooves he still had to lay on us. . . Look up the word "tasty" and Sir James' picture is right there.
#6 Lee Sklar -- 28 points
How did I never hear of him before now? Did I forget to read all those liner notes back in the day?
As I said at the top, this is certainly not a very scientific way to figure out which bassist is best by any means, but these are the ones that have grooved me the most. Please don't ask me to put my money where my mouth is and actually drag out my crates of LPs to see which bassists are on actual vinyl I've purchased. I need that time to practice.
- Apr 29, 2004
- 1,247
- 37
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Spector Basses & Cort Basses
1) Peter Cetera
2) Tiran Porter
Others:
James Jamerson
Rutger Gunnarsson
Dee Murray
Guy Pratt
Geddy Lee
Gene Simmons
Paul Goddard
Kip Winger
Billy Sheehan
Joe Puerta
John Deacon
Phil Lynott
Bernard Edwards
Verdine White
2) Tiran Porter
Others:
James Jamerson
Rutger Gunnarsson
Dee Murray
Guy Pratt
Geddy Lee
Gene Simmons
Paul Goddard
Kip Winger
Billy Sheehan
Joe Puerta
John Deacon
Phil Lynott
Bernard Edwards
Verdine White
I honestly had to think about this one. Hehe.
The usual
Geddy Lee
Cliff Burton
Ryan Martinie
Paul D'Amour/ Justin Chancellor
The not so usual
Karl Alvarez (Descendents/ALL)
Kim Coletta (Jawbox)
Jeff Caxide (ISIS)
edit:
I can't believe I left out Billy Gould (Faith No More)
The usual
Geddy Lee
Cliff Burton
Ryan Martinie
Paul D'Amour/ Justin Chancellor
The not so usual
Karl Alvarez (Descendents/ALL)
Kim Coletta (Jawbox)
Jeff Caxide (ISIS)
edit:
I can't believe I left out Billy Gould (Faith No More)
Flea. Then Geddy Lee, Les Claypool, John Deacon, Scott Thunes, Cass Lewis, Jaco Pastorius, Philip Lynott, Jack Bruce, John Taylor, John Entwhistle, Doug Wimbish ... and so on.
1. Andreas Blomqvist of Seventh Wonder.
Definitely #1 in my book. He can switch from the most melodic lines to a low, neckbreaking one in a second. And he's as fast as a ninja.
2. John Myung of Dream Theater.
One of my long-time favourites, extremely creative bass lines, and chops that make me cry (his arms are huuuge!). Only downside is his sometimes-awful tone.
3. Steve Harris of Iron Maiden.
One of the pioneers of metal-bass. He proved to all the guitar heroes out there that bass can melt your face as well He also does some really nice fills, and his stamina is astounding (I usually get tired after only 2-3 Maiden songs, he plays them for hours on end!). Unfortunately, a lot of his lines seem pretty similar, although he does have some unique ones every once in a while.
4. Jeff Caxide of ISIS.
Not exactly a man with chops (if he has chops, he doesn't use them, at least), but definitely a unique voice. Extremely emotional bass lines, spanning a range of emotions.
5. Victor Wooten of... well I don't know!
I hate his thumb/pop/slap/whatever thing, but the man's a master of melodic tapping. His rendition of "Norwegian Woods" leaves me breathless every time.
And then there are the ones that probably have influenced me in some way, but that I don't really view as anything huge:
Marco Hietala of Nightwish & Tarot
Billy Sheehan of... again, no clue!
Patrice Guers of Rhapsody of Fire
Martin Mendez of Opeth
Definitely #1 in my book. He can switch from the most melodic lines to a low, neckbreaking one in a second. And he's as fast as a ninja.
2. John Myung of Dream Theater.
One of my long-time favourites, extremely creative bass lines, and chops that make me cry (his arms are huuuge!). Only downside is his sometimes-awful tone.
3. Steve Harris of Iron Maiden.
One of the pioneers of metal-bass. He proved to all the guitar heroes out there that bass can melt your face as well
He also does some really nice fills, and his stamina is astounding (I usually get tired after only 2-3 Maiden songs, he plays them for hours on end!). Unfortunately, a lot of his lines seem pretty similar, although he does have some unique ones every once in a while.4. Jeff Caxide of ISIS.
Not exactly a man with chops (if he has chops, he doesn't use them, at least), but definitely a unique voice. Extremely emotional bass lines, spanning a range of emotions.
5. Victor Wooten of... well I don't know!
I hate his thumb/pop/slap/whatever thing, but the man's a master of melodic tapping. His rendition of "Norwegian Woods" leaves me breathless every time.
And then there are the ones that probably have influenced me in some way, but that I don't really view as anything huge:
Marco Hietala of Nightwish & Tarot
Billy Sheehan of... again, no clue!
Patrice Guers of Rhapsody of Fire
Martin Mendez of Opeth
Without reading thru all 31 pages...
My vote is for my first inspiration...
Mel Schacher - Grand Funk RR
My vote is for my first inspiration...
Mel Schacher - Grand Funk RR
