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Tone Monsters

L

LCMBassist

Sep 27, 2008
543
5
England
#1
Ok, so who are your favourite bassists who have good tone? They don't have to be amazing players, but they have to have made you think 'hmmm, that sounds a bit good!'. Mine are, in no particular order:

Jason Newsted (Metallica)
Tim Commerford (Rage, and Audioslave tone too)
Mike Kroeger (Nickelback)
Guy from Alien Ant Farm
Dirk Lance (Incubus)
 
#2
All different styles.... and different tones

Eddie Jackson (Queensryche) on Empire & Operation Mindcrime albums
Guy Pratt (on Toy Matinee on with Madonna)
Kip Winger (on the Winger albums)
Duff McKagan (Guns n Roses)
Peter Cetera (Chicago)
Tiran Porter (Doobie Brothers)
Geddy Lee (Rush)
John Entwistle (The Who)
and many more....
 
#4
Roscoe Beck, any of his work with Robben Ford or Eric Johnson, but especially on his solo album.

Tony Levin So and Secret World live with Peter Gabriel.

Bruce Thomas with The Attractions.

Pino on early Paul Young.

Chuck on Aja and Royal Scam.

Entwhistle on Quadrophenia.

And finally, after the cash I've spent this year, I'd like to think me.
 
#7
:cool:
Pino-John Mayer Trio
JPJ-Zepplin 1 and II
Jonas Hellborg-Anything, and his ABG tone.
Jaco-First solo album.
Jack Bruce-Cream.
Timmy C.(overdirve tone)
Jack Cassidy-(Hot Tuna tone)
Sir Paul-early Hofner tone.
 
#14
Nathan East, both live and studio

Freebo on the early Bonnie Raitt stuff

Jack Cassaday, especially live as recorded on "Bless it's Pointed Little Head" and the first Hot Tuna album

Willie Weeks on Scofield's tribute to Ray Charles

John Etnwisthl on "Live At Leeds"

Carl Radle on the first Clapton solo album

Jack Bruce since he started playing the Warwick. Great recording on his 50th birthday concert recording.

Hutch Hutchison on the later Bonnie Raitt work

Bob Babbitt on "Midnight Train To Georgia"

Jaco's warmer sounds like "Contiuim" and "Donna Lee", the live Joni Mitchell stuff on "Shadows & Light" as well as live Weather Report.

Duck Dunn on Chris Hillmans' solo album "Slippin' Away". There's also a very well recorded Leland Skar track on that album.

Jim Fielder all over the second BS&T album ("Spinnin' Wheel", You've Made Me So Very Happy", et. al.) BTW, Fielder is also on the Chris Hillman ablum I mentioned above.

Whoever played bass on Laura Nyro's album of old Motown songs with LaBell (befroe they became Patti Labell and Labell). I don't recall the bassist, but he's got a great sound.

Jason Scheff at least on one TV show I saw years and years ago. He was playing a Lakland through an Eden rig. I have no idea how much of that was feeding the TV sound, but the bass sat so perfectly in the mix that you could hear everything you wanted an nothing you didn't want. The SOUND made me go into the living room to see what was going on.

Joel DiBartolo on the old Carson show. When he was playing the StingRay.

Stephen Stills on "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes"

Whoever played bass on Gnarles Barkely's "Crazy". Could be a synth, but it sounds great.

jte
 
#16
Some unsung or less sung tone heroes of mine:

Glenn Worf (Mark Knopfler band)
Ray Shulman (Gentle Giant)
Dickie Peterson (Blue Cheer)
Stan Miller (Earthquake)
Phil Volk (Paul Revere & The Raiders)
Dave Hawes (Catherine Wheel)
Alan Anton (Cowboy Junkies)
David Kershaw (Sarah McLachlan
 
#18
Kyle Brock - from the Electromagnets days when he played Alembics, and all the way through EJ's Venus Isle. The latter always fascinated me - warmth for days, but never lacking definition or growl.

Randy Jackson - In particular, his tone on "I Touch Myself" by the DiVinyls. I know he's played much more high-profile stuff, but this song always stands out.

John Deacon (Queen) - If anyone ever had a great P-Bass tone, it's this guy. Sure, his tone on the '86 Wembley concert was godawful, but I'm not talking live either :)

Roscoe Beck - Listen to the sound he was getting back in 1985 when "Tones" was recorded. One of the "Hi-Fi" bass pioneers, in my opinion.

Mike Dirnt - Yeah, I know.. Right? Seriously.. Killer pick tone. And I don't even like Green Day.

Jimmy Haslip - This has nothing to do with the fact that I play a Roscoe. Listen to anything Yellowjackets. Tasty.

Pino (of course) - He's living proof that skinny white guys can create groove like no other. :D

There are others, but I'm tired of typing. Hah.
 

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