Top P bass players. All time.

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Lets not get out of hand. Most of what Jamerson played was very simple.

Complexity does not equal quality.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

Burke Shelley of Budgie.

 

[Frety_Kruger]

I sure hope this is a joke...

Jamerson's bass playing had a lot of complexities, and his lines were largely improvised as the songwriters would only write out a portion of the bass part before letting him just take over.

Im a fan of his thats why he's sec

Complexity does not equal quality.

I would agree with that 100%

 

[Frety_Kruger]

OP asked for too 4 but I must add to my list.
Marshall Rock Jones
Bob Glaub
Maurice Gibbs
Ready Freddy Washington
Chuck Rainey
Willie Weeks
Wilton Felton
John Deacon
Phil Lynott
Teena Weymouth
Michael League
Joe Dart & Jack Stratton

I always thought Deacon played a stingray for a while. Maybe I'm wrong idk

 

[two fingers]

Lets not get out of hand. Most of what Jamerson played was very simple.

This conversation just got unproductive. No need to read any further.

 

[Bassiclees]

Glad there's others who feel as strongly about Willie Weeks as I do.
Was practicing to Donnie Hathaway's Live yesterday... Willie is genius.
His diversity with the P might be unmatched- so many styles and groove shapes and harmonic implications, the man is a chameleon with no peer.
My Bass God Trifecta is Weeks-Jamerson-Bootsy which is fairly P-centric.

 

[Frety_Kruger]

As respectfully as I can put this, that's an absurd take on Jamerson. Yes, that's my Jamerson-fanboy bias showing, but there ya go.

I only thought he was slightly overrated for the number one spot. He's on my number two spot. I'm not hating on him don't get me wrong. But I in no way think that influence should make you the greatest ever. As I stated before Kurt Cobain was one of the most influential songwriters in the last century. I mean the dude only put out two albums and is in the Hall of fame. Would you say he is a better guitar player than Dimebag. Probably not. They also put John from led zeppelin on ever top drummer list ever. You telling me he's a better drummer than some of these heavy metal speed drumming guys. Idk I just can't see it. But I respectfully agree to disagree. Have a good holiday.

Please submit you're 'What's Going On' album play-along where you nail his feel/articulation. First 3 tracks in particular are highly-technical/innovative. Were some of Jamerson's basslines simplistic? A few. But I just can't believe what I just read above. When someone bounces all over the chord in their note choices, with the type of chromatic passing tones you hear in jazz be considered technical?

I certainly think so.

Like you said, in your opinion and all, but wow.

Jamerson is absolutely on the level of Jaco, not just in technical ability but in that they changed the approach to the instrument for all time.

Jamerson/Willie Weeks/Chuck Rainey/Duck Dunn/Ronnie Baker/Paul Simenon/Rocco Prestia were my P-influences. Not to mention all the times I was 6-string, 'modern' instruments with fancy tops and even-fancier EQ, only to hear a guy/gal locally just crushing it tonally on a 4-banger P-bass.

 

[Frety_Kruger]

This conversation just got unproductive. No need to read any further.

Lol come on mannn

 

[Freight Train]

Greg Ridley/Humble Pie
John Wetton/King Crimson

 

[ElMon]

This was just my opinion and I respect yours completely. But your telling me james jamerson is a better player than this guy. Watch from 2:30 on.

Think I 'smell what you're stepping in' a bit more, even though I still disagree.

Jamerson as compared to the technical wizards that came after him? Sure. As far as the sheer amount of notes/technical prowess.

Whereas I am talking a lot of intangibles. Groove/feel/style and the fact that the guy came up with lines like 'I was made to love her' that were (again, to me) technically impressive while doing the even-harder thing of serving/enhancing the song at the same time.

Maybe if the chop-meisters you're more into would come across better to me if they had a p-bass.

 

[two fingers]

Lol come on mannn

I'm not trying to beat you up. But, man, Jamerson was the foundation upon which many of the iconic bass players built their sound, style, and even choice of notes. I, myself, love to answer the question "Who taught you how to play bass?". The answer is always "James Jamerson and John Paul Jones".

It's not about complexity (although he was certainly capable of complex and melodic lines). It's about the ability to play EXACTLY what a song needed.... every.... single.... time. You can't teach that.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying you're stupid if you don't admire his work as much as I do. Far from it. Love what you love. You don't owe me any explanations.

However, just OBJECTIVELY speaking, Jamerson pretty much has to he on ANY Top 5 P bass players list for that list to have ANY credibility. Without him, it would be like a Jazz bass list without John Paul Jones or Jaco, or a Hofner list without McCartney, or a Stingray list without Flea or Louis Johnson, or a Fodera list without Victor, etc.

Like him or not, Jamerson influenced (and continues to influence) soul, funk, and even rock bass players all over the world.

 

[Kukulkan61]

Nate Mendel
Bruno Mars bassist..

 

[bertthebassist]

please list the band(s) that they played with.
For those of us who may know the bass line, but have no idea who played it.
thanks

 

[Medicine Man]

 

[bertthebassist]

Peter Cetera (Chicago)

 

[deernaes]

If im being honest I only ever saw geezer playing fender and lakland you learn something new everyday. Only other bass I ever saw him with was a bc rich. So yea I wouldn't count him on my list personally

He was also known to play Vigier basses in his time with Ozzy and some with BS, and Yamaha as well.
But truth be told, when I decided to create my own "Geezer Tribute Bass", I used a Squier CV 1970s P....

 

[ElMon]

I'm not trying to beat you up. But, man, Jamerson was the foundation upon which many of the iconic bass players built their sound, style, and even choice of notes. I, myself, love to answer the question "Who taught you how to play bass?". The answer is always "James Jamerson and John Paul Jones".

It's not about complexity (although he was certainly capable of complex and melodic lines). It's about the ability to play EXACTLY what a song needed.... every.... single.... time. You can't teach that.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying you're stupid if you don't admire his work as much as I do. Far from it. Love what you love. You don't owe me any explanations.

However, just OBJECTIVELY speaking, Jamerson pretty much has to he on ANY Top 5 P bass players list for that list to have ANY credibility. Without him, it would be like a Jazz bass list without John Paul Jones or Jaco, or a Hofner list without McCartney, or a Stingray list without Flea or Louis Johnson, or a Fodera list without Victor, etc.

Like him or not, Jamerson influenced (and continues to influence) soul, funk, and even rock bass players all over the world.

Jamerson and Jones for me as well. As many high-end, zingy basses as I've pursued/traded, I keep coming back to that round thump that pushes through the mix and gives it that fat cushion. I know JPJ wasn't just a 'P-Player', but still. Round and fat seemed to be 'his jam' on those Zep recordings.

 

[speez]

Burke Shelley of Budgie.
View attachment 4092803

Zoom Club!

 

[Frety_Kruger]

Think I 'smell what you're stepping in' a bit more, even though I still disagree.

Jamerson as compared to the technical wizards that came after him? Sure. As far as the sheer amount of notes/technical prowess.

Whereas I am talking a lot of intangibles. Groove/feel/style and the fact that the guy came up with lines like 'I was made to love her' that were (again, to me) technically impressive while doing the even-harder thing of serving/enhancing the song at the same time.

Maybe if the chop-meisters you're more into would come across better to me if they had a p-bass.

Everyone needs a p bass.

 

[speez]

Top picks: Jamerson, Dunn, Weeks, Harris, Entwistle, Prestia, Kenny Passarelli, Dale Peters, Larry "the mole" Taylor, and Paul Goddard (heard somewhere he used a P bass on the song Another Man's Woman? regardless... killer bass solo!)