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Top Three Most Recognizable Basses by the General Public

#22
I wasn't trying to make the point that the general public would know what brand or model the bass is.
Just that someone would see the bass and say, "Oh yeah, that's Rush, I recognize the bass."

Maybe I wasn't clear enough.
 
#32
I've been a fan of popular music for the past 35 or so years, I've been a bass player for around 30 years, and a guitar player for over 25 years.

I've paid attention to what rockstars play over the years.

Some of the people mentioned, I could not have told you what they played.

The only bass I could legitimately see a majority of the general public knowing is McCartney's "Beatle Bass."

Maybe Gene Simmons' Axe... maybe.

Maybe Bootsy's star. Maybe.

Didn't the dude from Warrant have a bass with a Trojan wrapper on it? Or was that just from a Dean Markley ad?
 
#33
Double Agent said:
Back in the day Flea was almost never seen without a Stingray, even though he rarely, if ever, recorded with one. But, now he has been spreading it around to the Modulus and vintage Jazz, so I don't think that bass is so associated with him anymore.

Almost every gig, someone in the audience asks if I know any a) Tool or b) Primus. But, while they are pretty well-known, at least among people know a bit about music, I doubt that any non-bass playing folks have heard of Wals or Carl Thompson.
Click to expand...

What did Flea record with back in the day?

etoncrow said:
The general public would guess and say something like, "Isn't there a Fender Stratel-coaster?" and "Gibson made a West Pahl!"
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+1

Some civilians know Fender and Gibson, and that's just about it. A smaller group of civies are related or hooked up with a musician, so therefore they'll know a bit more.
 
#34
Most people wouldn't recognise a bass over a guitar. Having said that, the more learned (or just slightly more experienced) might recognise a bass used by a group's bass player if it's quite distinguishable (Lemmy's 4004, Les Claypool's rainbow bass etc). Other then that; pbass, jbass, 4003 or stingray.
 
#35
As has been already said, the general public would only be able to identify Paul McCartney's Hofner Violin Bass.

Non muso's may also (possibly) remember Chris Squire's Ric, Phil Lynott's black P Bass with the Chrome Pickguard & Lemmy's Ric.
 
#37
Siegy said:
General Public: "Who the @#$% is Chris Squire?"
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I think Yes is far more mainstream in popularity than you might think. They were the prog band that girls liked. My wife, who doesn't really care about bands, members, guitars, etc. not only knows who Chris Squire is, but can sing every song on Going For The One from memory.


My choice for the top three would be:

McCartney's Hofner
Squire's Ric
Entwistle and one of his Fenderbirds.
 
#38
I disagree with all of them. I don't think the general public knows, or cares, what type of bass someone is playing. They wouldn't know a Fender Jazz from a Mustang (car) fender. They may know McCartney and his music, but they don't know he played a Hofner or a Ric. That kind of stuff is important to us bass players, not the general music enthusiast.
 
#39
DeanT said:
I disagree with all of them. I don't think the general public knows, or cares, what type of bass someone is playing. They wouldn't know a Fender Jazz from a Mustang (car) fender. They may know McCartney and his music, but they don't know he played a Hofner or a Ric. That kind of stuff is important to us bass players, not the general music enthusiast.
Click to expand...

+1

..and a lot wouldn't know the difference between a guitar and a bass visually.
 

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