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Was Jimmy Page a good bassist?

Skel

Skel

Jun 19, 2005
3,237
45
Boulder, Colorado
#1
Sorry if this topic has been discussed already but a fresh conversation about it can't be too bad. I know Jimmy Page played bass in "The Yardbirds", but I have no knowledge about his equipment, technique, ability, etc. I assume he was the typical "guitar player playing bass", using a pick, a Fender Precision, and whatever amp he could get his hands on, playing "OK" bass.

He had to be blown away when he hooked up with JPJ! I realize he already knew JPJ from doing earlier studio work with him.

Off topic kind of; A long time ago I read something where Plant (I think) was really worried that this newly recruited bass player (JPJ) was going to look like a professor, with a beard and smoking a pipe. That is so funny! I wonder what the outcome would have been if JPJ really did look wrong, but still had is genius ability. Back then looks really mattered.
 
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#2
Interesting question. I'm not sure there's any recorded Yardbirds material with Page on bass. There's that one scene in the film "Blow Up" featuring them playing in a club (Beck smashes his guitar)... but I can't remember whether Page is playing bass or guitar.
As far as Robert Plant and John Paul Jones, to me the question is this: How did Jones, the seasoned studio guy, feel about being in a band with a peacock poser who couldn't sing?

(Uh oh-- I know I'll be getting death threats for that one!)
:ninja:
 
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#4
dougjwray said:
Interesting question. I'm not sure there's any recorded Yardbirds material with Page on bass. There's that one scene in the film "Blow Up" featuring them playing in a club (Beck smashes his guitar)... but I can't remember whether Page is playing bass or guitar.
As far as Robert Plant and John Paul Jones, to me the question is this: How did Jones, the seasoned studio guy, feel about being in a band with a peacock poser who couldn't sing?

(Uh oh-- I know I'll be getting death threats for that one!)
:ninja:
Click to expand...

Before the barrage starts, count me in ony your team. I loath everything about Plant.

Jimmy Page played Bass on some of Jeff Becks first few albums (as well as Ron Wood). Adequate.
 
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#6
Ok. True story. When I was about 5, my family was on vacation somewhere in Texas (Amarillo I think). We were a large Irish Catholic family that went on road trips every summer. Whenver we would finally get to the motel, us kids would be in our swimming trunks at the pool in about 9 seconds from check in. This time, it's about 5 or 6 PM, we get to the pool and standing there is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen...This totally cool rock group in their stage clothes just hanging out waiting for their gig. My older brother was a guru on everything about bands, and they explain they are "The Yardbirds". My brother is quizing them, asking them "If you're really the Yardbirds, what is your record label?" - that kind of stuff. I had never seen anything like it but I vividly remember Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck. The rest of us only knew of the Beatles, so I remember asking Page if he knew the Beatles. I could tell even at 5, that people instinctively wanted to hit me some times. So then Page askes us "Could you tell us where the Ball Room is?" in his British accent (he had the coolest hair I've ever seen!) We were like...Huh, the "Ballroom?" The scary part is that we probably thought he was talking about the Ramada Inn coffee shop, and showed him. Some English guys can pipe in, but I assume he meant wherever they were performing. I especially loved my Dad's brilliant comments that "They all look like Jesus" and "They only know three chords". He HATED that any young rock group got any credit at all for being a musician, especially the Beatles with "Paul Lennon".
 
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#7
Great story. It reminds me of one my cousin Bruce told me...
He grew up in Detroit, and in the early '60s, when Bruce was about 12 or so, the Stones played at a local college or something. (This might have been circa "The Last Time", "Time is on My Side", etc.) After the show, Bruce went to a nearby house where there was a party and the Stones were hanging out. He vividly remembers standing on the front porch talking to Jagger and saying things like, "Well, good luck with your band!"
 
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#10
bassist15 said:
I remember seeing a picture of Jimmy playing bass. The only reason he played was because he was abotu to come into the band on guitar and was playing bass while another memeber was being taught to play bass. Jimmy played a Harmony Hollobody Bass . a sunburst color with small white pickguard.
Click to expand...

Oh, so even when I met him, he was most likely the 2nd guitar player (with Jeff Beck) and NOT the bass player. Good info about the Harmony bass (No wonder he switched!). Thanks.
 
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#15
Skel said:
I've seen it a hundred times and it wasn't until last night that I noticed on one of their songs, "Big Bottom", both guitar players are playing bass, and the bass player is playing a double necked bass - just making sure the bass is covered. That is so hilarious!
Click to expand...

How could you have missed that Big Bottom was a 3-bass song??

The greatest bass anthem of all time my friend...all time!
 
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#19
Jimmy Page also played a Fender Bass VI as well as an Epiphone Rivoli Viola Bass and a Gibson EB2 Bass Guitar. He was originally going to play bass after Paul Samwell Smith left the Yardbirds, and then switched to rhythm guitar.

Kind of like how in Rush, Geddy Lee was the bassist, but he and guitarist Alex Lifeson would usually use a Moog Taurus bass pedal Synthesizer.
 
#20
Skel said:
I've seen it a hundred times and it wasn't until last night that I noticed on one of their songs, "Big Bottom", both guitar players are playing bass, and the bass player is playing a double necked bass - just making sure the bass is covered. That is so hilarious!
Click to expand...

And later in the movie after Nigel leaves the band, the band discusses how the keyboard player will play Nigel's bass part for Big Bottom. One of the many running gags!
 
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