Who's your favorite bassist?

[Todd Hamby]

Chuck Rainey
Bernard Edwards
John Paul Jones
Anthony Wellington
Tiran Porter
Bruce Thomas
Mars Cowling
Robert DeLeo
Doug Pinnick

 

[Pyrrho Epoche]

When I was a kid, probably Chuck Rainey, Jack Casady, Dee Dee Ramone, but I don't have favorites anymore. Tons of talent out there and alot go unrecognized, because their egos are not huge.

 

[KenD]

Melvin Lee Davis. What a gig!!!

 

[Element Zero]

Dave Taylor of Brian Adams band back in the day.
Paul Taylor
Norm Stockton
Tim Commerford
Geddy Lee
James Jamerson

I’m impressed by many, but these really sculpted me as a player and really identify with how/what they play on their instrument.

 

[GodsLove66]

Too many to name them all, but for the sake of brevity:

Tiran Porter of the Doobie Brothers, and Dave Hope of Kansas.

Both are phenomenal and don't get the dap they deserve!!!

 

[Smooth_bass88]

my girlfriend (whenever she plays, which is extremely rare)

 

[srosenthal13]

Unranked:

• Carol Kaye
  
• Cliff Williams
• James Jamerson
• Tim Commerford
• John Entwistle
• A little bit of everyone I've ever listened to

 

[bassist4dalord]

1. Brian Marshall (Creed and Alter Bridge)- His tone and his playing with both bands is incredible. His playing in particular is so enjoyable because he fills the bass role with supportive yet melodic lines.
2. James Jamerson- Simply incredible and inspirational. Not much else to say.
3. Geddy Lee- I can’t begin to wrap my head around this guy’s talent. How he writes the stuff he does AND SINGS WHILE PLAYING IT is absolutely staggering.

 

[GodsLove66]

In NO order, Rinus Gerritsen, Mike Rutherford, Tina Weymouth, Doug Stegmeyer, Paul Simonon, Geddy, Tiran Porter, Literally EVERY King Crimson Bassist, Chris Squire, Phil Joel and MANY many more!!!

 

[DustyBottom]

From my younger days:
Geezer Butler
Jimmy Bain
Robbie Shakespeare

Later in life:
J.T. Cure
Justin Chancellor
Paz Lenchantin

Nowadays:
No particular individual but any enjoyable bass line that stirs my internal cravings for something “more”…

 

[Docduval]

The guy from Toto, the guy from mudvayne. What’s his face from the old Motown songs.

 

[Alik]

This guy:

 

[STR8 UP BASS]

 

[BassAndCigars]

There are many others but my top 3 are:
Jaco
Rocco
Marcus

I will also mention a couple of maybe lesser known cats at least to some:
Nate Phillips
John Mazzocco

 

[Pirate Captain]

 

[tangentmusic]

 

[5StringBlues]

Derek Smalls

 

[Tom Bomb]

Buster Williams​

 

[factory presets]

Took a bit of doing but...

Started off with Geezer andJPJ. Worked my way up to Stanley and Jaco. Worked my way back down to Sid Vicious and Bruce Thomas. Started working back up through Robbie Shakespeare and early Flea, before giving up on ranking bassists and just enjoying the music.

All without sounding remotely like any of them. Tell you what, tho. I've borrowed ideas from some very good bassists along the way. Not to mention drummers, guitarists, keyboardists and vocalists. Brass guys as well when they're not too busy getting their Rhasaan Roland Kirk on. And had a blast doing so

 

[Sternodox]

Jack Casady.