Your 3 most influential bass players?

[Jeff Scott]

+1 for Mel Schacher...his early Grand Funk lines were awesome!

The very first song I learned on bass was this one, so, going beyond the stated premise of the thread, I have to include Mel.

 

[Michedelic]

Here is some Fernando from the first Special EFX album.

His work with first Jan Hammer, then Lou Reed, is what got my attention. I had the very bizarre experience of talking to him on the sidewalk outside the theater after a Hammer show, and then again, in the very same spot almost ten years to the week later, after a brilliant performance where he, and only he, backed up Marianne Faithfull.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Alain Caron (Alain blew my mind when I heard him - is the reason I own an AC6).

I have all the UZEB CDs and most of Alain's own work but have only seen him perform once (2010 NAMM Show). Nice guy to talk with.

 

[lowendrv]

Mingus , Jamerson , Bruce .

 

[Vitrius Humor]

Entwistle, Macca, Jamerson

 

[Pings Bass]

1. Mingus
2. Cachao
3. Family Man

 

[Ken R]

#1- Ron Carey, because he helped a young boy understand what a bass guitar was, how it worked, and why it is important. He also taught that young boy about mixing sound, how to "read" a crowd and mix to get them out of their seats.

#2- Howard Ferraro, because he taught that same (now teenage) boy how to play what fit the music and how to deal with oddball time signatures.

#3- Hal Jordan Ketofsky, because he introduced me to Spector basses and helped me find the sound I call mine.

 

[conttador]

So many but the ones I try to emulate are:

Marcus Miller
Scott LaFaro
John Patitucci

 

[TheMadBassist88]

Of course I cannot play like these guys but my top three are John Myung, Steve Harris and Billy Sheehan

 

[deff]

Graham Maby
Darryl Jenifer
Dave Curran

 

[Joshua Pickenpaugh]

Tony Levin, Dave Holland, and just about everyone else tied for third.

 

[The Thinker]

Geddy Lee
Stanley Clarke
Chuck Rainey

 

[Speakz]

Aston "Family Man" Barrett
Alphonso Johnson
Oteil Burbridge

 

[Philip McAdam]

If you could only pick 3, who would they be?

Mine are Dusty Hill, Geddy Lee and Mel Schacker.

If I had to pick a 4th, it would be Chris Squire, with John McVie given honorary mention.

Right now, I would say, Rich Brown, Patrick Olmstead and Eberhart Webber. The first two because I know them and they influence me directly. EB. because he was the first bassist that made me notice the basses influence on music.

 

[Geogio]

Tony Levin - he had a 3 string made... come on!

Gary Willis - his signature 5 fretless is nice, S3 and Uncle Moe... Kinsey's trio with Borlai. Wow



Tim Landers - there are a lot of bassists out there and there are a lot of people that with abounding artistry and have made great strides in the progression of the instrument. I love listening to them all... but Tim Landers always seem to hit those notes that perked my interest, when playing with Vital Information back in the early 80s. Later on Landers got into production and I've seen him a couple times on some production stuff. He's still hitting all the right notes. I like his approach.

 

[Steve Cooke]

Geddy
Chris Squire
Bob Daisley

 

[funkinbottom]

Actually influencing my playing, Jamerson, Kenny Gradney, and Rod Ellicott. But several more....

Awesome... Rod Ellicot, a name we don't here nearly enough. Very under rated and not so known. I cant even remeber how many times I've seen Cold Blood when growing up. Great band. Are you from the SF bay area originaly?

 

[Andyroo721]

3 that had the biggest impact on me would be;
1. Jamerson
2. Pino
3. Robert Sledge
honorable mentions to Tina Weymouth, Mike Watt, Jimmy Sutton, JMJ, and Scott LaFaro

 

[thombo]

Lifetime- Jaco, Chris Wood, and Brian Cook.

To sneak in a few extras, formative years- Eric Avery, Sebastian Steinberg, and Mike Watt for their lasting influence in my formative years. Michael Henderson, JPJ, JMJ, and the bassists of James Brown also deserve a lot of love too.

Contemporary- Stu Brooks, Tim Lefavbre, and Pino

 

[rmayer]

Mine are

Paul McCartney
Jack Bruce
James Jamerson

I’m sure there are more, Jamerson was influencing my playing before I even knew his name.