Your 3 most influential bass players?

[deste]

"Big" side:
Gary Peacock
Ray Brown
Charlie Haden

"Small" side:
Jaco Pastorius
James Jamerson
George Porter jr.

 

[bigjames]

Just 3? This is tough. Trying to determine what constitutes being "most influential"...

Flea
Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam hit when I was 16 and a new player. I learned every line in every song and built a fretless to emulate him).
Alain Caron (Alain blew my mind when I heard him - is the reason I own an AC6).

 

[Flyboyandy]

Sting, Paul McCartney, Flea

 

[JimB52]

Berry Oakley
Joe Osborn, if only for Aquarius/ Let The Sunshine In
1969 North Haven County Fair- A guy playing a Pbass with body and headstock covered in gold shag carpet walking smooth bass lines. I was captivated.



Honorable mention ... The Ox

 

[javi_bassist]

Nathan East, Sean Hurley and Pino Palladino

 

[Jazzdogg]

Ray Brown
Rocco Prestia
Leland Sklar

 

[Discount Bassy]

1) Marcus Miller
2) Les Claypool
3) Ever-rotating position to be filled by whoever I'm currently listening to and inspired by that may not be the same day to day or hour to hour.

 

[commonplayer]

Jamerson
JPJ
Flea

 

[MobileHolmes]

Duck Dunn
Flea
Mike Watt

 

[Catmandoo]

Jaco
Tim Lefebvre
Leonard "Hub" Hubbard (The Roots)

 

[Chrisenbacker69]

McCartney
Jamerson
Dunn

Yes, I know. Old School. But what more do you actually need?

 

[Jason Bonilla]

John Myung
Chris Squire
Randy George

I would love to have Mike Rutherford's Writing ability, his parts were so creative.

 

[Aussie Player]

The Biggest Mac (who unfortunately embarrassed himself at the Taylor Hawkins Tribute)
Jack Bruce
Andy Fraser

 

[SoulReflection]

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.

OK, I will show my age...

Duck Dunn
James Jamerson
Bob Babbitt

 

[Dust2Dust]

I'm somewhat envious of all you folks that were able to see others as a guide.

For me it was certain songs that inspired me.

The Birds - Turn, Turn, Turn (or whatever the title is)
Tesla - Intro on Hang Tough
Ozzy - Intro, No More Tears
Allanis Morisette(sp?) - Bassline on You Outta Know
Spacehog - In The Meantime

It's odd for me not to have a favorite tho. Back In the 80s, when I was a drummer I could have easily answered this question;

Sandy Nelson
Alex VanHalen
John Bonham

But that didn't happen when I switched to bass.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

Dee Murray, Tom Scholz, and John Deacon. And a ton more that I emphatically respect!

*Honorable mention: Boz Burrell... incredible!

 

[Plectrum72]

Duff McKagan, Simon Gallup, and Jeff Ament

 

[Jeff Scott]

...................

Fretless:
Percy Jones
Mick Karn
Fernando Saunders

Here is some Fernando from the first Special EFX album.

 

[dmac1961]

James Jamerson, Paul McCartney, Dee Murray.

 

[Camarillo]

If I have to choose (the first) 3 that moved my guitarist ear to bass, they would be:
Steve Harris
Billy Sheehan
John Paul Jones