Topic: Best bass player EVER (Read 35152 times)

mee-kay-la · « **Reply #50 on:** 21 Feb 2005, 13:20 »

Quote from: c1utch

John Paul Jones - Led Zepplin
Flea - RHCP

FRIEND!

Super Dave · « **Reply #51 on:** 21 Feb 2005, 16:37 »

Quote from: Johnny C

My bassist friend says David Ellefson of Megadeth is pretty good. Having paid little attention to their bassist in the past, I am in no position to disagree.

I must definitley agree; i <3 Megadeth to death

muffy · « **Reply #52 on:** 21 Feb 2005, 16:47 »

OK, so he's not the best by any stretch of the imagination, but he was so cool in his day:

The Wire..

Jooooosh · « **Reply #53 on:** 21 Feb 2005, 16:48 »

Is he wearing a dress?

muffy · « **Reply #54 on:** 21 Feb 2005, 16:58 »

Either that or he should sack his tailor...
Yup, nothing quite like a 6' Welshman in a Laura Ashley frock..

KharBevNor · « **Reply #55 on:** 21 Feb 2005, 17:13 »

If we're talking the coolest bass player ever, it's the guy from Ephel Duath. All their pictures seem to be have taken at cunning angles to disguise it, but their bassist is actually a midget. Ephel Duath are one of the most insanely fun live experiences I've ever had, they were simple, unreconstructed awesome mofos, and that little guy was damned awesome.

Johnny C · « **Reply #56 on:** 21 Feb 2005, 20:19 »

Quote from: Super Dave

I must definitley agree; i <3 Megadeth to death

David, is that you?

ev0lve · « **Reply #57 on:** 21 Feb 2005, 21:26 »

Quote from: Burninated Peasant

If you guys had seen Orgasmo, you would know that the best bassist ever is Geddy Lee from Rush!
Who knows, maybe it is Geddy Lee. ;p

i was going to answer Geddy Lee. and i'm completely serious

Super Dave · « **Reply #58 on:** 24 Feb 2005, 19:49 »

Quote from: Johnny C

Quote from: Super Dave
I must definitley agree; i <3 Megadeth to death

David, is that you?

Only on sundays.

dagny · « **Reply #59 on:** 24 Feb 2005, 20:01 »

Geddy Lee is, in my books, tied with Tony Levin as being the best bassists. Has any of you ever seen King Crimson play live, or seen Tony play live with Peter Gabriel? He's freaking insane on that bass.

TatInTheHat · « **Reply #60 on:** 24 Feb 2005, 22:58 »

Eric Axelson from the Dismemberment Plan.

But I supposed that's my own bias talking.

dontstaylong · « **Reply #61 on:** 25 Feb 2005, 12:09 »

Quote from: jeph

James Jamerson.

jeph, not only can you draw a mean comic, but you know your shit. i'd say 3/4s of the people mentioned on this thread are nothing compared to jamerson.

bootsy, while i know he's an awesome bassist, also wins the award for Coolest Motherfucker on the Planet. hands down.

Conatonc · « **Reply #62 on:** 26 Feb 2005, 10:55 »

Quote

Fieldy is a really good bassplayer

Fieldy isn't a bass player, he's a percussionist who happens to use a bass guitar as his chosen instrument.

m4cphisto · « **Reply #63 on:** 26 Feb 2005, 17:30 »

flea- not just the playing of bass, but his personality is funny too. *see can't stop, chili peppers video*

john paul jones- because he can also play mandolin

Beorht-Dana · « **Reply #64 on:** 03 Mar 2005, 21:32 »

Well if by best you mean the person who has come closest to mastering the instrument I guess it would have to be someone like Wooten, Mingus, etc.

Best bassist I know: Basim Usmani

andrew116 · « **Reply #65 on:** 04 Mar 2005, 14:37 »

hmmm best bass player? well besides me i'd have to say Cone from Sum41

Haver · « **Reply #66 on:** 04 Mar 2005, 15:06 »

Ben Kenney isnt the best, but he's a mean bass player.

Kyoku · « **Reply #67 on:** 04 Mar 2005, 17:39 »

Though Les Claypool of Primus has made the bass guitar his bitch, and tough Geddy Lee (Rush), Paul McCartney (The Beatles), Flea (RHCP) are some all time greats, and people like Larry Graham (Sly and the Family Stone), Lemmy Kilmister (Motorhead), John Myung (Dream Theater), Mike Watt (The Minutemen) and Chris Squire (Yes) are either revolutionaires, pioneers or just plain awesome...

NO ONE could make a bass sound as spine-meltingly beautiful as the late, great Bobby Sheenan.

ElRodente · « **Reply #68 on:** 04 Mar 2005, 17:53 »

STING

maybe not the best ever

and the guy from rancid is pretty ok at it

edit: matt freeman

m4cphisto · « **Reply #69 on:** 05 Mar 2005, 16:44 »

Quote from: andrew116

hmmm best bass player? well besides me i'd have to say Cone from Sum41

*chokes* nooooooooooooooooo

Kai · « **Reply #70 on:** 05 Mar 2005, 21:41 »

Quote from: andrew116

hmmm best bass player? well besides me i'd have to say Cone from Sum41

Dear god. I spit my drink all over my desk when I read this. Jesus christ.

Super Dave · « **Reply #71 on:** 05 Mar 2005, 21:46 »

Quote from: andrew116

hmmm best bass player? well besides me i'd have to say Cone from Sum41

You will not live that down.

Trollstormur · « **Reply #72 on:** 06 Mar 2005, 00:03 »

http://www.nekromantix.com">

http://www.rockabillybass.com/images/photos/kim.jpg">

ElRodente · « **Reply #73 on:** 06 Mar 2005, 07:56 »

i've met and had my arm signed by kelley from goldfinger

ElRodente · « **Reply #74 on:** 06 Mar 2005, 07:59 »

Quote from: Haver

Ben Kenney isnt the best, but he's a mean bass player.

i have seen incubus live, and while he isnt the most talented, he is one cool bassist

i know someone that has his pick

her boyfriend gave it to her

edit:

derek smalls bitch

Verek · « **Reply #75 on:** 06 Mar 2005, 12:00 »

Best bassist ever...hmmm...

Victor Lamonte Wooten
Les Claypool
John Myung
Steve DiGiorgio (Mad props to the fretless players)
Cliff Burton
Jaco Pastorius (The "original" fretless player)

And just in sheer coolness, Peter Steele. THE MAN IS SEVEN FEET TALL AND PLAYS AN UPRIGHT BASS ON A LENGTH OF INDUSTRIAL CHAIN! If that isn't awesome, I have no idea what is.

And that list is in no particular order, just to clear that up.

Learned Hand · « **Reply #76 on:** 06 Mar 2005, 14:58 »

Coolest bass player ever (without a doubt in my opinion):

Sid Vicious

There's just no comparision. Of course, we could start a debate about whether he actually qualifies as a bass "player".

Musically, I vote for Flea.

Signum_Tenebrae · « **Reply #77 on:** 06 Mar 2005, 22:25 »

Sean Malone
Jon Myeung
Timi Hansen
Roger Patterson

ColdSteelRain · « **Reply #78 on:** 07 Mar 2005, 15:27 »

I'd have to agree with everybody who has said Flea. I like Krist Novoselic too .

mAlice aforeThought · « **Reply #79 on:** 07 Mar 2005, 16:19 »

peter steele (Type O Negative)
charles levi (My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult; Pigface; Chemlab)

blooflame · « **Reply #80 on:** 07 Mar 2005, 20:37 »

You really should investigate (in the rock/blues realm) Larry Taylor who played in Canned Heat and a lot of John Mayall projects (and if you don't know who John Mayall is, you've got homework to do - Mayall's bands created opportunities for Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, and many others). The best reference I can give you is an extended solo on the "Jazz Blues Fusion" LP, but really everything he did was/is excellent (I'm not sure what he's doing now). This is not to disparage any of the other great rock bassists - but to point out someone you're overlooking.

In the jazz realm, Jaco Pastorius was good (but dead); Ron Carter is good (and alive, and extending his horizons with some hip-hop fusion work at times).

Inlander · « **Reply #81 on:** 07 Mar 2005, 20:52 »

I notice there's no genre stipulation on this topic - there's a whole world of extraordinarly talented jazz bassists out there, though understandably given that this is a Q.C. forum jazz hasn't been much mentioned thus far (apologies to those who have nominated Mingus, Pastorius et al). For my money possibly the greatest would have to be Scott LaFaro - get your hands on an album by the Bill Evans trio (Evans, piano; LaFaro, bass; Paul Motian, drums) called "Waltz for Debby", recorded live in 1961.

I also have to chuck in a mention for Jimmy Blanton (played with Duke Ellington briefly before his untimely death in the early '40s). Absolutely ALL modern bass players, regardless of genre, owe this man a huge debt of gratitude.

And just to reassure you all that I'm not a completely unreconstructed Jazzbo, I'm currently listening to "Blank Generation" by Richard Hell & the Voidoids. Cheers!

dontstaylong · « **Reply #82 on:** 07 Mar 2005, 23:51 »

everybody needs to get some motown and just listen to the bass parts. jamerson, people. jamerson. those parts just groove.

mingus is known more for his arrangements and orchestrations, as well as his role as an activist, more so than a bassist, isn't he? granted, he was a terrific player, but the reason he's so well regarded isn't simply how he played.

gypsy giblet · « **Reply #83 on:** 10 Mar 2005, 09:38 »

i once had the pleasure of being in a band with a man called..................... alex john williams, and i believe he has the most beutiful understanding of what music needs and he feds it wonderfully. i also witnessed him compose and play in a barn music baseed on a conceptual story of french revolution

Beorht-Dana · « **Reply #84 on:** 10 Mar 2005, 11:06 »

Nobody has mentioned Jonas Hellborg yet. He's deffinately up there.

fleetingBassist · « **Reply #85 on:** 10 Mar 2005, 12:48 »

ahh, how could i not post to this topic... i apologize in advance for not being able to pick just one... or ten. i'm gonna rehash some for sure, but hopefully there are some new names too. there are so many ways to judge a bass player...

Jaco gets points for reinventing the electric bass as a lead instrument while still being able to lay down a tight grove when necessary. Portrait of Tracy is hands-down my favorite bass solo/song.

John Myung of Dream Theater is straight up technical as hell, though I think he lacks a unique sound. He doubles the guitar so often that I really doubt he composes his lines.

Aside from rocking with King Crimson and Peter Gabriel, Tony Levin is probably the most prolific studio bassist alive. Just check out this list and be amazed http://www.tonylevin.com/discography.html. I had the privilege of meeting Tony a few years ago and had him sign my copy of Beyond The Bass Clef, a great book with insight, tips and hilarious stories about playing bass. He also rocks the Chapman Stick.

John Entwistle and Paul McCartney and are two guys who really developed the art of the bass line in rock music. Of course, combine their first names and throw in a Jones and we've got a trio of bass players who found the perfect balance between function and creativity. Flea is a more recent member of that club.

When I saw a live Vic Wooten bass solo three years ago i almost shat myself. I was literaly speechless for a good hour or so. With my eyes glued to him, I still have no clue how he was creating some of those sounds.

Jim Creegan from Barenaked Ladies is great at putting subtle variations in his basslines. And he plays an upright on stage which is always cool.

The best bassist whose name I don't know is the guy who played on Zero 7's tour. He took the album's very simple basslines and made them ridiculously active with spontaneous fills and patterns without taking away from the music. I just watched him the entire show.

Bonus points to any bassist who sings. Especially in a three piece band. Sting and Geddy Lee get 7 points each. And an extra 5 to Geddy for having fifty octaves between the low range of his instrument and the high range of his voice. And for playing bass lines that have absolutely nothing to do with his vocal melodies half of the time.

Speaking of power trios, Les Claypool gets an obvious nod for creativity. A less obvious nod goes to my personal favorite bass player Robert Sledge from Ben Folds Five. Highly underrated/overlooked. A great blend of creative, non-repetitive bass lines, technical skill, unique sound and killer backing vocals. Plus, he's the only bassist I've seen unplug his instrument and "play" his patch cord.

there were a lot of guys listed that i've never really checked out like jamerson and lafaro. i'll have to get on that. sorry to be that stupid noob with the long ass post, but it's who i am

inakitrescero · « **Reply #86 on:** 27 Apr 2006, 14:28 »

My two personal favorites are Mic Todd from Coheed and Cambria, and Nate Mendel from Foo Fighters/Sunny Day Real Estate (the original one). I really like their style, because they don't play for attention and just keep it simple most of the time, and every now and then they really impress everyone with a huge groove.

Misereatur · « **Reply #87 on:** 27 Apr 2006, 14:49 »

The second Jaco Pastorius was mentioned the thread was won.

Bastardous Bassist · « **Reply #88 on:** 27 Apr 2006, 15:00 »

Quote from: jeph

Somewhat off-topic: I don't think the bass makes a very good "lead" instrument. People like Jaco and Wooten (and to a lesser extent Claypool) bore the shit out of me, technical skills or no. Full disclosure- I've played bass for over 10 years now.

How could you not absolutely love Jaco's sense of melody and feel. There are people 20 times more technically talented out there, but they can't make the bass sing like he could. His stuff is gorgeous, beautiful and just happens to be played on bass. It's more lyrical than 99% of all singers I've ever heard, and just JESUS CHRIST HOW COULD ANYONE NOT LOVE JACO!? Sure, he was a massive prick, but he made such incredible music. I know I shouldn't care that you don't like it, but I just don't understand how any human being could not be moved by what he plays, seriously.

Quote from: Conatonc

Jeph's pick of James Jamerson was a good nod to an often-ignored player.

Ignored by whom? I personally prefer Stanley Clarke. "Rite of Strings" is an amazing album.

Now, if you want the greatest bass player ever to have lived (to date), look no further than Edgar Meyer. This is a pretty objective statement, and I can back it up. Of course, then we stop talking about electric bassists, and then I really start going off. Ron Carter, Dave Holland, Charles Mingus, Paul Chambers, John Pattitucci, and more. They're all incredible and I really haven't heard anybody approaching the kind of expression they're capable of on the electric bass, except Jaco, of course.

Storm Rider · « **Reply #89 on:** 27 Apr 2006, 15:12 »

Man, picking a best player of any instrument is impossible. I think that there's just a tier you reach when the quality is extremely high, but incomprable. Beyond that, it's just personal preference.

onewheelwizzard · « **Reply #90 on:** 27 Apr 2006, 22:36 »

Scott Reeder isn't the best bass player of all time, but he's certainly the best bass player a lot of bands could possibly have in their lineup, and it really blows that he's not part of a band right now (his solo album pretty much sucked, unfortuantely). His feel for whatever music his bandmates are playing is almost unparalleled. Kyuss was great before him but became fucking legendary once he entered the mix.

Rubby · « **Reply #91 on:** 27 Apr 2006, 23:45 »

You guys are going to hate it, but um...

and I'm not saying he's the best by far...

The guy from the Killers. He really pulls the low end out from the rest of the songs and makes them shine, despite the fact that they may not be very good songs. Rarely does he follow the root note or downbeat, he makes the low end something special to notice if you ever get so inclined.

Shaft · « **Reply #92 on:** 27 Apr 2006, 23:57 »

I have to disagree wih the person who complained that people like Wooten and Pastorius weren't strictly bass players, but rather people who played music, but it happened to be on a bass... Well.. What? I mean, really?

Just cause a million and seven bands bassists' only play one string at a time doesn't mean that's what playing a bass is all about. There are 24 frets for a reason!

Oh yeah, and Squarepusher is the best person who plays the bass. As in he is awesome enough already without playing the bass. Yes I'm gay for Tom, so what.

*Googles Peter Steele*

He has big boobs and his nipples are really close together.

TrueNeutral · « **Reply #93 on:** 28 Apr 2006, 02:55 »

John Paul Jones
Flea
Tim Commerford
Jaco Pastorious
Les Claypool
And yes, Ben Kenney is, indeed, pretty good.

But really, my favourite is definately Cliff Burton.

TheCourtJester · « **Reply #94 on:** 28 Apr 2006, 03:40 »

Avishai Cohen

He's been playing in the Chick Corea Trio (woo Jazz) and I/we (the jazz group I was in) opened for them at the North Texas Jazz Festival (two days after the pope died? sad). It's fecking AMAZING what he was doing with it (stand up, by the way), solo or not.

Jaco does score high on my list of talented musicians though... "Portrait of Tracy" is one of my favorites of ALL TIME. That music actually got transposed for a jazz choir by Kerry Marsh (as Sac State Uni, not far from here), and that shit is TOUGH, no matter how it's done.

On another note...the girl who played bass when the group I mentioned performed made the bass she played on, and she's been complimented by every person at every competition or festival we ever played. If she keeps doing it she'll be the next (next assholish) Jaco.

Ghostwriter · « **Reply #95 on:** 28 Apr 2006, 06:39 »

I'm not really very familiar with the bass or its virtuoso pioneers, so I don't really feel qualified to say.

I am kinda surprised that nobody mentioned Steve Harris at all, though. I really like his bass playing.

TrueNeutral · « **Reply #96 on:** 28 Apr 2006, 07:11 »

Dammit. I knew I was forgetting someone.

Bastardous Bassist · « **Reply #97 on:** 28 Apr 2006, 07:35 »

Quote from: Shaft

I have to disagree wih the person who complained that people like Wooten and Pastorius weren't strictly bass players, but rather people who played music, but it happened to be on a bass... Well.. What? I mean, really?

Just cause a million and seven bands bassists' only play one string at a time doesn't mean that's what playing a bass is all about. There are 24 frets for a reason!

Jaco transcended the limitations of bass, in my opinion. He was just playing music. I haven't heard a single other ~~person~~ bass player who could play with the melody, lyricism, feeling and just plain whatsit that he could. The only other place I've heard expression like that was singers and horn players.

Thrillho · « **Reply #98 on:** 28 Apr 2006, 09:07 »

Not the best, but my favourites:

Roger Waters
Colin Greenwood
Whoever it is that plays bass in BRMC
Macca
Matt Sharp
Mike Mills
Mark Hoppus
'Evil' Jared Hasselhoff
Mike Dirnt
Duff McKagan
Carlos D

And, of course...

Peter Hook.

Luke C · « **Reply #99 on:** 28 Apr 2006, 09:21 »

Cliff Burton wins this thread.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: Best bass player EVER (Read 35152 times)

mee-kay-la

Super Dave

ev0lve

Super Dave

dagny

TatInTheHat

dontstaylong

Conatonc

m4cphisto

Beorht-Dana

andrew116

Haver

Kyoku

m4cphisto

Super Dave

Verek

Learned Hand

Signum_Tenebrae

ColdSteelRain

mAlice aforeThought

blooflame

dontstaylong

gypsy giblet

Beorht-Dana

fleetingBassist

inakitrescero

TrueNeutral

Ghostwriter

TrueNeutral