Best Bass player

[charlie and algernon]

[TZ]

1. Guess who I voted for!!

:woohoo:

[charlie and algernon]

3. Jaco, right?

:hide:

[Dr. Strange]

5. Ringo Starr

[TZ]

10. Geddy's winning!!

:woohoo:

[charlie and algernon]

23. not anymore

Entwistle has rallied ahead!

[TZ]

35. Lol. I like Entwistle alot as well

And I've seen him live. He's my second choice.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

47. Less than half as many votes as "Other" is not winning...

...unless you're George W. Bush and can make a few phone calls to Karl Rove, your brother Jeb, and Katherine Harris. Then it's still "winning."

:rofl:

[BurtWorm]

2. Mingus, Ray Brown, Bootsy Collins

[unpossibles]

9. yes! Also would add James Jamerson and Graham Maby too.

[Doc_Technical]

4. Glenn Cornick

Origional bass player with Jethro Tull.

[Forkboy]

6. No idea, but my favorite is Rob Wright.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppR6LcGnkUY&feature=related

[mikeytherat]

7. Me

mikey_the_rat

[southpaw]

8. Nice Fiver... Looks like an Ibanez Soundgear

Probably one of the higher end models. My only issue with the Soundgear basses is the narrow string spacing on the 5 and 6 string models. Obviously, some people prefer the tighter spacing, but my thick fingers need at least 19mm between strings.

Sweet looking bass. Neck through or bolt on?

[mikeytherat]

31. Neck through, but it is no longer part of the arsenal.

I never could get the tone I wanted from it (Lord, how I tried). Here's the rest:



The G&L is my main stage axe, and the Carvin fretless fiver is my main jazz bass.

mikey_the_rat

[Roon]

11. Brian Ritchie!

[grace0418]

12. I think Mark King is pretty freaking awesome.

Some of Level 42's music is too dated and weird, but he's amazing.

[NoGOPZone]

13. For jazz, ron carter. for rock/r&b james jamerson then mel schacher

[Soylent Brice]

14. Other: Les Claypool

http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/233502/Les+Claypool.jpg







duh.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

16. +1

[Captain Hilts]

15. It's like asking football fans to pick out a good offensive lineman. nt

[Beer on a stick]

17. There isn't one. These polls are teh taRd

[NashVegas]

18. Tom Petersson

No one else can do a remotely tolerable solo :)

[GCP]

19. Jack Bruce

[michreject]

41. Another vote for Bruce

Have to be good when you're in a 3 piece.

[madrchsod]

50. jack bruce...bass player , singer, and song writer

[Twillig]

20. Had to vote Jaco

and I don't know much about him, or bass players, but he was Stu Hamm's idol.

And Stu plays The Best Star Spangled Banner instrumental, period.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQtECIfX9yY

[kwassa]

21. Esperanza Spaulding

jazz bassist and singer

[SteppingRazor]

22. The most impressive bassist I've seen live was probably Victor Wooten. n/t

[DerBeppo]

27. +1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1egnmFLeVc

[TheCoxwain]

48. + 100000000000

He does things that others cant even dream of.

[MissMillie]

24. Chris Squire

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3blqV_zkFU




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Squire

Squire's bass playing is noted for being aggressive, dynamic, and melodic. Squire's main instrument is a Rickenbacker bass (model RM1999, serial number DC127), which he has owned and played since 1965—the year it was first introduced. In many ways, the Rickenbacker was the polar opposite of the then commonly used Fender bass. (In fact, the electric bass at the time was often referred to as the "Fender.") The RM1999 was a budget, monophonic version of Rickenbacker's 4001 stereo bass. This model was imported into the UK by Rose Morris Ltd (hence the RM prefix on the model number) and, according to Squire's official website, was only the fourth bass of its type to be imported into Britain from the United States. This instrument, with its warmth and distortion, is a significant part of Squire's unique sound. Due to its distinct high/mid tone it allowed the bass to take on a more "lead" role which suited Squire perfectly. Unlike the grooving low end thump established by James Jamerson and imitated throughout the world of rock and R&B, Squire constructed contrapuntal lines reminiscent of a "Bach/Baroque" style where the bass played a separate melody from the main theme. The fact that the Rickenbacker had a "harpsichord-like" sound suited this approach perfectly. According to his interview in Guitar Player magazine in October 1973, Squire obtained his distinctive tone at the time by rewiring his RM1999 into stereo and sending the bass and treble pickups each into a separate amplifier. By splitting the signal from his bass into dual high and low frequency outputs and then sending the low frequency output to a conventional bass amplifier and the high-frequency output to a separate lead guitar amplifier, Squire produced a tonal 'sandwich' that added a growling, overdrive edge to the sound while retaining the Rickenbacker's powerful bass response. This gave his bass sound bright, growling higher frequencies and clean, solid bass frequencies. This technique allowed Squire to utilize harmonic distortion on his bass while avoiding the flat, fuzzy sound, loss of power and poor bass response that typically occurs when bass guitars are overdriven through an amplifier or put through a fuzz box. He also plays with a pick which contributes to the sharp attack as well as using fresh Rotosound Swing Bass strings for every show.<1>

[Orsino]

25. Well, if "best" means most perfect for the music he played...

...and pushing the boundaries of said music while redefining the instrument, that's why Entwistle gets my vote--but any of these choices is worthy.

[TxRider]

26. No James Jamerson on that list?

With 25 #1 hits under his belt?

One of my faves

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-yqR8iG6o0

[mikeytherat]

32. I agree 100%!

I was being a bit silly upthread when I said "Me," but James is truly the best!

mikey_the_rat

[madrchsod]

51. when motown ruled the world...

[Iggo]

28. Cliff Burton.

[akwapez]

29. Les Claypool n/t

[guitar man]

30. hard to pick a "best"

But I've been really stuck on Rocco Prestia lately. My gawd he can play :wow:

[Fire Walk With Me]

33. Derek Smalls.

[BarbaRosa]

34. What, no Jack Casady?

OK, I'm an old Airplane fan.

Honorable mention for a newbie: Tal Wilkenfeld, that young lady is amazing.

[Terry in Austin]

36. Ken Gradney, Little Feat

Rhythmically innovative, but always provides plenty of bottom. A crackerjack bass line that never draws attention to itself. Superb!

I like McCartney's bass in that it's fluid and very melodic, but it's way too out front.

Barrett, of course, practically defines bass for reggae, a genre that's mostly about bass. His lines are melodic, rhythmically complex and amazingly minimalist -- the amount of space between some notes is enough to light up a splif!

One of my local favorites was Keith Ferguson, who played with The Fabulous Thunderbirds for several years. He was well-known for his "swinging elephant-trunk bottom" -- he said "a bass player should be heard, but never listened to."

When Ferguson first came to town, he played an el cheapo Danelectro bass, which was notorious for the distinctive sound that came out of its single bar-magnet pickup. It had an out-and-out growl in the lower register that would raise the hairs on the back of your neck.

I guess the Danelectro would be my second-favorite bass, just for the sound of it. Never actually owned one, though.

The first is, of course, the Fender Jazz bass. You get plenty of punch with the dual pickups, lots of bottom without being "tubby," and a clear, buttery note layered on top. Yummy!

[RT Atlanta]

37. Billy Cox

if for no other reason that he keep the melody and running while Jimi and Mitch took it to the house.

[Taverner]

38. Other: Prakash John

You probably have no idea who this guy is - but you've heard him before

Listen to Lou Reed Rock N Roll Animal, and turn up the bass

That's him

[abq e streeter]

54. +1

[bluesbassman]

39. Willie Dixon

Maybe not all of the techniques developed by some of the other excellent bassists in the thread, but certainly one of the most influential musicians in modern times.

Back Door Man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHpSit0ZSgk

[lazyriver]

40. Phil Lesh.

[michreject]

42. Jack Bruce

followed close by Leo Lyons.

[HughBeaumont]

43. Stan and Jaco are likely the best of the list.

Jaco is one of the all time greats. His inventiveness and flexibility was otherworldly.

[jmowreader]

44. There need to be two "best bassist" categories

That's because there are two kinds of bassists: people who play it like a bass, and those who play it like a guitar.

Most of the guys on that list play the bass like a guitar. Look at the sheet music for some of Rush's songs--the melody is down on the bass clef for most of the song. (Example: Fly By Night.)

If you want the best guy who plays it like a bass, the poll ends with Steve Harris.

[EndersDame]

45. I like Richard Hell alot

[Amerigo Vespucci]

46. HAD TO go with The Ox.

The one song that really features him wearing the crown is "The Real Me" from "Quadrophenia."

In terms of well-deserved legend status, Jaco must get a nod as well, but for me, "best bass player" is a genre-specific distinction. Neither of them played the bass in the same manner as 99% of the other bass players out there, in the same way that Jimi can't be classified as a "guitarist."

Jimi was Jimi, The Ox was the Ox, and Jaco was Jaco. They were a universe unto themselves, with all of the talent and baggage that came with it.

:toast:

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

49. I'll nominate Michael Arnopol, bassist with Patricia Barber

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci27xPmQ4-w

:hi:

[EastTennesseeDem]

52. Modest Mouse's Eric Judy

Listen to their first three albums. Series.

[abq e streeter]

53. Matt Freeman of Rancid is as good as any I've ever seen live

[DevonRex]

55. I went with Jonesy but could have gone with Entwhistle as well.

Entwhistle was definitely a genius and he made The Who tolerable to me. Otherwise they were just bubblegum pop. Jonesy knew the role of the bass but didn't fall into the mindless, annoying drone of so many blues bassists. He knew how he fit into the band and his contribution was immense.

[SoxFan]

56. Peter Hook (Joy Division/New Order)

OK, he's probably not as technically proficient as Entwistle (but few are), but he revolutionized the sound of the instrument for legions of post-punk and alt rock bands to follow.

[Zorro]

57. Felix Pappalardi

[MilesColtrane]

58. I voted for Jaco, but...

Edgar Meyer is the greatest living bassist.

Due to an unfortunate choice by the director, Edgar's comments are placed over some of the music. But, there's a significant amount of uninterrupted music toward the end of this clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV-65UMPMMA

Just a note here. As a bass player, I can tell you that this sounds easy and natural, but it is insanely difficult to play in tune and with such a beautiful sound.

This was, after all, written for the cello.