Favorite Bassist

freakout · #1 11-28-2008, 05:18 AM

Stanley Clarke.

funkdubious · #2 11-28-2008, 08:33 AM

Flea!

Algiman · #3 11-28-2008, 08:36 AM

Les Claypool

mike570 · #4 11-28-2008, 10:08 AM

Doug Wimbish

HeavyMetal4Ever · #5 11-28-2008, 10:57 AM

Geddy Lee.

Rock on!

kotornut · #6 11-28-2008, 11:01 AM

I gotta ay these three
1. John Paul Jones (he can be your madolinist, pianist, organist, pedal steel guitarist and many other instrument player as well)

2. John Entwhistle (rythym and then some)

3. Geddy Lee (you just have to like Rush)

***edit***Some additions to my list:

Cliff Burton
John Myung
Mrcus Miller
Tony Levin
Dave LaRue
(I cant believe how many good bassist are out there that I never think about)

But there are a lot of others that are great. Flea is awesome but I don't love his music so that's why I left him out.

Batchimp RG · #7 11-28-2008, 11:52 AM

For me it has to be the great James Jamerson of the Funk Brothers...the guys behind the Motown sound. James still gets kudos after all these years.

James Lee Jamerson (January 29, 1936 - August 2, 1983) was an American bassist. He was the uncredited bass guitarist on most of Motown Records' hits in the 1960s and early 1970s (Motown did not list credits on their releases until 1971), and he has become regarded as one of the most influential bass guitar players in modern music history. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

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

James's bass playing is so inspiring to me, his solid groove yet melodic phrasing, effortlessly interweaving with the other instruments yet never forgetting it's role in the band as the 'anchor' of the rhythm section. Sorry about the fluffy description, but he is one of my all time favourite musicians and inspirations.

Check out some of Marvin G@ye and Tammi Terrell's basslines...he also played bass on "My Girl".....

RIP James.

Lefty Robb · #8 11-28-2008, 03:26 PM

Yves Carbonne and of course Billy!

freakout · #9 11-28-2008, 04:15 PM

Entwhistle had an unbelievable tone.

CityofBlindingLights · #10 11-28-2008, 10:21 PM

Geddy Lee is the reason I picked up a bass.

Victor Wooten is the greatest technical bassist, bar none. I also like Flea a lot, he's done wonders for the instrument. And, of course, Jaco Pastorius.

Personally, I think Billy Sheehan is an AMAZING player techincally, but his tone sucks. It's way too treble-heavy, and there's next to no low end.