T-Bay Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 It's hard as there are so many great ones to choose but mine would be Jean Jacques Burnel and Michael McKeegan, not necessarily the best but most influential on me. I am surprised Jack Bruce hasn't been mentioned yet, he would also be up there for me as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 [quote name='Number6' timestamp='1487716372' post='3242198'] +1 for Phil Lynott.....i feel he's the coolest bass/frontman of all time. [/quote] And he had the most rock and roll leather trousers in the history of rock and roll! #liveanddangerous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 Mine's probably Billy Sheehan. Amazing bassist, but I've never been keen on his bass tone. It was from watching him & reading Talas transcripts that I learned a lot of techniques. The bassist that got me into bass is everyone's fave, Adam Clayton. I just loved being able to play something cool on bass after just a couple of weeks from purchase when I was 13 (that was 33 years ago). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harryburke14 Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 Bruce Foxton. I bought a bass because I wanted to be him, and carried on playing when I realised it would take years to be able to play like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 Phil Lesh, simply because he is Phil Lesh. Incredible playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Forrer Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 Lee Sklar - the master of the whole note, tied for equal first with Anthony Jackson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yank Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 I don't really have a #1, but always enjoyed hearing Steve Stills bass playing. Noone ever mentions him, but his bass playing was great on early CSN. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 [quote name='Yank' timestamp='1487843430' post='3243382'] I don't really have a #1, but always enjoyed hearing Steve Stills bass playing. Noone ever mentions him, but his bass playing was great on early CSN. [/quote]You are not wrong, sir. I remember checking the album sleeve to see who played bass on the first album and Mr Stills went even further up in my estimation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vantagepointrocks Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 Not sure I have an absolute favourite bass player, but the one whose playing I think is incredible that hasn’t yet been mention is Dave LaRue who plays with Steve Morse on his solo albums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barking Spiders Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 Louis 'Thunderthumbs' Johnson. I love slap and make no apologies for it and to me LJ was/is the master. Larry Graham may've started it all but LJ took it to another level while still keeping it relevant and not showboating for the hell of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goingdownslow Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 Andy Fraser. Don't know why my ears tuned on to him and not the likes of Entwistle, Squire or John Paul Jones who I also must have heard playing. Maybe it was just the whole sound of Free. [attachment=238901:Andy Fraser.JPG] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpondonBassed Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 [quote name='Barking Spiders' timestamp='1487862861' post='3243684'] Louis 'Thunderthumbs' Johnson. I love slap and make no apologies for it and to me LJ was/is the master. Larry Graham may've started it all but LJ took it to another level while still keeping it relevant and not showboating for the hell of it. [/quote] Wikipedia suggests that he may be the reason we have Stingrays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tee Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 Mike Watt, for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigjas Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 Norman Watt-Roy He was the reason I took up Bass after years playing guitar. I saw him live with Wilko Johnson and his playing mesmerised me. I went out and bought a Bass the following week... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Posted February 23, 2017 Share Posted February 23, 2017 When I started it was Flea, later Martin Mendez......now? Probably Bernie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bootleg Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 No. 1, [b]and [/b]the first time I noticed bass, [b]and [/b]why I play bass...Chris Squire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The-Ox Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Entwistle, the way he plays is just unbelievable. The more I study, the closer I get but at the same time the more I realise just how hard it is. I like the variation he showed in his career, more aggressive in the 60s, more melodic in the 70s. His technique was amazing, I've got a good grip on his finger style, picking and general style of play. Overall he's my favourite musician by far. Big respect to Jack Casady, Paul McCartney, Ronnie Lane and Chris Squire too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 There are so many Steve Harris, Rudi Sarzo Cliff Burton Jason Newstead Geezer Butler and Frank Bello (Who is never really mentioned) are some of my faves but the player that really does it for me is David Ellefson when I heard peace sells it blew me away and when I started playing bass about 20 odd years later I tried a ton of Megadeth songs and thought wow this guy is great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harryburke14 Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Not known for his bass playing ability or killer bass lines but I love Jared Followill too. Funny chap who only picked up a bass because his brothers asked him to tour with them. Never took a single lesson, just locked himself in the basement while bandmates put stickers on the notes he should play. By the time he was 16 he didn't know how to play bass but had an EP released. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scalpy Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 Tommy Cogbill, by a nose from Duck Dunn. Lowdown greasy sleazy bad asses that people still dance to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Riva Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 John Paul Jones - hugely talented on the bass and a great all-round musician. Always adds to whatever he plays on and always looks to serve the song. Tons of melody and bags of groove. No surprise he played on a load of the UK 60s pop tunes - arguably the most 'melodic' era for pop music(?) - which I think he then carried through to his playing with Zeppelin (for me Zeppelin could've been just another heavy rock band of the era if it weren't for John Bonham and John Paul Jones - they gave the band funk). It's impossible to really have just one (but that was the question!) - so mentions for Jim Lea, Trevor Bolder, Herbie Flowers, Fred Thomas, Bobby Vega, Max Bennet, Pino, Derek Forbes, Bootsy, Norman Watt-Roy, Wilton Felder, Macca et al - but if one it is to be... ... then it's JPP for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmjos Posted February 28, 2017 Share Posted February 28, 2017 Bernard Edwards. Pure, simple, potent, timeless groove. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HengistPod Posted March 1, 2017 Share Posted March 1, 2017 There are many bass players I love to listen to. Only one of them - in a live performance which was an epiphany for me and totally re-wired my brain - made me actively want to play bass, and spend 15 years pining for a Thunderbird. October 19th 1980, I was just a young lad. October 20th I was a bass player (even if I'd no idea how to play one ). I give you ... Pete Way. UFO is but a shadow without him - Schenker or not. You fellows who mention Steve Harris and Nikki Sixx need to go back to their direct inspiration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest aDx Posted March 1, 2017 Share Posted March 1, 2017 Burke Shelley (Budgie) how I learnt others... Geddy Lee, Chris Squire, Glen Hughes, Norman Watt-Roy Spent ages trying to get 'that' sound! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bbiigg Kev Posted March 1, 2017 Share Posted March 1, 2017 (edited) quote I give you ... Pete Way. UFO is but a shadow without him - Schenker or not. You fellows who mention Steve Harris and Nikki Sixx need to go back to their direct inspiration. One of the first bass players I ever saw was Pete, on the Obsessions tour, classic Schenker UFO, Civic Hall Wolves 1978 I think. Fantastic live band and Schenker was on form with UFO on form. Class man Mr Way, met him many times and I remember some of them, many times in JB's Dudley, if you need to ask then don't bother Pity he supports Villa, up the Wolves Edited March 1, 2017 by Bbiigg Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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