Barking Spiders Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 (edited) When asked who our fave players are, we all come out with an arms length list but who for you is tip top of the pile and why. So, just ONE name, not two and put up a YT vid showcasing demonstrating what it is about their playing that does it for you. For me it could be a 3-way tie between Louis Johnson, Larry Graham and Bernard Edwards but BE just edges it mainly for the many cracking, memorable basslines he wrote and played not just on Chic tunes but all those other artists BE and NR wrote songs for and produced. It's not just the lines themselves but his fantastic tone and nuanced playing using muted notes. Incidentally Nile is also my fave rhythm guitar player (not heard anyone quite nail his style and tone) and Tony Thompson is a fave drummer who had a brilliant hi-hat technique. This clip contains BE's famous 'chucking' technique, something which I still struggle to get quite right. Edited July 6, 2022 by Barking Spiders 8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 It's Bootsy baby! 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acidbass Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 Entwistle for me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80dsyo2Ox-0 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 (edited) Gah! Just one? It’s always a toss up between Pino and Tony Levin. My knee jerk reaction is always Pino, but now you’re making me think about it and since my recent ennui with the typical ‘80s style fretless playing that got me into playing bass in the first place (Paul Young’s ‘No Parlez’ album to be precise) I think I’m going to have to say TL (takes a long look in the mirror and asks, “Who are you?”). He’s not dissimilar to Pino in his playing, but he also has that prog sensibility where he might go off on a tangent and come up with something completely unexpected and new (funk fingers for instance) and then he also plays upright and cello. So, waves of hate to you @Barking Spiders for making me choose 😂 and here is Mr Levin doing his thing. Edited July 6, 2022 by ezbass 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henrythe8 Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 Stu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu_g Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 (edited) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ifxGNisbl4 Edited July 6, 2022 by stu_g 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyJ Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 I quite like this guy, but when asked for a video showcasing his playing, this was his response: 4 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilorius Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 Gary Willis - a lot of years he had opened a new style in fretless bass, also he is a superb teacher, finaly - i like his music a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Franticsmurf Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 (edited) My shortlist contained three names. Third was Geddy Lee, second (partly because he's a number 1 choice above) is Tony Levin. Leaving Chris Squire as my choice. I love his basslines, backing vocals and the sound he gets from his Ricky. He's been one of the main influences of my bass career. Edited July 6, 2022 by Franticsmurf 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAgent Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 Took a pretty long time to get to this mofo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 16 minutes ago, BassAgent said: Took a pretty long time to get to this mofo. Only needed 4 strings... 😜 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 Of all time? Dunno, but Cornell C Williams is the bassist who is currently on the top of my play list. . . . 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 Would have to be Bruce Foxton, I just love his melodic riffs that in most of The Jams material carry the song as much - imo - as the vocals. None of them too complex but on a lot of them he sings as well with cross-melodies. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Smalls Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 Usually it's Bootsy. But as someone has already mentioned the funkiest mutha ever, I'll go for Mr Trujillo - especially in Suicidals and Infectious Grooves days: 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiram.k.hackenbacker Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 4 hours ago, Barking Spiders said: When asked who our fave players are, we all come out with an arms length list but who for you is tip top of the pile and why. So, just ONE name, not two and put up a YT vid showcasing demonstrating what it is about their playing that does it for you. For me it could be a 3-way tie between Louis Johnson, Larry Graham and Bernard Edwards but BE just edges it mainly for the many cracking, memorable basslines he wrote and played not just on Chic tunes but all those other artists BE and NR wrote songs for and produced. It's not just the lines themselves but his fantastic tone and nuanced playing using muted notes. Incidentally Nile is also my fave rhythm guitar player (not heard anyone quite nail his style and tone) and Tony Thompson is a fave drummer who had a brilliant hi-hat technique. This clip contains BE's famous 'chucking' technique, something which I still struggle to get quite right. I love that you’ve chosen a Top of The Pops video to demonstrate how good BE was 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barking Spiders Posted July 6, 2022 Author Share Posted July 6, 2022 (edited) 2 minutes ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said: I love that you’ve chosen a Top of The Pops video to demonstrate how good BE was 😂 Not TOTP, it's TopPop, which I believe is a Dutch channel☺️ Edited July 6, 2022 by Barking Spiders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 I have to say that the bassists mentioned are all top players. I am trying to find a name that would fill the bill, but there are so many that are serious session players without flashy solos... My choice is those not heard or seen, but doing their best to make any song groove. I know, the list is endless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilorius Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 (edited) 12 minutes ago, itu said: I have to say that the bassists mentioned are all top players. I am trying to find a name that would fill the bill, but there are so many that are serious session players without flashy solos... My choice is those not heard or seen, but doing their best to make any song groove. I know, the list is endless. Exactly. The list is endless and there is no tp 100 for each. Every one can find the better one or 2nd, but You can find a person and reason what gave YOU the inspiration and joy to play this instrument the way You preffer and sound You like ! This is no list ! Edited July 6, 2022 by nilorius 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barking Spiders Posted July 6, 2022 Author Share Posted July 6, 2022 (edited) 4 minutes ago, nilorius said: Exactly. The list is endless and there is no tp 100 for each. Every one can find the better one or 2nd, but You can find a person and reason what gave YOU the inspiration and joy to play this instrument the way You preffer and sound You like ! This is no list ! Indeed, I wanted to avoid list making hence why I said just ONE nom cos often when one decides to do something it's usually down to one event or person. For me it's when I heard Le Freak Edited July 6, 2022 by Barking Spiders 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 Thanks @nilorius. OK, these two players are my favourites from the 80's when I started to learn bassics: 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiram.k.hackenbacker Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 34 minutes ago, Barking Spiders said: Not TOTP, it's TopPop, which I believe is a Dutch channel☺️ Still mimed though is it not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles'tone Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 (edited) Scott Thunes Edited July 6, 2022 by miles'tone 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunion Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 Only one choice, got to be mick Karn the guy was not only a fabulous fretless player but he was a showman too (that stage shuffle in the second clip) I hate to call people genius but that dude could play a bass line to a track that you’d not think of in your lifetime 😄 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 Anthony Jackson. Groove, precision, feel, energy, timing, chops, musicianship and dynamics. He has it all. 4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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