SamIAm Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 I recently attended the most excellent Big Fat South West Bass Bash, a most excellent event! When you consider female bassist, for instance this very short list: Carole Kaye Esperanza Emily Spalding Gail Ann Dorsey Gail Greenwood Johnette Napolitano Julia Hoffer Kim Deal Kim Gordon Paz Lenchatin Suzi Quattro Tina Weymouth And SO many more!!! There are a lot of us about! I was shocked to find I was the only gal bash basher at the event! Now given basses tend to be heavy as f*ck and with frets that are miles apart it may be a challenge, but. .. I'd love to hear who you consider great female bass players ... and I would especially love to hear from any female bass player here on BC? It's not about dissing the gents (Who here on BC are amongst the most lovely folks in existence), it's about discussing the approaches to how best to manage these huge instruments for those of use with lighter frames in a way that makes people sit up and beg for more!!!!! S'manth xxx 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikel Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 As for weight and fret spacing. Plenty of lighter basses out there, and semi or hollow body models. And short scale for smaller hands. I only mention as I am a bloke but vertically challenged, and I have small hands so I can empathise. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jakester Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 Two excellent female bass players who I always seek out are Meshell Ndegeocello and Yolanda Charles. Both great players, lovely feel and touch. Well worth digging out tracks with them on - Meshell in particular is a prolific solo artist too. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 (edited) I’d add Tal Wilkenfield, Rhonda Smith, Ida Neilson and Juna Serita to the list. Edited October 12, 2022 by ezbass 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmc79 Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 (edited) 19 minutes ago, Smanth said: Kim Deal Kim Gordon A couple of my faves there. Also: Julia Ruzicka of future of the left (especially after seeing them live) Kim Coletta of Jawbox (check out the ridiculous tone on the song 'Cooling Card', or the whole 'For Your Own Special Sweetheart' album D'arcy Wretzky & Melissa Auf Der Maur of Smashing Pumpkins Edited October 12, 2022 by dmc79 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dclaassen Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 Tal Wilkenfeld is AMAZING! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tegs07 Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 Carol Kaye, Kim Deal and Ida Nielsen definitely get my vote. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamIAm Posted October 12, 2022 Author Share Posted October 12, 2022 21 minutes ago, mikel said: As for weight and fret spacing. Plenty of lighter basses out there, and semi or hollow body models. And short scale for smaller hands. I only mention as I am a bloke but vertically challenged, and I have small hands so I can empathise. I'm also a short scale lover. S'manth x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard R Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 (edited) Gail Ann Dorsey, excellent player. Good interview with her here on the SBL podcasts: https://scottsbasslessons.com/podcast/in-conversation-with-gail-ann-dorsey-from-bowie-to-brooklyn The video is members only, the audio is free, and all the podcasts are available on the usual channels. This year's aren't up to much TBH, but some great interviews in the archive. Edited October 12, 2022 by Richard R Edited for clarity 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asingardenof Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 Definitely add Tal Wilkenfeld to this list, and have a listen to her most recent album which is tremendous. I'd suggest Kinga Głyk as well, well worth checking out on YouTube. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asingardenof Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 Also check out Alissia Benviniste: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barking Spiders Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 There are actually hundreds of lady bass players in well known bands or known in their own right. Not many among classic rock or funk bands I see but loads in alt-rock or indie-bands, not just in all-female groups but also in mostly-men bands. My own faves are Tina Weymouth, Kim Deal, Sean Yseult (White Zombie) and Sara Lee (Gang of Four). I appreciate the skills of Tal Wilkenfield, Esperanza Spalding, Mohina Day etc but I just don't care for the genres they work in. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petebassist Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 Laura Lee of Khruangbin - plays some brilliant grooves. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dclaassen Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 Cannot forget Thomann's own Julia Hofer..... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 Probably not as well known as some but it’s worth checking out Olivia Davina, she is the bass player in the Dubbeez, such a good player 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonesy Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 There's been some great players mentioned already, I'd throw Georgia South from Nova Twins into the mix as well. She has some ace lines/riffs and plays with cool effects too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonic_Groove Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 (edited) I would offer that a genre with a reasonable amount of great female Bass players is Punk/New Wave (what ever you want to name it) from 1977 onwards. A few notables for 70's into 80's (there are many more): Gaye Advert (The Adverts), Tessa Pollitt (The Slits), Sara Lee (Gang of Four, PIL, Rob Fripp),Julianne Regan (Gene Loves Jezebel, later Vocals All about Eve), Cait O'Riordan (Pogues), Jackie Fox & Joan Jett {Bass '77}(Runaways) Later notables include: D'arcy Wretzky (Smashing Pumpkins), Annie Holland ( Elastica), Tracy Wormworth (Waitresses, B-52's) Edited October 12, 2022 by Sonic_Groove 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRev Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 I think there's plenty of female bassists out there, but maybe they're just not interested in online discussion forums? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 19 minutes ago, TheRev said: I think there's plenty of female bassists out there, but maybe they're just not interested in online discussion forums? Maybe they're actually out practicing rather than us here sitting talking about it 🤣 5 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRev Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 Just now, Dood said: Maybe they're actually out practicing rather than us here sitting talking about it 🤣 I bet some of them don't even have an opinion on flats vs rounds. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gareth Hughes Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 1 minute ago, Dood said: Maybe they're actually out practicing rather than us here sitting talking about it 🤣 Hey! I resemble that remark!!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 Just now, Gareth Hughes said: Hey! I resemble that remark!!!! It's happening here, right now! I'm supposed to be writing music for my next gear review!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 M'eshell is as good as it gets on bass. Ironically, when I was doing lessons the girls were always better than the boys. My top 5 pupils would all have been girls. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CookPassBabtridge Posted October 12, 2022 Share Posted October 12, 2022 Was mentioned earlier but Rhonda Smith is one of my faves, played for Prince and her tone was amazing. She was always right in the pocket. In fact, this discussion has prompted me to go and listen to her again! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamIAm Posted October 12, 2022 Author Share Posted October 12, 2022 (edited) On 12/10/2022 at 11:57, dclaassen said: Cannot forget Thomann's own Julia Hofer..... In my shortlist and I simply love her style! And I fancy her! lol S'manth xxx Edited October 17, 2022 by Smanth 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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