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The Bassplayers' Bassist

Al Krow

By Al Krow,
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The Bassplayers' Bassist   

137 members have voted

  1. 1. Who are your top 3 favourite bass players of all time?

    • James Jamerson
      52
    • Carol Kaye
      15
    • John Entwistle
      25
    • John Paul Jones
      18
    • Geddy Lee
      21
    • Pino Palladino
      26
    • Les Claypool
      9
    • Bernard Edwards
      33
    • Chris Squire
      20
    • Duck Dunn
      19
    • Stanley Clarke
      4
    • Jaco Pastorius
      16
    • Paul McCartney
      30
    • Larry Graham
      2
    • Jack Bruce
      9
    • Rutger Gunnarsson
      11
    • Flea
      10
    • Mark King
      7
    • Jack Casady
      2
    • Phil Lesh
      2
    • Ashley Hutchings
      1
    • Cliff Burton
      11
    • Rob Trujillo
      4
    • Geezer Butler
      12
    • Anthony Jackson
      5
    • Marcus Miller
      8
    • Rocco Prestia
      4
    • Norman Watt Roy
      11
    • Robbie Shakespeare
      5
    • Bootsy Collins
      5

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paul_5 Grand Master

paul_5

Posted
Posted
5 minutes ago, Leonard Smalls said:

Jaco has a whole 13 votes!

But only 4 strings.

I didn't vote for Jaco because, despite him being arguably the best musician in that list, he wasn't one of the players that influenced the young Paul_5; his influence came later in my musical development.

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Al Krow Grand Master

Al Krow

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22 minutes ago, paul_5 said:

But only 4 strings.

I didn't vote for Jaco because, despite him being arguably the best musician in that list, he wasn't one of the players that influenced the young Paul_5; his influence came later in my musical development.

 

In terms of best "musician", surely that accolade has to go to Macca, followed by Geddy Lee? 

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Leonard Smalls Grand Master

Leonard Smalls

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1 minute ago, Al Krow said:

In terms of best "musician", surely that accolade has to go to Macca, followed by Geddy Lee?

From that list, best musician would surely be the actual best musician? So not Macca, because he most certainly isn't. And bear in mind Geddy has an altar to Les Claypool in his bathroom...

So from that list, I'd say actual best musicians would be Stanley Clarke, Anthony Jackson and probably either Les or Marcus Miller.

And in terms of influencing me, from that list again, it would be Bootsy, Norman Watt Roy and Flea...

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Al Krow Grand Master

Al Krow

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15 minutes ago, Leonard Smalls said:

From that list, best musician would surely be the actual best musician? So not Macca, because he most certainly isn't. And bear in mind Geddy has an altar to Les Claypool in his bathroom...

So from that list, I'd say actual best musicians would be Stanley Clarke, Anthony Jackson and probably either Les or Marcus Miller.

And in terms of influencing me, from that list again, it would be Bootsy, Norman Watt Roy and Flea...

 

But are you then saying that singers are not musicians and the voice is not a musical instrument?

 

I think the ability to sing, write music, and play an instrument are all aspects of being a musician. And Macca, Geddy Lee and a handful of others could do all three to a very high standard.

 

If, on the other hand, you're meaning the best bass player (which is what this list is about) then yes I'd agree that Macca wasn't technically anything like as good as some of the others and his pre Jamerson inspired 1965 and earlier stuff was very root/5th in approach.

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tauzero Grand Master

tauzero

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20 hours ago, zrbass said:

Sorry peeps I almost feel bad for not spotting him. Anyway just to say if you go..."mwah" up and down the fretboard youve got him to thank.

 

Actually, I think it's Boz Burrell I have to thank. Never heard of Jaco until 15 or 20 years after I first played fretless.

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tauzero Grand Master

tauzero

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Posted (edited)
14 hours ago, WinterMute said:

Geddy Lee

Tony Levin

Mick Karn

 

Loads of great players on that list, but it's not a bassist's list without Levin and Karn.

 

It's not a bassist's list without Victor Wooten, yet here we are.

Edited by tauzero
Notpicking
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Al Krow Grand Master

Al Krow

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On 14/12/2023 at 16:52, zrbass said:

Sorry peeps I almost feel bad for not spotting him. Anyway just to say if you go..."mwah" up and down the fretboard youve got him to thank.

 

I think Jaco has just displaced Carol K for a place in the top 10 😊

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JoeEvans Experienced

JoeEvans

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For me, Jaco Pastorious is an incredible musician but I don't really like him as a bass player. His tone is too trebly and gutless, and he plays too many notes - it's like he's continuously trying to climb out of the space where the bass should be, and he leaves an empty hole behind him. I don't think I'm the only bass player that likes bassy bassists - people who sit in the centre of the tune behind and underneath everyone else, holding it all together; drive the rhythm along; provide a rock solid platform for everyone else to do their thing; and whose sound is big, solid, low-down and powerful.

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Geek99 Grand Master

Geek99

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10 minutes ago, JoeEvans said:

For me, Jaco Pastorious is an incredible musician but I don't really like him as a bass player. His tone is too trebly and gutless, and he plays too many notes - it's like he's continuously trying to climb out of the space where the bass should be, and he leaves an empty hole behind him. I don't think I'm the only bass player that likes bassy bassists - people who sit in the centre of the tune behind and underneath everyone else, holding it all together; drive the rhythm along; provide a rock solid platform for everyone else to do their thing; and whose sound is big, solid, low-down and powerful.

Blasphemer !!

 

 

I agree. Too many notes 

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