The Bassplayers' Bassist

[Marc S]

Oooh so difficult to add just a few players to that list - as I'm typing this, even more of my own personal "legends" to add

JJ Burnel
Paul Gray (Damned / Hot Rods)
(These are the 2 who got me into the sound of the bass)

Andy Rourke (RIP) - hugely underrated IMO
Tina Weymouth
Bootsy Collins
Steve Harris

And on upright - Danny Thompson 

EDIT: Apologies, I can't do such a list without mentioning Peter Hook
(Whose book "Unknown Pleasures" I cannot recommend enough)

 

Edited December 7, 2023 by Marc S

[JoeEvans]

The trouble is, if we can have Danny Thompson (and we certainly should) then surely we also need Charles Mingus and that just opens a whole different can of expensive 42" worms...

[ezbass]

I think to be a bassist’s bassist, the candidates should be session musicians at the very least not the person fronting the band that they’re in, or solo musicians, which removes McCartney, Lee, King, Claypool, Graham and Clarke, at the very least.

 

5 minutes ago, JoeEvans said:

that just opens a whole different can of expensive 42" worms...

I see your can of worms and drop the above grenade in the room. 

[neepheid]

I cannot participate, as there is no Steve Harris at time of writing this.

[Al Krow]

3 hours ago, Bolo said:

Cliff Burton and Rob Trujillo please 

 

3 hours ago, Stofferson said:

Geezer Butler please 

 

3 hours ago, lowdown said:

Anthony Jackson

Marcus Miller

Rocco Prestia

 

3 hours ago, BreadBin said:

Norman Watt Roy should be in the list I reckon 

 

2 hours ago, JoeEvans said:

Robbie Shakespeare? Bootsy Collins? 

 

About to add this lot in so hopefully they will get your respective top 3 votes!

[Al Krow]

2 hours ago, binky_bass said:

Jean Baudin and Yves Carbonne need adding please! Maybe Michael Manring too... 🙂

 

Oh, and Bill Clements too, because the man's a legend for using the bass to say FU to disabilities. 

 

2 hours ago, Skybone said:

Geezer Butler

Roger Glover

Cliff Burton

Peter Hook

 

I definitely make that 4 from both of you...who would be your top 3 (including the ones already on the list)? 😅

Edited December 7, 2023 by Al Krow

[Al Krow]

Ah seems we are limited to a total poll list of 30...so despite my best intentions the list is now closed!

 

Sorry to those of you who's favourites I've not managed to list.

 

Edited December 7, 2023 by Al Krow

[neepheid]

3 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

On it gents, although you're not having "that bloke off Iron Maiden" - can't have made that much of an impression if you can't remember who he is? 😅

 

He's been mentioned by name twice already.  Looks like I'm on someone's ignore list then!

 

[Al Krow]

3 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

He's been mentioned by name twice already.  Looks like I'm on someone's ignore list then!

 

 

Not at all, was just playing catch up in order of posts...and the available 30 slots now all unfortunately gone.

[neepheid]

32 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

 

Not at all, was just playing catch up in order of posts...and the available 30 slots now all unfortunately gone.

 

Aw boo, well I'll do a 2 plus A.N. Other then.  'Arry, forgive me!

[cetera]

49 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

Ah seems we are limited to a total poll list of 30...so despite my best intentions the list is now closed!

 

Sorry to those of you who's favourites I've not managed to list.

 

Meh..... Oh well, I've voted for my 4th fave.... Rutger.... plus 2 others then....

[OliverBlackman]

49 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

Ah seems we are limited to a total poll list of 30...so despite my best intentions the list is now closed!

 

Sorry to those of you who's favourites I've not managed to list.

 

I’ve messed this up anyway, completely forgot about my biggest influence Rocco Prestia! We’re lucky really to have so many amazing players to learn from

[snorkie635]

57 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

He's been mentioned by name twice already.  Looks like I'm on someone's ignore list then!

 

Pardon?

[neepheid]

2 minutes ago, snorkie635 said:

Pardon?

 

Didn't catch that, can you repeat that please?

[snorkie635]

1 minute ago, neepheid said:

 

Didn't catch that, can you repeat that please?

Eh?

[neepheid]

Just now, snorkie635 said:

Eh?

 

I think I've wandered into the earplugs/tinnitus thread by mistake...

[snorkie635]

Just now, snorkie635 said:

Eh?

@neepheidI notice neither you, nor I appear on the list. Proves this is a set-up! 😂

[snorkie635]

1 minute ago, neepheid said:

 

I think I've wandered into the earplugs/tinnitus thread by mistake...

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee ...

[nilorius]

Can't vote for 3, couse 2 are missing - Flea and Gary Willis.

[Al Krow]

Ok I'm gonna fess up that I'm (pleasantly?) surprised at how popular Macca is as a bass player (he wasn't in my top 3).

 

Tbf his post 1965 James Jamerson inspired playing is in a different league to some of his more plodding early Beatles stuff, but was he that good as a "standalone" bassist that he's currently coming in 2nd on our poll?

 

I suppose the equivalent would be our lead vox saying he wasn't an amazing vocalist either - I mean he was no Aretha Franklin.

 

But I guess it's the combination of singer-songwriter-bass player which puts him into the stratosphere, and a combination which very few others (Geddy Lee?) have managed to scale.

[Al Krow]

12 minutes ago, nilorius said:

Can't vote for 3, couse 2 are missing - Flea and Gary Willis.

 

Well if Victor Wooten doesn't get any votes soon...😅

[chris_b]

Scott Edwards

Tommy Cogbill

David Hood

[Franticsmurf]

My three favourite bass players: Squire, Entwhistle and Bruce. Tony Levin would have been in there had the option been open (instead of Entwhistle).

 

 

[Supernaut]

Damn, no Flea. 

[nilorius]

6 minutes ago, Supernaut said:

Damn, no Flea. 

G damn!