Who was/is the best bassist of all time?

by **Kejoh** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:42 pm

To those out there, like myself, who love the bass guitar, or just music generally, who, on your opinion, is the best bassist ever?
Personally, i would have to say Fieldy from KoRn, on playing style alone. Either that or John Entwhistle.
All opinions welcome.

by **Errinundera** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:43 pm

Chris Squire

by **Cosmopoles** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:45 pm

Bootsy Collins

by **Kejoh** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:45 pm

Errinundera wrote:Chris Squire

Am terrible with names, what's he from?

Cosmopoles wrote:Bootsy Collins

Him too lol

by **Almajoya** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:48 pm

Are we talking acoustic bass, electric bass, or stand-up bass?

by **Megalard** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:50 pm

It's a toss up between either Flea or Victor Wooten. Both are amazing at creating a unique sound. (Bootsy is good too though).

by **Kejoh** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:50 pm

Almajoya wrote:Are we talking acoustic bass, electric bass, or stand-up bass?

electric mostly, but acoustic too if you like. They're really the same instrument, in principle. But i'd say stand-up bass is a seperate thing.

by **Babaoriley** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:52 pm

John Entwistle

by **Kejoh** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:53 pm

Flea is an awesome slap bassist, but i'd say Fieldy's technique is better. Never heard anyone get a sound like that out of a bass other than him.

by **Jingoist Hippostan** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:56 pm

Kejoh wrote:Flea is an awesome slap bassist, but i'd say Fieldy's technique is better. Never heard anyone get a sound like that out of a bass other than him.

Plus Fieldy's band is a lot better than Flea's.

Also, Jaco Pastorious is the common answer.

by **Kejoh** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:08 pm

Also, Shavo Odidjian of SoaD is an excellent bassist. Matches everything the guitar does, and Daron Malakian is a damn fine guitarist too.

by **The imperian empire** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:10 pm

Roger Waters.

by **Post-Unity Terra** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:11 pm

There can be only one! Incredible bass player. The ,an didn't even have to try to come up with awesome basslines. The Real Me? Made up on the spot when he thought they weren't actually recording. Crazy, crazy bass man and a terrible loss for music.

EDIT: also fairly important in the technical development of the instrument itself.

EDIT 2: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO: Honourable mention to Victor Wooten. Awesome double thumb technique.

by **Delaclava** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:13 pm

I gotta go with Jaco Pastorius. Victor Wooten is also up there.

by **Parthenon** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:14 pm

My good friend, the infamous flecktone, victor wooten.

by **Post-Unity Terra** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:16 pm

Parthenon wrote:My good friend, the infamous flecktone, victor wooten.

He's an insane player. There's a youtube video of him battling it out with Reggie Wooten and the sounds they make together are bizarre and incredible.

by **Barringtonia** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:16 pm

Upset Rush fans are going to set you all straight.

I don't remember who it was but there's a passage in a version of If 6 was 9 by Jimi Hendrix where the guitar, bass and drums just all go off on their own thing and then come back in together - best bass evah!

by **Parthenon** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:19 pm

Post-Unity Terra wrote:
Parthenon wrote:My good friend, the infamous flecktone, victor wooten.

He's an insane player. There's a youtube video of him battling it out with Reggie Wooten and the sounds they make together are bizarre and incredible.

His other brother goes by the name Futureman and plays a "Drumtar" and is just as insane. I don't know how many times I have seen the two play in person together but every time it's memorable.

by **Post-Unity Terra** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:20 pm

Parthenon wrote:
Post-Unity Terra wrote:
Parthenon wrote:My good friend, the infamous flecktone, victor wooten.

He's an insane player. There's a youtube video of him battling it out with Reggie Wooten and the sounds they make together are bizarre and incredible.

His other brother goes by the name Futureman and plays a "Drumtar" and is just as insane. I don't know how many times I have seen the two play in person together but every time it's memorable.

I love that thing, it looks like the bastard child of a guitar and the control panel of a space shuttle.

EDIT: found the video, if anyone's interested.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vdJvHE8qxA

by **Onagla** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:24 pm

Barringtonia wrote:Upset Rush fans are going to set you all straight.

And you are correct.

Geddy Lee has some pretty dang intricate bass lines. If you listen to YYZ or Freewill, you will see that, but listen to The Pass or Time Stand Still. Better yet, listen to Tom Sawyer.

Sure, other players have more complicated lines, but I think that it should be a better sound, not more notes.

And John Paul Jones in after that. He was cool.

by **Acolyte of Breath** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:25 pm

Oliver "Ollie" Riedel
From Rammstein

by **Post-Unity Terra** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:26 pm

Onagla wrote:
Barringtonia wrote:Upset Rush fans are going to set you all straight.

And you are correct.

Geddy Lee has some pretty dang intricate bass lines. If you listen to YYZ or Freewill, you will see that, but listen to The Pass or Time Stand Still. Better yet, listen to Tom Sawyer.

Sure, other players have more complicated lines, but I think that it should be a better sound, not more notes.

And John Paul Jones in after that. He was cool.

I'd argue John Entwistle pretty much strikes the perfect balance between sticking metric shitloads of notes in and making it sound like god's own instrument. Dreaming From the Waist live and pretty much all of Tommy are fantastic.

by **Lackadaisical2** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:27 pm

John Paul Jones.

by **Errinundera** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:27 pm

Kejoh wrote:
Errinundera wrote:Chris Squire

Am terrible with names, what's he from?

Chris Squire played with Yes.

by **Friendly Mutton Chops** » Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:28 pm

Dusty Hill!