Entertainment & Music > Musical Instruments

Only logged in members can reply and interact with the post.
Join SimilarWorlds for FREE »

Who are your top bass players?

I wrote a question like this for guitarists last year, check that out if you want. Of course, a bassist list was inevitable.
https://similarworlds.com/random-subjects/thoughts/4305348-These-are-a-few-of-my-top-favorite-guitarists

I pick, in no particular order

Bill Laswell
Les Claypool
Flea
Lou Barlow
Troy Sanders
D'arcy Wretzky
My uncle, Jeff

Let us know more by commenting

Top | Newest First | Oldest First

Sidewinder · 36-40, M

Geddy Lee, Roger Waters, Paul McCartney, Peter Hook, Peter Tork, Phil Lesh and John Deacon.

graphite · 61-69, M

@Sidewinder Peter was supposed to be the make-believe bass player in The Monkees but listen to the bass line in "You Just May Be the One." He could play.

DragonFruit · 61-69, M

Jack Bruce (RIP)
John Entwhistle (RIP)
Paul McCartney
Jack Casady
Esperanza Spalding

graphite · 61-69, M

@DragonFruit I've seen 3 of those guys - the first three on that list. RIP, Jack, John

graphite · 61-69, M

Stanley Clarke, Tony Levin, Kris Novoselic, Jaco Pastorius, Jack Bruce, Chris Squire, Duff McKagan, Paul McCartney, Norman Watt-Roy...

BlueSkyKing · M

Stanley Clarke
John Entwistle
Paul McCartney
Jaco Pastorius

caPnAhab · 26-30, M

@BlueSkyKing nice. I only know Paul McCartney here. But so far, Jaco Pastorius is interesting me

IWasCallingYaLarry · 26-30, M

Nate Mendel, Flea, Frank Bello, Cliff Burton was great, Robert Trujillo, the awesome black bassist in Suicidal Tendencies, I forget his name but I met him years ago and he kicks ass, yeah plenty of cool bassists. I been learning to play drums, so I can name way more drummers, but in general, music is just fun to play.

caPnAhab · 26-30, M

@IWasCallingYaLarry Damn good list, man. Thanks for sharing

SnailTeeth · 36-40

@IWasCallingYaLarry Tim Williams from ST? He died. 😟

BarbossasHusband · 36-40, M

That guy who did the song
That other guy
That guy, not that one,but the other one
John Deacon

caPnAhab · 26-30, M

@BarbossasHusband John Deacon, the Bassman of all time

Ooh, queen eh? I'm learning things.

BarbossasHusband · 36-40, M

@caPnAhab Damn right! He was a great one until he quit (due to Freddie Mercuries death)

BackyardShaman · 61-69, M

Jack Casady is my favorite living bass guitarist, followed by Phil Lesh and Leland Sklar. Non living ones: Berry Oakley, Ransom Knowling

SnailTeeth · 36-40

You forgot Geddy Lee. (He's a national treasure)

caPnAhab · 26-30, M

@SnailTeeth ah! Of course!

I believe you, I can't say I'm too familiar with Geddy or Rush though

MrBrownstone · 46-50, M

Duff McKaggan

caPnAhab · 26-30, M

@MrBrownstone good pick, mate : )

IM5688 · 61-69, M

Mel Schacher of Grand Funk Railroad,
Paul McCartney

Sidewinder · 36-40, M

@IM5688 Fun fact: Paul McCartney was a rhythm guitarist, a drummer, a bassist and a pianist. (in that order)

JSul3 · 70-79

@Sidewinder Sir Paul was known to go back and re-record drum and guitar segments by his fellow Beatles because they were not up to his standards.

SilkandLace2 · 46-50, M

Cliff Burton!!

View 1 more replies »

SilkandLace2 · 46-50, M

@caPnAhab well yes, but, Cliff RULES!!

SnailTeeth · 36-40

@SilkandLace2 It's insane how little recognition he gets.

SilkandLace2 · 46-50, M

@SnailTeeth well, within the Metal Community he surely does, but then also as time moves on, memory fades,

Repete · 61-69, M

I like a weedless popper in a few places and a lot of times I’ll just use worms . 🙃

View 2 more replies »

caPnAhab · 26-30, M

@Repete now I get it. Sorry, jokes and me go like

Repete · 61-69, M

Have a good day.@caPnAhab

caPnAhab · 26-30, M

@Repete ditto, have a good one

JSul3 · 70-79

The greatest bass player ever....hands down: Carol Kaye.

End of discussion.

graphite · 61-69, M

@JSul3 She was right up there with the best of them..."Good Vibrations".. "Mission: Impossible" theme song, etc.. A session player who is finally getting attention

bijouxbroussard · F

Les Claypool
Flea
Oscar Pettiford
Tina Weymouth
Billy Gould
My niece, Lily.

caPnAhab · 26-30, M

@bijouxbroussard Awesome, I knew I'd see Les and Flea in your list. I'll have to look up who the others are

bijouxbroussard · F

@caPnAhab I kinda cheated with Oscar—he’s upright bass—jazz.

caPnAhab · 26-30, M

@bijouxbroussard no worries, that's a bass still

ClydeKoolray · 46-50, M

I won’t try to state “top,” just a few of my favorites:

Victor Wooten
Jaco Pastorius
Bootsy Collins
Paul McCartney
Sting
Flea
Christian McBride
Nathan East
Doug Wimbish
Norwood Fisher
James Jamerson
Carole Kaye
Chuck Rainey
Willie Dixon

And dozens more who will come to mind as soon as I hit “Post Comment…”

SnailTeeth · 36-40

I'm surprised no one's mentioned Rex Brown or Justin Chancellor.

TheFragile · 46-50, M

Jeff Ament
Geddy Lee
Darcy Wretzky
Pete Entwistle

uncalled4 · 56-60, M

McCartney
John McVie(Fleetwood Mac)
Victor Wooten(surprised I'm the first? hello?)
Stanley Clarke
Lee Sklar
Will Lee

BlueGreenGrey ·

in addition to those I've also always particularly gravitated to Peter Hook, Steve Severin, Simon Gallup, Carlos Dengler, Mark Sandman, among others

speaking of D'Arcy, I've also always liked Paz Lenchantin, who also plays violin and piano (alas, I don't think she sings as well as Kim Deal)

and of course, just in terms of technique, pretty much any jazz bassist (or drummer) is going to be awesome to listen to and/or watch

here is a sample of Carlos Dengler in particular (just as a random sample, so I don't flood this comment with clips):
[media=https://youtu.be/-wyeuzCktC4]

there's also a YouTuber, Charles Berthoud, who is very cool to watch:
[media=https://youtu.be/yOwq7i9OD_k]

TheFragile · 46-50, M

@BlueGreenGrey Simon Gallup, the most underrated member of the Cure.

BlueGreenGrey ·

@TheFragile Bob and Simon on dueling bass guitars back in the day

[media=https://youtu.be/0xrZ61cuKLk]

Add a comment...