Opinions of Bass Players.

Subject: RE: Opinions of Bass Players.
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 19 Mar 07 - 07:10 AM

What? I've seen a few bass guitars. They were totally acoustic and had 4 thick strings. Not exactly a perfect (or even good, in my opinion) replacement for an upright double bass, but occasionally showing up in a bluegrass jam and played as a bass. Or am I missing the point?

Subject: RE: Opinions of Bass Players.
From: Mooh
Date: 19 Mar 07 - 08:31 AM

Murray...I can see your point, but the music industry (it would appear) doesn't agree. Electric or acoustic, long or short scale, guitar shaped, too often played guitar-like, marketed as bass guitar to the guitar-centric world, tuned usually EADG (low-high) is a bass guitar. Just as there are tenor, terz, baritone, and banjo-guitars. It's a guitar centric world! Guitar, guitar, guitar!

As a mostly fretless 5 string electric bassist, it is sometimes tiring to always explain that I'm not playing guitar! But if the same folks actually see me playing guitar (happens all the time) who can blame them for the confusion?

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Opinions of Bass Players.
From: Scoville
Date: 19 Mar 07 - 08:38 AM

What if it's neither four-stringed nor electric?

"Guitarrón" means "great big guitar" in Spanish, by the way. Since it's not an English term and this is not an instrument commonly--ever?--used in U.S. genres, I'm assuming the mariachis know what they're talking about. It plays the bass part (I've never seen a mariachi band around here with a doghouse bass, and never with anything electric), and it's called the "great big guitar".

Subject: RE: Opinions of Bass Players.
From: Scoville
Date: 19 Mar 07 - 08:42 AM

And I don't really follow bassists a lot but

Subject: RE: Opinions of Bass Players.
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 19 Mar 07 - 08:45 AM

Paul MacCartney once said, the thing is you grow to look like your dog. That's why its always fat kids who play the bass.

Subject: RE: Opinions of Bass Players.
From: Scoville
Date: 19 Mar 07 - 09:52 AM

Now, around here, my observation is that the mandolin player is always the biggest guy in the band, and the bassist is often smallest (frequently a woman, and never a big woman). The mandolin players are all 300 pounds, have fingers like sausages, and look like they're strumming away on one of those little wooden paddle ice-cream spoons, and half the bassists I know need step-stools.

* * * * *

WTF--where did the rest of my other post go??

That kid on the left is a Hell of a bassist. He's still in college, too, so he can't be more than 20 or 21. Pretty amazing.

Subject: RE: Opinions of Bass Players.
From: pdq
Date: 19 Mar 07 - 11:08 AM

Tex-Mex fans will recognise the...

"Baja sexto ~ (Spanish) an acoustic bass guitar, with six pairs of strings, that resembles a twelve-string guitar tuned an octave lower. The heavy gauge strings generate a large string tension, yet the guitar is built relatively lightly. The baja sexto began to be used in Texas in the 1920s with the rise of 'Tex-Mex' music. The standard tuning is: E-e-A-a-D-d-G-g-C-c-F-f (capital letters are an octave below the smaller letters)."

There is also a 6-string jumbo-sized guitar that is tuned an octive lower than standard guitars. It can be used in folk and bluegrass, especially if it is not convenient to carry around a full-sized "dog house bass".

Subject: RE: Opinions of Bass Players.
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 24 Mar 07 - 06:02 AM

Last week we went to see the Manfreds (Jazz, Blues and Hits tour)and I was impressed by Marcus Cliffe (ex-Mark Knopfler band) playing 5- and 6- string bass guitars (I'd never seen anyone playing a 6-er bass before). Interesting that Tom McGuiness playing guitar (as he does in the Blues Band) played bass in the original Manfred Mann group. Then again Mike Hug, on keys with the Manfreds, used to play drums with Manfred Mann. Paul Jones fronted, still looking 20 years younger than me though we're about the same age. Herself, always a fan, thought his hair colour was sus though!

RtS
PS the usual suspects (Tom, Paul, Manfred, Hughie Flint) cropped up on BBC4 tv last night in programmes on Long John Baldry, John Mayall and Rock Family Trees (on the 60s R& B revival).

Subject: RE: Opinions of Bass Players.
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 24 Mar 07 - 09:38 AM

....and if we include one-string broomhandle washtub/tea-chest guys how about Dewey Corley?

RtS

Subject: RE: Opinions of Bass Players.
From: eddie1
Date: 24 Mar 07 - 11:33 AM

Danny Thompson has laid down a rock-steady bass for a lot of people with just the right amount of ornamentation where appropriate.

Mickey Ashman (Lonnie Donegan Skiffle Group) added a lot to Lonnie's earlier (and best) recordings.

Bob Haggart (Bob Crosby's Bobcats) A must hear is "Big Noise From Winnetka" with him and drummer Ray Bauduc(sp?

Eddie

Subject: RE: Opinions of Bass Players.
From: Den
Date: 24 Mar 07 - 11:50 AM

What no Pino Palladino, Jeff Berlin, Neil Murray, Andy West or Peter "Mars" Cowling. If your going to mention Bill Wyman how can you ignore Geezer Butler. For me its Jaco all the way.

Subject: RE: Opinions of Bass Players.
From: Dave of Mawkin
Date: 24 Mar 07 - 10:20 PM

Jaco!

Some local favourites for me- Seth Govan, Joshua Graham, Danny Crump.

Subject: RE: Opinions of Bass Players.
From: GUEST,282RA
Date: 25 Mar 07 - 02:48 PM

Percy Jones (Brand X)
Mick Karn (Japan)
Pino Palladino
James Jamerson
Les Claypool
Ray Shulman (Gentle Giant)
James Hughart
Larry Graham
Sir Paul
Roscoe Gee
Greg Lake

Subject: RE: Opinions of Bass Players.
From: GUEST,282RA
Date: 25 Mar 07 - 02:52 PM

Hard to leave out Pastorius and Victor Wooten.

Btw, I play a '77 Fender fretted P-bass and a Schecter fretless 5-string active bass. I've owned other basses but no longer have them. My face was a beautiful fretless 4-string Rickenbacker I got in mint condition but used for $300!!!! Incredible bass, unbelievable. And some rotten sonofabitch stole it. I'd like to kill him except he's already dead.

Subject: RE: Opinions of Bass Players.
From: GLoux
Date: 26 Mar 07 - 09:39 AM

I agree with many of the names posted, but I have add one more...

Tyrone Brown

I saw him with his Big Band backing up a choir with DeVonne Gardner doing selections from Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerts and he blew me away...upright bass...truly amazing and tasteful. DeVonne Gardner used to sing with the Duke and his band until his passing.

Check him out...
-Greg

Subject: RE: Opinions of Bass Players.
From: GUEST,rushfan75
Date: 26 Mar 07 - 10:27 AM

Of course, everybody has an opinion, but when a list of greatest bass players comes up, and GEDDY LEE from RUSH is not mentioned, it seems nobody knows what they are talking about........Paul McCartney??????? If he wasn't in The Beatles, he wouldn't be considered anywhere on this list.

Subject: RE: Opinions of Bass Players.
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 26 Mar 07 - 10:49 AM

..Herbie Flowers !!!!!???

Subject: RE: Opinions of Bass Players.
From: GUEST,Bardan
Date: 26 Mar 07 - 09:34 PM

I assumed this was either for everyone to give their 'opinions' (ie vent their spleen) about bass players or for bass players to give their 'opinions' of everyone else. Where are the vicious attacks? Where's the musical sectarianism people? Should I start everyone off?

Subject: RE: Opinions of Bass Players.
From: GUEST,282RA
Date: 26 Mar 07 - 09:38 PM

Herbie Flowers is great. I first remember hearing him playing bass on Harry Nilsson's "Jump Into the Fire." Then it was "Walk on the Wild Side" with Lou Reed. As soon as I heard David Essex doing "Rock On" I knew that was Flowers on the bass.

I guess nowadays he only plays jazz. OF course with the rock I hear today I can't much blame him.

>>Paul McCartney??????? If he wasn't in The Beatles, he wouldn't be considered anywhere on this list.<<

??????? Duh.

Subject: RE: Opinions of Bass Players.
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 26 Mar 07 - 09:54 PM

I find Geddy Lee's voice so irritating and his songs so lame that anything he's doing on the bass is buried in the general crappiness of Rush.

Subject: RE: Opinions of Bass Players.
From: GUEST,worker
Date: 26 Mar 07 - 10:26 PM

I recall reading in Frank Zappa's autobiogrphy "The Real Frank Zappa Book" he stated a bass player is a failed guitarist. It was humorous if not outright hilarious reading, but I can't say I agree.

My list on the best bass players are:

Jaco Pastorious
Stanley Clarke
Jack Bruce
Charlie Mingus
Charlie Hayden