Who were/are you main influences on bass?

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 5:20 am

Since I'm a geezer, mine are mainly 60's guys like of course Paul McCartney, James Jamerson (Motown) Jack Bruce (Cream), Felix Pappalardi (Mountain), and Bill wyman. Some upright jazz guys also like Ray Brown, Ron Carter and others. I have a lot of snippets of 60's tunes in my head which unconciously influence my style also, such as "It's My Life" "Liar Liar" and many other songs and bass players which escape me right now as my wife has been repeating rather loudly: "Robert let's go!!!" To be continued.....

banta · Post by **banta** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 5:29 am

Jack Bruce, Geddy Lee & Steve Priest were my early influences before I developed my own style. Since the late '70s I can't really name any particular influences, though there are many players I like and respect.

blueflamerick · Post by **blueflamerick** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 6:01 am

Steve Harris, Geezer Butler, Mike Watt, Karl Alvarez. These guys really make the bass stick out.

lshaia · Post by **lshaia** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 6:21 am

Since to me having an "influence" implies having some basic level of ability, let me just say that in my case I'd like to sound like Dave Meros and Chris Squire. Unfortunately, the reality is like a cross between Dee Dee Ramone and Mel Bay.

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 6:52 am

Bill Wyman (biggest influence), Macca, Chas Chandler, and as Bob said, tons of lines from 60s tunes like Dick Roby's "Liar Liar", especially stuff like you'll find on the Nuggets garage collection. Even Dickie Peterson from Blue Cheer.

Of course I'm still listening and absorbing, but those were my early influences.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 6:53 am

Lindsay,
I have found that when I admired certain players and singers, sooner or later I incorporated their style into my own, without even knowing usually, so keep the faith and keep playing. That is what I meant when I said that I have a lot of songs and players in my head that unconsciously influence me. Listening is just as important as playing, listen to everything, even stuff you don't like, you'll be surprised at what you can pick up from a Barry Manilow record for example. People like that usually had the best session bass players on their records (who to me are the unsung heros of bass). I practise to the radio, I play with just about anything thing that comes along sometimes.It'll also teach you how to tune on the fly, as the were no tuners years ago (except for pitch pipes) so every song is at a slightly different pitch, at least with oldies.
Dee Dee Ramone was great in his style, I think anyway, he had a great sound. It takes a lot of energy to play that music. I've played punk music along the way, it's fun to play.
All I know of Mel Bay are his instruction books. "The Mel Bay Method" Who was he anyway?

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 6:54 am

One more: Duck Dunn.

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 6:55 am

Nothing wrong with sounding like Dee Dee Ramone. He was the real engine of a much-loved band. I'll always love the Ramones, even when I'm old. Wait...I already am old!

bassman_bob · Post by **bassman_bob** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 7:13 am

Sir Paul, Chris Squire and Jon Camp. All Rick players, so what does that say about a guy with 3 4001's and 2 Precisions ? Where are the Precision players on my list ? I dunno.

robj · Post by **robj** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 7:34 am

Enwistle, Squire, Camp, Dunn, Jamerson, Sir Paul, and Jerry Mathers as the Beaver.

There was a bass player by the name of Greg Arama who was with the Amboy Dukes back during their Journey to the Center of the Mind and Migration days that was simply awesome. He was a huge influence as well.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 7:41 am

What about Wally? or Danny Partridge?

4003seagreen · Post by **4003seagreen** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 7:41 am

John Entwistle has always been my main influence. Other influences in my bass playing have been Geddy Lee, Paul McCartney, Bill Wyman, and James Jamerson.

robj · Post by **robj** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 8:05 am

Wally wasn't cool enough to play bass and Danny Partridge... lol .... what can be said about this world class talent?

jal · Post by **jal** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 8:10 am

Well like Dave Bill Wyman , I love Sir Paul & the Beatles were everywhere but the first band I really got into were the Stones back in the 60's (they're still my favourite) in fact the very first song I learned on my Fender Coronado Bass was "Stoned" ( the song not the condition,that came later) after the Stones came the Animals (you gotta love the opening Bass lines Chas did) & Yardbirds , Byrds Etc., in the 70's I found Yes & was blown away by Chris Squire & I' m just happy if I can figure out just a bit of one of his Bass lines same with John Entwhistle, if you've not seen it go & check out the "The Who Live at the Royal Albert Hall" DVD, I'm just glad this show was filmed before he passed away , he makes it look so very easy ,

Cheers ,

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 8:35 am

I saw Entwhistle (who was another big influence) twice two (3?) years ago in two different small clubs, one In Worcester Ma. and the other in Providence R.I. In Worcester I was about ten feet in front of him. The club held about 200 people packed like sardines. Me and two of my bass playing buddies were right there. He had all his stuff in that little club. He was unbelievable, did a long solo and the breakers blew right in the middle of it. They tripped about 4 times, he was ****** (angry for you Brits) They did "Boris the Spider", "Can you see the real me" and several other Who tunes, didn't do "My Wife" though. He was flipping picks out of his plucking hand when he was done with them, my brother caught one by accident, it hit him in the chest and landed in his folded hands! Seriously, he says: Look at this! haha. I was jealous. When he finger plucked the strings he hardly touched them especially when he did his trademark triplets. I couldn't believe the light touch he had. It was like he just brushed them with his fingertips. He had the Buzzard bass with LED's on it. I think his cabs were Ashdowns, he had two double 15" cabs and two (I think) 4 X 12" cabs. his rack was about 3 feet high and was full, he had four power heads and all were on. The heads weren't Ashdowns though. they were common British heads, but the name escapes me right now. Oh yeah, Trace Elliot (sp?) You could hear him that's for sure. The other guys had double stacks each, guitar and keyboard player, the drummer did most of the vocals, I guess he had been with him for 7 or 8 years. The John Entwhistle Band. I couldn't believe that Townsend took the tour out the day after he died! Talk about no respect.