Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

There was a great quote in a Simpsons episode where Homer was expounding on his love of GFRR ... something about "the bare-chested bellowing of Mark Farner" and "Mel Schafer's mediocre bass playing" (can't argue with Pete's list!).

A few years ago, I found myself in a situation where I was able to completely appreciate GFRR's music. The downside was that I had to be dosed with PCP (NOT recommended!!!) in order to do so ...

Different strokes for different folks I guess, I love Mel, great sound and feel and also technically very good for 1970, I would put Mel near the top of all time hard rock bassists even though he has grown tame and his playing and sound has a boring sameness to it now. I loved his tone on the early albums, best distorted tone that any bass player has cultivated that I've ever heard.
I never was a very big VH fan but Anthony's a good bassplayer also, it would be hard to play with the brothers I would think, how would you get a note in edgewise.
Bill Wyman wasn't perfect, but had a great tone and a great feel.
There are plenty of guys out there who could technically play rings around those three guys but leave me cold, there is a lot more to being a good musician than being a good technician. I like the rockers.

IMHO Bass is a rhythm instrument. I care nothing for those hotshots like Michael Manring. They are solo artists.
I prefer the bassists who stick to the pocket and the groove. I am not a big Geddy Lee or Rush fan, but the bass solo on CLoser to the heart is what I think a bass solo should be. It is donein the rhythm of the song and it certainly isn't melody or lead!

A huge Rush fan mentioned that if I liked that bass solo I would really like the bass on YYZ. It did nothing for me. That's why I liked Mel, Dusty Hill, Felix P., Rick Grech.

Give me the guys holding the groove together and let the hotshots do solo tours!

Felix Pappalardi was another great bassplayer. One of my all time favorites. I like the guys who hold down the bottom. I appreciate Squire, Lee, Jaco etc. and think they were or are three of the best going, But I would never want to play like any of them, I play bass because I like the sound and role of bass and always have. I started out on trumpet when I was a kid and switched to tuba as soon as I could because it was a low frequency instrument. I did the same thing with guitar: bought a bass as soon as I could.
If I had to pick any one bass player who I really thought had it all it would be James Jamerson, now he was unbelievable and did 99% of it with one finger. I think soneday in the future he'll be recognized as being probably the best electric bass player who ever lived.

Bob, you and I think alike! Speaking of Rick Grech, after he left Traffic, there were a few bassists that took over. I have alwyas had the feeling that the bass parts were written by Winwood. Kinda like Brian Wilson. Carol Kaye did all of the playing (according to her) on Pet Sounds.

I had the fortunate and unfortunate privilege to take 6 lessons under Carol. The unfortunate part was, it was just before the 94 quake here in the valley amd she moved to Denver for a few years so there went my lessons. I understand she is back out here but I am only looking to improve my blues chops now and I just meant someone who wants to trade his blues expertise for my computer expertise. Sounds like a good trade to me!

I never knew Rick Gretsch was in Traffic Charlie, I also play a lot of blues, takes a lot of discipline, took me a while to get the hang of it, how to play behind the beat etc. I was always a manic rock n roller and still am sometimes, haha!

Traffic Lineup: Jim Capaldi (drums, percussion, some vocals); Dave Mason (guitar, vocals, some bass, sitar, etc.); Steve Winwood (lead vocals, keyboards, some guitar, bass); Chris Wood (flute, sax, some keyboards). Mason quit, 1969. Jim Gordon (drums), Rick Grech (bass) and Rebop Kwaku Baah (percussion) added, 1971. Gordon and Grech replaced by Roger Hawkins (drums) and David Hood (bass), 1972. Rebop and Hawkins dropped, Hood replaced by Rosco Gee, 1974.

I guess a good example of what I like in a bass line is Strange Brew. Very simple, but it's the groove! There is a temptation to go wild on it but Bruce sticks pretty close to the basics on that one!

Actually he does a fairly complicated line in that one too, at least to me it is, I don't mean hard to play just a little busy and very much his own style.

Mel did a great job and I really enjoyed playing those old tunes. If it had'nt been for his inventive bass parts I dout if the songs would have that great of hits.
Grand Funk is not remembered too much now but Mel infulenced a lot of bass players.

He also played in ? and The Mysterians who did 96 Tears. He always got a great big sound.