Bassist Poll

Another best bass player poll.  I won't bother lamenting the exclusion of Pastorius, Paganotti, Top, Hopper etc. this round. Wooten is very talented, and I gave him a vote, but not being a bass player I don't feel that comfortable determining criteria for who I think is best, let alone making an argument of any real value.

Geddy Lee almost always makes these polls, but I'm not sure what about his technique, or innovation, makes him so esteemed.

Voted for Squire, by the way, just so integral to the Yes sound, one of the very best.  Love Geddy Lee as well.

Logan wrote: Another best bass player poll.  I won't bother lamenting the exclusion of Pastorius, Paganotti, Top, Hopper etc. this round. Wooten is very talented, and I gave him a vote, but not being a bass player I don't feel that comfortable determining criteria for who I think is best, let alone making an argument of any real value. Geddy Lee almost always makes these polls, but I'm not sure what about his technique, or innovation, makes him so esteemed.

just as Helmut Hattler NEVER makes it into them. I haven't seen a single bass poll mentioning him

BaldJean wrote: Logan wrote: Another best bass player poll.  I won't bother lamenting the exclusion of Pastorius, Paganotti, Top, Hopper etc. this round. Wooten is very talented, and I gave him a vote, but not being a bass player I don't feel that comfortable determining criteria for who I think is best, let alone making an argument of any real value. Geddy Lee almost always makes these polls, but I'm not sure what about his technique, or innovation, makes him so esteemed. just as Helmut Hattler NEVER makes it into them. I haven't seen a single bass poll mentioning him

Then I suggest you make one yourself.  Nothing is stopping you.

NaturalScience wrote: Logan wrote: NaturalScience wrote: Logan wrote: Another best bass player poll.  I won't bother lamenting the exclusion of Pastorius, Paganotti, Top, Hopper etc. this round. Wooten is very talented, and I gave him a vote, but not being a bass player I don't feel that comfortable determining criteria for who I think is best, let alone making an argument of any real value. Geddy Lee almost always makes these polls, but I'm not sure what about his technique, or innovation, makes him so esteemed. Logan, I'm going to defend the OP here.  Here's the question posed: Which of the following bassists do you think is the best? Dr.No.7134 never made any claim that the bassists listed were the best, to the exclusion of all other musicians, he just provided a list of (presumably his favorite) bassists and was looking for opinion.  I don't see anything wrong with that, and while I'm sure there will be more posts crying about omissions, I'm not sure I feel that it's justified. Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he should have included those options (I've been peeved myself when I've done favourites of mine polls and people have claimed that I should have added so-and-so -- sometimes they were right as I had forgotten favourites of mine, but others I didn't know or like).  His intent was clear, and it's a reason why "I won't bother lamenting the exclusion of Pastorius, Paganotti, Top, Hopper etc. this round."  That would be like saying that my favourites should be his.  So no criticism intended. Even with the poll question, I don't feel qualified to determine which I think is best of these (a recognition of my own ignorance).  I still voted for Wooten.  Okay, maybe I do think think he's the best of these, but best in what regard (I still don't feel comfortable, though i can say he's my favourite)?  I do try to think through such questions, and weigh up, even if the end result just reflects my opinion, but I like to base my opinion on objective comparisons while looking at different attributes. Sorry for being unclear. Thanks for clarifying, I guess I wanted to head off at the pass the inevitable flood of "Where is <insert my favorite bassist here>?" posts.  Also, with these things, I simply interpret "best" to mean "favorite", as like you, I am surely unable to objectively judge whether one bassist is "better" than another (I wouldn't even know what criteria to use).  So if Wooten is indeed your favorite from the list, you've voted successfully!

I often use the same tactic, and might have explicitly done so if I wasn't dealing with the baby at the same time.  Incidentally, I've written uberlong posts in response to Peter in the past about "best" polls, and have said that it can mean "best for you."  One can objectively judge quite well with enough knowledge, but the criteria that one favours to ultimately determine one's choice is often subjectively chosen (say if one values one quality over another).  That was actually something of a specialty of mine when it came to film studies (building frameworks of analysis in regards to "worth"), but that was a long time ago, and I'm not exactly the intellectual equal to my younger self.  I wouldn't say I've voted successfully because it's my favourite, it depends on how one interprets the question.  If one simply means favourite, then generally one says so.  With best polls, it's best to be very familiar with all of the artists, at the least, and also in this case, to have a good understanding of the techniques.  I tend to place versatility quite highly, but innovation, formal technique, ability to improvise, creativity and "feeling" are important.  Some factor in compositional skills to a  high extent.   Even as a non bass player (I do play guitar, actually, but not very well), I can often say that one player is better than another (as music instructors can, of course), but it gets harder when you have a group of highly trained professional musicians.

Edited for typos.


Edited by Logan - October 15 2008 at 16:29

Yikes, another one....

Geddy - the sheer sound of that misformed index finger nail playing a Fender Jazz works for me any time.

Wootten is so far above any other bass player in terms of skill and technique - ask any professional bass player. My nephew is a pro bass player; he can play almost anything by Lee, Squire, Myung, Levin, Wimbish, Wolstenholme, Pastorius and the rest, but he gasps in awe at what Wootten can do. The man is a complete God of bass.

Do I detect a very cynical vibe recently on PA to those who post a poll that is similar to or the same as one that has been done before?
You know there are new members all the time and I'm sure if I was one who got such a negative response to posting a poll I probably wouldn't do so again or feel that this site was very inclusive and welcoming to new members.
I'm just saying a little consideration goes a long way.

BaldJean wrote: Logan wrote: Another best bass player poll.  I won't bother lamenting the exclusion of Pastorius, Paganotti, Top, Hopper etc. this round. Wooten is very talented, and I gave him a vote, but not being a bass player I don't feel that comfortable determining criteria for who I think is best, let alone making an argument of any real value. Geddy Lee almost always makes these polls, but I'm not sure what about his technique, or innovation, makes him so esteemed. just as Helmut Hattler NEVER makes it into them. I haven't seen a single bass poll mentioning him

Lee wins becauuse in addition to his amazing bass skills, he also sings well and plays the synth well.