DavidMPires Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Well there's a list for underrated bass players, what about one for overrated. I'm top of the list guys!!! www.myspace.com/davidbassportugal "And then the magical unicorn will come prancing down the rainbow and we'll all join hands for a rousing chorus of Kumbaya." - by davio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil W Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 The overrated guys get a lot of publicity so I refuse to name them! :grin: TBH no bassist is as overrated as many guitarists and singers are. http://philwbass.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carpedebass Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 TBH no bassist is as overrated as many guitarists and singers are. VERY true! I started to say Geddy Lee, because his lines used to be so difficult...now they seem to be very simple as I improve. That said, I cannot play and sing (I'm working on it though) so I have to give him props for doing both very well...thus removing him from the over-rated list. All that to say...I dunno! Love God...Love People! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo-London Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Dare I say John Entwhistle. Lots of notes. He can certainly play, but I would say overrated for his contribution/fame ratio. Davo "We will make you bob your head whether you want to or not". - David Sisk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMPires Posted January 16, 2008 Author Share Posted January 16, 2008 Dare I say and i'll be crucified...Vic Wooten, don't get me wrong I think he's a fantastic bass player, but I think he plays so much better in a band situation than on his own. On his own he overplays very often. IMHO Please don't hunt me down. www.myspace.com/davidbassportugal "And then the magical unicorn will come prancing down the rainbow and we'll all join hands for a rousing chorus of Kumbaya." - by davio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ross Brown Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 I overrate myself.... the rest of my band under rates me. Guess that means I am just ok... (and egocentric) "When I take a stroll down Jackass Lane it is usually to see someone that is already there" Mrs. Brown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil W Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Davo, I was going to say John E too but I was afraid of the flames and also I wanted to avoid being negative. I agree, not that he's not good, but that he's over-rated. David, Victor is a brilliant musician but by the nature of his publicity, then yes - he is overrated as are Flea, Paul Simonon, Les Claypool and other famous guys - fine bassplayers all! It's also true those guys are also under-rated by some people. What does it really matter if someone is overrated though, unless they have your gig? http://philwbass.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenstrum Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Dare I say John Entwhistle. Lots of notes. He can certainly play, but I would say overrated for his contribution/fame ratio. Davo BURN!!! BURN!!! BLASPHEMY!! BURN!!! I actually think Entwistle doesn't get enough recognition. I'm sure that I'll get some burns for this one but Davo I feel the way about Jaco as you do about Entwistle. There I said it! Burn away! Tenstrum "Paranoid? Probably. But just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face." Harry Dresden, Storm Front Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lug Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Well there's a list for underrated bass players, what about one for overrated. I'm top of the list guys!!! um...better read up on this guy before you make such a claim. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=lug You can stop now -jeremyc STOP QUOTING EVERY THING I SAY!!! -Bass_god_offspring lug, you should add that statement to you signature.-Tenstrum I'm not sure any argument can top lug's. - Sweet Willie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moot Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Cliff Burton. Even when you could hear him it was nothing special. "He is to music what Stevie Wonder is to photography." getz76 I have nothing nice to say so . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcr Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 This is kind of ugly, isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tnb Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Les Claypool - he really does suck. Flea - I love him anyway. Rocco - only because he is so limited - ever hear him play a ballad? Fortunately, that is not why I have periods where I listen to him religiously. Geddy Lee - I still love his playing anyway. Anybody who has a better gig than me that I can out play. I would like to say that list is getting longer by the year. One day, if I am fortunate, people will consider me overrated. http://youtube.com/watch?v=IYx-mh-vzN8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo-London Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Tenstrum: Of course you are perfectly entitled to mention Jaco. That is how internet deomcracy works. BUT SERIOUSLY ARE YOU MAD? Ugly moi? Davo "We will make you bob your head whether you want to or not". - David Sisk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil W Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 It is a bit ugly. Reminds me of my thread on 'bands everyone else rates and I don't like' which I posted ages ago (that wasn't the title). I've tried to avoid negative comments since then but I couldn't resist this one. http://philwbass.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenstrum Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Tenstrum: Of course you are perfectly entitled to mention Jaco. That is how internet deomcracy works. BUT SERIOUSLY ARE YOU MAD? Ugly moi? Davo LOL! I know I know...the world revolves around Jaco... Yeah, this thread is going to get ugly really quickly... I just wish that I was good enough to be rated. Whether it is over or under is beside the point! Tenstrum "Paranoid? Probably. But just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face." Harry Dresden, Storm Front Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robitaille59 Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Gene Simmons - all though I love early Kiss and I'm a fan of Gene Simmons in general, his ability to actually play this instrament is poor at best. Lemmie - might as well be playing the guitar, does no justice to the bass. Just using it to get a point accross (which he does quite well but still sucks as a bass player) Billy Sheehan - if you want to play lead then play the guitar I don't mean to offend Rob Robitaille Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil W Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 You need to listen to some Hawkwind (although Lemmy still strums he does play basslines) and Billy Sheehan on Dave Lee Roth's solo stuff. Still, I take the point, they are overrated - as good as they both undeniably are. http://philwbass.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jode Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 You're overrated. "I had to have something, and it wasn't there. I couldn't go down the street and buy it, so I built it." Les Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveC Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Overrated has a lot to do with personal taste. Some people would say people who play a lot of notes are overrated. Some people like to listen to Victor or Tom or Richard or whoever. One persons trash... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenfxj Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 You guys left out McCartney & Jamerson... <===== I will opt to keep my opinions on this matter to myself. Push the button Frank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky McDougall Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Many bass players are recognized because of the popularity of their band, not for their particular talent. Some of the greatest bass players have never been recognized. The greatest bass player I have ever heard is totally unknown nationally. Rocky "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb, voting on what to eat for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb, contesting the vote." Benjamin Franklin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABGBrian Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Eh, I really don't care. I think thing about Entwistle is that he pioneered lots of rock bass techniques that we now take for granted. Back in the day (not that I was around then) I'm sure his ideas and techniques seemed way more groundbreaking compared to other bassists of the time. The only bassist I know of that is grossly overrated is Flea. I'm not an RHCP fan though so don't hold my opinion to much (not that you should anyways). Official Website BandcampFacebook Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kramer Ferrington III. Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Moral of the story: No matter who you are, someone out there thinks you're overrated. Band MySpace My snazzy t-shirt empire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CuttyShark Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Great topic idea, for me it's all different for each style of music and playing type. I think some guys might be overated but mainly cuz im not a fan of that style of playing ex: Flea. I also feel that most of the time LESS is More. a band like Chevelle, the bass playing is almost painfully easy but the epic feel, dynamics and bass tone is undenyable (sp?) so that being said, less is more in my opinion making bass players who don't play a crazy lick get un noticed and are underated. what makes a great bass player anyway? I think Dean Bernardini of chevelle is just as good as Flea yet you guys probally had no idea who he was, and thats probally cuz he sits in the mix yet the music is awesome. in my opinion of course, which again is all subjective to everyones favorite style. MY GEAR: Line 6 Bass Pod Pro Rack Mount, QSC Head, Ampeg SVT Classic 8x10 Cabinet,Korg DTR-2000 Rack Tuner, ESP F-404FM Bass MY BAND PAGE: WWW.MYSPACE.COM/CYLINDERBAND Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil W Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Not necessarily. I enjoy Flea's playing and have a bunch of RHCP albums but I can't deny he's overrated despite loving his playing - just because more people know who he is than Larry Graham or Bernard Odum. http://philwbass.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeronyne Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Overrated? Overrated by whom? What do you guys mean by overrated anyway? Are you saying that some nebulous groups of people's opinion of a bass player's talent is not as valid as yours? Or do you mean your opinion disagrees with majority opinion? I think Jaco overplayed and showed off. I think Jamerson's tone is dull. I think Fieldy is unique and innovative. I think Rick Savage serves Def Leppard songs better than anyone else could, and to me that is the definition of a GREAT bass player.* By what standard are you (not anyone specifically, the general "you") going to tell me that I've rated something incorrectly? Let's set some baseline before making a list. __________________________________________ *I may or may not actually believe these things. I was making a point. "For instance" is not proof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rizzo9247 Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 It seems that everybody in the mainstream media has the potential to be overrated, just because they are rated and sorted in all sorts of lists. Those that we don't know about are almost always underrated, because they have not yet been rated by the musical gurus, VH1 specials, and the like. That being said, I like every bassist a little differently. Just because I like Cliff Burton more than Jaco, doesn't mean one is better than the other, or one is more overrated because a certain faction of a musical genre deems one more popular. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kramer Ferrington III. Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 By what standard are you (not anyone specifically, the general "you") going to tell me that I've rated something incorrectly? Let's set some baseline before making a list. I think that the general, unspoken consensus is that you can only start to be overrated when you are either a household name (Lemmy, Sting, McCartney and so on) OR... you have been on the cover of some serious bass publication at least once. So basically, the thread seems to be limited to people who have received acknowledgement either by the public in general or the bass playing public in particular. Band MySpace My snazzy t-shirt empire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveC Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 The greatest bass player I have ever heard is totally unknown nationally. Rocky You should have come up and said hello. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric VB Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Certainly genre preferences will be a factor. Since there are so few solo bassists, though, most bassists will get knocked for their band's sound and/or the established techniques for a given genre. (Country root/5, blues 12BB, metal root 8ths, etc.) Maybe in the privacy of their homes they are all jazz monsters. Anybody who has a better gig than me that I can out play. I think this is the first instinct most of us have, especially if we have ever been shown up in the past (on purpose or not). And that includes just about everybody except for the true virtuosi/geniuses. Remember how badass you thought you were when you were growing out of the ugly duckling stage as a beginner and started sounding good on a couple of songs? (I was really good at "Wild Thing". ) Then someone would play something like "YYZ" for you and make you feel like a dolt all over again. So then you'd learn "YYZ" just so you could say you could play it and not feel incompetent anymore. None of the guys playing gigs play "YYZ" (except Geddy), so I guess that means I can outplay them all now. Perhaps a better perspective is to realize that sometimes fame is more a function of who you know, being in the right place at the right time, yadda yadda yadda, than strictly being a function of talent. if you want to play lead then play the guitar I understand the sentiment here but there's no reason bass should be forever banished from the world of melody. The counter statement might be "if you want to play rhythm then play the drums". But that's the beauty of bass; its versatility. Entwistle played lead more often than not for The Who, just not in the Sheehan mold. The formula for '90s grunge seemed to incorporate rhythm-only guitar(s) and (sometimes) melodic bass lines that were, by default, leads. I'll be honest and say there are a couple of bass players of whom I am jealous. I could just label them "overrated" but I think the little green monster is what's really yanking my chain. Lee Sklar. Pino Palladino. Why are they always the first call, in the studio or on the stage? Well, obviously they get the job done. And it's not like every gig can hold it's own "Idol" or "Making the Band" process to find a bass player. Turn the tables and it's easy to see why you'd want to call these two instead of taking a chance on a total unknown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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