Most famous bass?

Yeah the documentary is great. Truly a man worth of having one done. Motörhead was one of my first enablers into heavier music. I got hooked back in 93 when they released Bastards. Seen them a few times as well. Loudest concerts ever. I refer lovingly to my left ear as my Lemmy ear, since it’s always a bit noisy.

How about this one:

I know it’s less known in pop culture, but that is the bass for a lot of pieces.

One that everyone should know, by Ibanez:

5 Likes

Both are definitely legends. My personal opinion will not waver though :rofl:

1 Like

To think that Lemmy once looked like a sober John Frusciante … :rofl:

3 Likes

He looked a bit like a long-haired @JoshFossgreen as well… :thinking:

1 Like

Literally just got home from watching him in Yokohama

tony’s 3 string should probably be mentioned somewhere

17275355750825582019283669300321

2 Likes

That thing had to weigh a ton. :rofl:

Most famous bass may well depend upon the age of the person being asked. Someone like Lemmy wouldn’t even make my top ten.

1 Like

Couple of real legends of bass there. Lee Sklar is the guy I listened to all the time when I began playing country rock in the mid to late 70s. Incredible bass lines. For anyone whose a fan of James Taylor or Jackson Browne go there to hear Lee Sklar.

1 Like

I think it basically comes down to most recognizable players, not who’s the better bass player. I’d wager a lot more non musicians would know who Lemmy is over Lee Sklar, who’s obviously in a league of his own. Lemmy was never a great technical players, but his visibility cannot be underestimated.

2 Likes

Try to ignore that!

2 Likes

I wasn’t necessarily emphasizing technical skills but you’re not wrong with this comparison mostly because Lemmy fronted his band whereas Lee Sklar has always been a session player and part of the touring band of solo artists like the two I mentioned.

But this is a gear forum full of bass players who would then be more likely to know who players like Lee Sklar, Tony Levin, Pino Palladino, are. And I still believe age would also enter into it. A lot of my bass heroes played PBasses and JBasses or variations of them because they were the best at that time.

As regarding to age, I don’t think that one is relevant. Lee debuted in early 60’s if I’m not mistaken, and is of course still active. Lemmy started in bands in mid-late 60’s but did not really rise to prominence until joining Hawkwind in the 1971. His prior bands had minor success only. And he was active until his untimely death in 2015.

Still Lemmys career, spanned well over 45 years.

Tony Levin also started in the 70’s.

That Lemmy clearly went to a more specific and smaller audience, than Lee or Tony, is without a doubt.

1 Like

Though many know Lemmy G from listening to his music in elevators :slight_smile:

8 Likes

:rofl: :rofl:

The horror!

4 Likes

Again, if raw fame is the criterion of this thread — and not personal preference, age-related influence, genre bias, or simple opinion — McCartney is known over other bass players by several, several orders of magnitude.

Not only did he make indelible history that literally affected the lives of incalculable millions of fans and musicians alike but his face is one of the most recognized, everywhere around the world. Plus, he is still alive and performing today.

3 Likes

I’m just thinking: if @Al1885 finally becomes world famous (it’s just a matter of time), he will never contribute to a famous (signature) bass, due to owning and playing hundreds and hundreds of them :slight_smile:

2 Likes

Or it’ll be the opposite. He has so much experience with every possible configuration of bass that his signature model will redefine the instrument.

2 Likes

It will be a true Frankenstein bass ^^

EDIT Now I would really like to know, what your ideal signature bass would be/look like, @Al1885 ???

2 Likes

I’m thinking something modular that can go from electric upright to scuzzy punk rock and everything in between.

1 Like