stymie

like a few have mentioned, victor wooten.

another everyone should know about is willie dixon. more a blues bassist if he has to be categorized, dixon was not only tops for providing the bottom, but he backed legends too numerous to mention, wrote, and was respected for his technical production accumen as well. check him out.

s

Seltzer

I listen to a wide range of music and bassists like Wooten, Pastorius and Claypool etc and play bass myself, but my favourite bassist always goes back to Flea. He simply has the basslines which sound better than any others IMO. Technicality isn't really important unless you need it to write what you want.
Ignoring Motown/jazz etc. (this is rock/metal)

1.) Flea (RHCP)
2.) Les Claypool (Primus and solo projects)
3.) Steve Harris (Iron Maiden)
4.) John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin)
5.) Tony Levin (King Crimson, Liquid Tension Experiment)
6.) Geddy Lee (Rush)
7.) Dirk Lance (Incubus)
8.) Martin Mendez (Opeth)
9.) Tim Commerford (Rage Against the Machine)
10.) Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath)
11.) Joe Satriani's bassist (he's good, don't know his name though)
12.) Tony Choy (Atheist)
13.) John Myung (Dream Theater)
14.) Cliff Burton (Metallica, considering how young he was)
15.) Eric Wilson (Sublime)
16.) John Deacon (Queen)

I know I've forgotten some, but meh.

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boo boo

Stu Hamm.

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It's only knock n' knowall, but I like it

http://www.last.fm/user/kingboobs

Kashmir86

les claypool and john paul jones

__________________
"Into this house we’re born
Into this world we’re thrown
Like a dog without a bone
An actor out on loan
Riders on the storm"

"How many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
How many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?"

"Diamond rope silver chain
Pretty noose is pretty pain
And I don’t like what you got me hanging from"

Unitedbyrock

I play bass myself and my favourite bassist compared to my style is Steve Harris. Other bassists I love are:-

Jaco Pastorius
Billy Sheehan
Victor Wooten
Flea
Cliff Burton
Rex form Pantera
Russel Jackson (plays with BB King)

Quite a mix there eh?

Kashmir86

Abe Laboriel is also quite good. I had the pleasure of watching him play live about 5 years ago in a jazz quartet. He plays with more passion than any other bassist i have seen play. And I got his autograph afterwards, how cool is that? I also have to give respect for john entwistle, he is an amazing bassist, he plays so fast so calmly its quite impressive.

__________________
"Into this house we’re born
Into this world we’re thrown
Like a dog without a bone
An actor out on loan
Riders on the storm"

"How many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
How many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?"

"Diamond rope silver chain
Pretty noose is pretty pain
And I don’t like what you got me hanging from"

Seltzer

Yeah. Personally I think Steve Harris is the epitome of metal bass. He is everything that a metal bassist should be. Steve is the man. And his daughter's hot too .

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thedude01

Tim Commerford this guy plays bass that makes you want to

Seltzer

Yeah, he and Brad Wilk turn a plain ordinary bassline into something with a lot of groove; i.e. Renegades of Funk.

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thedude01

Hell yes Brother