# Best modern bass player **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 19, 2003, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-bass-player/182823 "2003-06-19T00:30:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![smoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@smoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smoke)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-bass-player/182823/21 "2003-06-19T13:46:58Z")
I always throw his name in the ring in these types of threads, and usually get little response, but here goes anyways: Billy Sheehan may just squeek in under the 25 year mark -j ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-bass-player/182823/22 "2003-06-19T13:48:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GMRyujin \* > \*\*Can I nominate Justin Chancellor and Paul D’Amour from Tool? > \*\* Ditto. Seen it live and I’ve never been the same. ---
**Author:** ![Opengrave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/919ad9/32.png) [@Opengrave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opengrave)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-bass-player/182823/23 "2003-06-19T13:50:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cisco \* > \*\*Les Claypool naturally. > > Honorable mention to Matt Freeman (because I rarely recognize musical talent and he’s one of the few bassists besides Claypool that really blows me away) \*\* I’m glad someone else out there appreciates Matt Freeman. It is really cool to listen to **Rancid** and hear how he has progressed over the course of a few albums. I read an interview somewhere about the _Life Won’t Wait_ sessions. It seems about 3/4 of the bass tracks on the disk are scratches (first takes). He just went in to the studio and took care of business. ---
**Author:** ![moejuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@moejuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejuck)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-bass-player/182823/24 "2003-06-19T14:44:00Z")
Great input from everyone. Looks like Les is going to run away with it. I have seen some new names in here, so that is a great way for me to get to check those guys out. What I meant in the OP about the 25 year limit was basicaly guys who have been “known” for no more than 25 years. Wooten started playing when he was 3, so I am sure that would exclude him too if we went that route. Sorry about the poor wording. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-bass-player/182823/25 "2003-06-19T16:02:25Z")
I think he just wanted to keep **Coldfire** from running in and yelling, “Geddy Lee! Wooooooooooooo!” ---
**Author:** ![tramp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@tramp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tramp)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-bass-player/182823/26 "2003-06-19T16:05:59Z")
Another vote for flea. ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-bass-player/182823/27 "2003-06-19T17:46:21Z")
**Watt** ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-bass-player/182823/28 "2003-06-19T19:35:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GUINNESS \* > \*\*…Peter Hook from Joy Division/New Order…didnt we just do this topic,or was it somewhere elese?..:dubious: \*\* Yes, it was done on a thread about the greatest **living** bass players. Anyway, in that thread, I seconded your vote for Hooky–and I second it again in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-bass-player/182823/29 "2003-06-19T19:53:25Z")
Thanks for playing, but the correct answer is [David Piltch](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll). ---
**Author:** ![lonelocust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/73ab20/32.png) [@lonelocust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lonelocust)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-bass-player/182823/30 "2003-06-19T20:52:18Z")
Mark Sandman of Morphine. True, he’s no longer among the living, but he had a wonderful and distinct style. ---
**Author:** ![McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McDeath_the_Mad)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-bass-player/182823/31 "2003-06-19T21:03:55Z")
Stefan Lessard from Dave Mathews Band. Flea rips as well… MtM ---
**Author:** ![moejuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@moejuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moejuck)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-bass-player/182823/32 "2003-06-19T22:18:42Z")
Here’s an update: Claypool–6 Hook–3 Wooten, Flea, and the D’amour/Chancellor duo–2 Many others with one. By the way, vl\_mungo brought up Mike Watt, who is definitely underrated. Check him out if you haven’t heard his stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Supernate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecc23a/32.png) [@Supernate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Supernate)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-bass-player/182823/33 "2003-06-19T22:30:47Z")
Here’s my vote for **Oteil Burbridge** of the Allman Brothers Band (as well as many others). ---
**Author:** ![Supernate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecc23a/32.png) [@Supernate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Supernate)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-bass-player/182823/34 "2003-06-19T22:35:48Z")
Here’s my vote for **Oteil Burbridge** of the Allman Brothers Band (as well as many others). ---
**Author:** ![Husker\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Husker\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Husker_Dude)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-bass-player/182823/35 "2003-06-19T23:47:45Z")
Add my vote to Mike Watt. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-bass-player/182823/36 "2003-06-20T01:31:12Z")
How could I forget Stefan? An amazing bassist, especially for a “light” band like DMB. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-bass-player/182823/37 "2003-06-20T05:30:24Z")
victor wooten-you have to download his masterpiece “classical thump” or another awesome song"me and my bass guitar" les claypool- the songs"laquerhead" and “tommy the cat” are awesome stanley clarke I cant name his stuff off the top of my head one song is something like "1,2,3, bass or something like that jaco pastorius(dead) I have his cd but I cant name any songs off the top of my head the bassist from dream theater bassist from phish bassist from moe flea p-nut from 311 bassist from rancid lead singer of rush tool bassist oh and me ---
**Author:** ![HookerChemical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/278dde/32.png) [@HookerChemical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HookerChemical)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-bass-player/182823/38 "2003-06-20T05:45:22Z")
I think Dave LaRue comes in under the age limit. He’s been in the Dixie Dregs, and I saw him playing bass for Petrucci on the G3 tour. The other bassists that night were Billy Sheehan and Stu Hamm. Both are awesome bassists, but LaRue left the greatest impression on me. And the bassist from Dream Theater **pool** is looking for is John Myung. He’s high on my list too. ---
**Author:** ![todd33rpm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@todd33rpm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/todd33rpm)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-bass-player/182823/39 "2003-06-20T12:14:02Z")
I’ll second on David Piltch…his most recent work is all over the soundtrack to _Crossing Jordan_, but he provides the “sound” of k.d. lang. Also second on Michael Manring…a good starting point is the album _Thonk_, and his work on Patty Larkin’s _Perishable Fruit_. ---
**Author:** ![look\_ninjas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@look\_ninjas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/look_ninjas)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-bass-player/182823/40 "2003-06-20T12:53:02Z")
Do they have to be living? If not, I second Mark Sandman. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-bass-player/182823.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-modern-bass-player/182823.md?page=3)