For those unsung heros the bass player. Who is the best (excluding myself and sketcha of course)

My vote goes to Les Claypool (sp?) and Billy Sheehan.

Cliff Burton
Geddy Lee
Nikki Sixx
Gene Simmons
Norwood Fisher
Chris Squire
Sting
Bootsy Collins

Charles Mingus. X

I agree with Geddy Lee, but Gene Simmons?
Frankly I'm not familiar with the level of difficulty in playing Bass. I heard him a couple months ago in concert...he sounded pretty standard. Maybe my ear isn't tuned to bass. But Lee has always impressed me.

Stanley Clarke
John Paul Jones
John Entwistle
Les Claypool

Honorable Mention:
Steve Harris

I'm thinkin

Bill Dance
Hank Parker
Guido Hibdon
Jay Yelas
Denny Brauer

Past? Ray Brown, Oscar Pettiford...Most influential? Jaco Pastorious. Today? Without a doubt, William Parker.

Sting & Mccartney (tied) - the best all around musician/singer/songwriter that played bass

Chris Squire - pretty much the most amazing bass player That I've seen.

my bad how bout

Jon E. Gee
Chris Squire

James Jamerson. He did nearly every early Motown recording.

The rest of my list in no particular order:
John Entwistle
Jaco
Anthony Jackson
Getty Lee
Charles Mingus
Victor Wooten
Marcus Miller
Kim Stone

DMV, read your list again and I agree with all but why Sixx?

I'll give the man credit for putting together a great glam metal band and writing almost all their songs but as a bass player I think he's average at best.

Maybe I'm missing something?

#1: Stanley Clarke
#2: Jaco Pastorius
#3: John Entwistle

Off of the list I put up Gene Simmons and Nikki Sixx were pulled out. I included them because of their ability to play and write music. Most of the early Kiss and Motley Crue songs were written entirely by those 2 guys. Both of them were MAJOR influences on me. I think I'd still be playing a 6 string if it wasn't for those guys. Basic, maybe but up until then I hadn't heard or seen it played like those 2 do!

I'd also like to add...

Flea
Muzz Skullins
Doug Wimbish
and give props to the person that put up McCartney. That guy is wicked hard to perfect.

Geddy Lee, not only does he play the bass, he sings and plays keyboard, sometimes all at once!!!

Jaco Pastorius - he was too smooth for words

Easily Les Claypool!

How did I know Steve Harris was going to make your list BeatDragon. If best singer was the next poll I bet you would have Bruce Dickinson (of course so would I).

Nope sorry plabonte, It would be either Robert Plant or Paul Rogers.

And I CANT BELIVE I forgot Geezer Butler on my list of bass players!!!

Tony Levin

I meant he'd be on you list not that he would be number 1.