Paul McCartney vs John Entwistle

better bassist

  • Paul McCartney

    Votes: 62 48.1%

  • John Entwistle

    Votes: 67 51.9%
  • Total voters
    129
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#50
Unemploid said:
which is the better bassist? which style is more commonly used?
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It's a hard question but I believe McCartney has the edge.

Anytime Paul worked with a different writer, his contribution made the song better, whether his own stuff, Lennon's or Harrison's along with others he worked with after the Beatles.

MY Man, Big Johnny Twinkle, had developed a technique and an ear that worked well with Townshend, but alas, there are very few examples of John contributing to other people's albums.

The Who was always better when him and Townshend were going at it like Jack and Eric. More recent shows found Townshend writing like he still had John and there was something amiss.

That McCartney fella, ALWAYS made the song better with a variety of songwriters. Pretty sure that is the best thing we can do with our playing.

This Paul-guy, I think he might have a pretty good future.

Still love John's playing and wish he could have seen a couple of more decades. From what I saw, his hearing had peaked but his technique and playing had not.
 
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#52
Who is better? Both great in their own way.

Whose style is more commonly used? I think John. He was about groove and power, which I think has been used a lot more. Paul has a funky melodic style that has inspired a lot of players, but I think that style is in the minority overall.
 
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#57
Paul played like a guitarist playing bass guitar, Ox played like a bass guitarist playing bass guitar. It can be argued that Ox defined what it meant to be a "bass guitarist" more so than anyone had managed to do for the instrument up to that point. Paul's was a very musical approach and his melodic lines reflect that his style was purely meant to serve the song...the instrument was just a means of getting there. Ox's approach was to elevate the "tool" that was the bass guitar by bringing it to the forefront and using it in a way that put it on equal footing with the guitar as lead instrument. By doing so, he forever changed the role and status of the instrument in rock music and how it could and would be used from that point on, whether people choose to acknowledge it or not. While Paul's style was also immensely influential (yes, the bass can sound melodic!), its lineage can more or less be directly traced to James Jamerson, as his contributions were no small influence on Paul's melodic approach. All IMHO etc...
 
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#59
"Apples to oranges" (as mentioned by others) is correct. I'm 66 years old, and grew up with both groups (Beatles and Who). IMO, they're both phenomenal, but with totally different styles. McCartney was so melodic, and was a big influence on me. The Ox just blows me away with his "all over the place", yet perfect prowess. So I'd say that for technical mastery of the instrument, it has to be Entwistle. But McCartney's songwriting and compositional skills are amazing, and fit the songs perfectly.

I seem to remember an interview with Tony Levin one time when he got a gig playing with John Lennon. Lennon told him he was looking for a bass player that supports the songs without getting too busy. If Lennon thought Paul was too busy, I wonder what he'd have thought of the Ox?! :D

Bottom line, they're both excellent. I wish I had the talent of either one! :bassist:
 
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#60
petrus61 said:
Paul played like a guitarist playing bass guitar, Ox played like a bass guitarist playing bass guitar. It can be argued that Ox defined what it meant to be a "bass guitarist" more so than anyone had managed to do for the instrument up to that point. Paul's was a very musical approach and his melodic lines reflect that his style was purely meant to serve the song...the instrument was just a means of getting there. Ox's approach was to elevate the "tool" that was the bass guitar by bringing it to the forefront and using it in a way that put it on equal footing with the guitar as lead instrument. By doing so, he forever changed the role and status of the instrument in rock music and how it could and would be used from that point on, whether people choose to acknowledge it or not. While Paul's style was also immensely influential (yes, the bass can sound melodic!), its lineage can more or less be directly traced to James Jamerson, as his contributions were no small influence on Paul's melodic approach. All IMHO etc...
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I wish I had read this prior to posting my thoughts. Very well-said, petrus!
 
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