The Bass Heroes of Mine

There are 4 bass players that I admire since my high school and during my university. Most of them are jazz player, only one of them is rock player. Well, I more into jazz than rock, if it comes to bass player. The range, notes, and mostly improvisation style that leads me more into jazz. Slap and funky bass play that became  the best point that makes bass more interesting, for me came out from jazz player..But rock still flowing through my blood..lol.
So, here's goes nothing..!

Tetsuo Sakurai (Sakurai Tetsuo, born on November 13th, 1957 in Tokyo) is a Japanese bassist. To date, he has released a total of 37 albums as a member of Casiopea and Jimsaku and solo artist. Tetsuo Sakurai, is the first bass player I know since he’s still in Casiopea. I know him since Casiopea’s ‘The Soundgraphy’ album. His funky bass play is so entertaining, even in up-beat or down-beat..The structure of his bass pattern is so interesting, and for me that time it’s amazing..!! And after he walks out from Casiopea and formed Jimsaku with Akira Jimbo, it’s an exhilarating music..The only Japanese bass player that I would like to tip my hat for him..It’s like storm, thundering sound when he slap the bass, and it’s like rain when he turn on his fretless bass in melancholic song.

The Gear
Bass:
Fender Jazz Bass 1964
Fender Jazz Bass 1965
Fender Jazz Bass 1977
Fender Jazz Bass Fretless 1961
Fodera Emperor  5-string Fretted
Fodera Emperor 6-string Fretted
Emperor II 6-string Fretless
Kramer DMZ-6000B
Sadowsky TOKYO RA 4Strings Fretless
Vestax Bass
Xotic XJ-1
Yamaha TB-6 Tetsuo Sakurai Model
Yamaha Headless 5-string Bass
Yamaha BB-2000
Yamaha BB-3000 Fretless
Yamaha BB-5000, etc.

Effects:
Roland VB-99
Manley Voxbox
Korg M3

Amps:
Aguilar Bass amplifier DB750
Aguilar Bass amplifier DB112

The Discography:
Casiopea
•    Casiopea (1979)
•    Super Flight (1979)
•    Thunder Live (1980)
•    Make Up City (1980)
•    Eyes of the Mind (1981)
•    Cross Point (1981)
•    Mint Jams (1982)
•    4x4 (1982)
•    Photographs (1983)
•    Jive Jive (1983)
•    The Soundgraphy (1984)
•    Down Upbeat (1984)
•    Halle (1985)
•    Casiopea Live (1985)
•    Sun Sun (1986)
•    Casiopea Perfect Live II (1987)
•    Platinum (1987)
•    Euphony (1988)
•    Casiopea World Live '88 (1988)
Shambara (1989)
Jimsaku
•    Jimsaku (1990)
•    45°C (1991)
•    Jade (1992)
•    Viva! (1992)
•    100% (1993)
•    Wind Loves Us (1993)
•    Navel (1994)
•    Blaze of Passion (1995)
•    Best Selection (1995)
•    Dispensation (1996)
•    MEGA db (1997)
Solo
•    Dewdrops (1986)
•    A Gate of the 21st Century (1999)
•    TLM 20 ~ Live Memories of 20 years ~ (2000)
•    Gentle Hearts (2001)
•    Cartas do Brasil ~ブラジルからの手紙~ (2003)
•    Gentle Hearts Tour 2004 (2004)
•    My Dear Music Life (2009)
•    Vital World (2010)
                                    

Marcus Miller (born William Henry Marcus Miller Jr., June 14, 1959, Brooklyn, New York) is an American jazz composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Miller is best known as a bassist, working with trumpeter Miles Davis, pianist Herbie Hancock, singer Luther Vandross, and saxophonist David Sanborn, as well as maintaining a prolific solo career. He mostly known for his slap-play..First time I heard him was during my univ. time. My friend borrowed Marcus records (forgot what’s the title) from our teacher, and he lends it to me. On that record, he play 3 string bass, and it makes me curious..Then, when I heard it, it blew me away..Not only the slap, the notes, styles so attractive..So enjoyable, so  fresh..then, he got into my top list.

The Gear
Bass:
1977 Fender Jazz Bass
1975 Fender Jazz Bass
1966 Fender Jazz
Marcus Miller signature Fender Jazz 4-string (Japan made)
Marcus Miller signature Fender Jazz 5-string (US made)
Fodera Emperor 5 Fretless

Effects:
EBS IQ envelope filter
EBS OctaBass
EBS MultiDrive overdrive box
EBS MultiComp
Dan Electro overdrive box
Demeter VTDB-2 tube DI
Empirical Labs Distressor EL8 compressor/limiter
Dunlop GCB-535Q Cry Baby Multi-Wah pedal
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff distortion pedal
Ernie Ball stereo volume pedal
Lexicon MPX-1 multi-effect
Line 6 Bass PODxt
MXR 90 phase shifter

Amps:
EBS-410 cabinets
SWR Marcus Miller golight 800W 4x10 Bass Speaker Cabinet
SWR Power 750
SWR Marcus Miller preamp

The Discography:
Solo
•    Suddenly (1983)
•    Marcus Miller(1984)
•    The Sun Don't Lie (1993)
•    Tales(1995)
•    Live & More (1995)
•    Best of '82-'96 (2000)
•    M² (2001)( winner of 2002 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album)
•    The Ozell Tapes - Live 2001(2002)
•    Silver Rain(2005)
•    Free(2007)
•    Marcus (2008)
•    Thunder (as SMV, with Stanley Clarke and Victor Wooten) (2008)
•     A Night in Monte Carlo - Live 2009 (2010)
•    Tutu Revisited - Live 2010 (2011)
                               

William "Billy" Sheehan (born on March 19, 1953, in Buffalo, New York) is an American bassist known for his work with Talas, Steve Vai, David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, and Niacin. The bass virtuoso..with the speed, the sound, the tapping..I found him out when I listen to Mr. Big. He uses Yamaha bass with unique sound, special technique and enjoyable play. His duet with Paul Gilbert is harmonic, and both of them often show skilful duet of melody on the records or while in concert.   And he’s also Steve Vai, and Greg Bissonette colleague when they became David Lee Roth supporting bands. Afterward, he also join Steve Vai in few of his concert, and show an incredible duet attraction between bass and guitar..But, later he also made a jazz group, with Dennis Chambers on drums, and John Novello on keyboard, named Niacin. Again, he a must-to-watch bass player on my list.

The Gear
Bass:
Yamaha Attitude Ltd
Yamaha Attitude Ltd. II
Yamaha Attitude Ltd. II "Sister"
Yamaha Attitude Ltd. II Fretless
Yamaha Attitude Ultra Bass
Yamaha Custom Shop Attitude Double Neck
Yamaha Custom Shop Ltd. 8 String
Yamaha Custom Shop Dropped 6 Baritone
Yamaha Custom Shop Bajo Sexto
Fender P-Bass "The Wife"
DiMarzio Bass, etc.
Rotosound strings

Effects:
Emu Vintage Keys Plus
Line 6 Pro Bass Pod
Line 6 Bass Pod
Line 6 DL4, DM4, & MM4
Emu Proteus 2000
Eventide Eclipse, etc.

Amps:
AK Series 115 Hartke Cabinets
AK Series 410 Hartke Cabinets
Hartke LH1000 Bass Amps
Hartke  HA5500 Bass Amps

The Discography :
Talas
•    1979: Talas
•    1982: Sink Your Teeth Into That
•    1983: High Speed On Ice
•    1990: Talas Years
•    1998: If We Only Knew Then What We Know Now
•    1998: Live In Buffalo
David Lee Roth
•    1986: Eat 'Em and Smile
•    1988: Skyscraper
Mr. Big
•    1989: Mr. Big
•    1991: Lean Into It
•    1993: Bump Ahead
•    1996: Hey Man
•    2000: Get Over It
•    2001: Actual Size
•    2011: What If...
Niacin
•    1996: Niacin
•    1997: Live
•    1998: High Bias
•    2000: Live! Blood, Sweat & Beers
•    2000: Deep
•    2001: Time Crunch
•    2005: Organik
Solo
•    2001: Compression
•    2005: Cosmic Troubadour'
•    2006: Prime Cuts
•    2009: Holy Cow

                                 

Victor Lemonte Wooten (born September 11, 1964) is an American bass player, composer, author, and producer, and has been the recipient of five Grammy Awards. As friend of mine show a video of him..a soothing bass play at first, harmonic and enjoyable bass-beat play at the middle, and thundering play with a soft ending..I’d like to say he’s a bass shredder, he’s fast and often create a unique sound in between his fast finger..Great at slap too, but a shredding bass play with an insertion of harmonic play is a promising act that I’d like to wait from him. He said "the instrument doesn't make the music ... you do". He also made a trio consist of Stanley Clarke, and Marcus Miller under the name of SMV (Stanley, Marcus, Victor).

The Gear 
Bass:
Fodera Monarch Yin Yang #1
Fodera Monarch Yin Yang #2
Fodera Yin Yang Fretless
Fodera Tenor Bass
Compito Fretless 5

Effects:
Boss GT6B
Source Audio
Rodenburg Pedal
Peterson Strobe Tuners

Amps:
Hartke HyDrive 115 Bass Cabinet
Hartke HyDrive 410 Bass Cabinet
Hartke LH1000 Bass Amplifier

The Discography
Solo
•    A Show of Hands (1996)
•    What Did He Say? (1997)
•    Yin-Yang (1999)
•    Live in America (2001)
•    Soul Circus (2005)
•    Palmystery (2008)
SMV
•    Thunder (2008) (with Stanley Clarke and Marcus Miller, as SMV)

 

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetsuo_Sakurai
http://www.madhatter.jp/wiki/wiki.cgi?page=%DD%AF%B0%E6%C5%AF%C9%D7
http://www.hmv.co.jp/news/article/1009020014/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Miller
http://www.uberproaudio.com/who-plays-what/282-marcus-miller-bass-gear-rig-and-equipment
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Sheehan
http://billysheehan.com/gear.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Wooten
http://www.victorwooten.com/gear.html
http://www.samsontech.com/artists/victor-wooten/

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDMtcytynGw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWg6iB0Evj0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5omFFeLEXFE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eK-rfYFJTyo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suaH-NJm12U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj5f7gRLVFQ