Does anyone else think that Jeff is the most underrated member of the band? His songwriting isn't the best, but his playing keeps the band going. He's very subtle but you look forward to his little riffs. I really enjoyed the '05 bootlegs because you could hear the bass more. What are everyone's thoughts?

i dont think hes underrated. fans love him.

yea, i'm a big jeff fan. outside of pearl jam fans, maybe he is. but i don't know the bassist world so much.

I just think that he gets lost in the shuffle of "stone is a great songwriter", "ed's a great singer", "matt is the best drummer", mike "plays wicked solos."
Granted, that's probably the downfall of being a bass player, unless you're Flea or Les Claypool.

edit: wrong thread

in the talkbass forum people respect him. Jeff is a very versatile bassist...upright, fretless, 12-string...he does all!!

His bass is the best part of Present Tense for me. Wash too.

He's a great bass player.

Once I was going to a baseball game and wearing a Pearl Jam T-shirt and this older guy (50+) taking my ticket said - "Hey Pearl Jam - Jeff Ament, right?" I said "Yea. Do you like Pearl Jam?". He said he doesn't really know about the band but knows Jeff is one of the few rock bassists to use a 12-string. We talked a little. He was a jazz musician but respected Jeff as a rocker.

by the way, he has a great taste...Modulus, Wals, Azolas...all great basses

I think he's very under rated outside of the pearl jam fan base. Even though he doesn't play crazy bass like les claypool, he plays some great stuff and really adds to PJ's stuff. look at whipping, breakerfall, evolution, in hiding and bushleaguer just to name some songs with GREAT bass in there. not to mention rats and wma.

my fave jeff part of any PJ song though is in the intro to alone, towards the end of the intro on the last "cut out" we'll call it, jeff does this awesome slide when everything else cuts out. it's so short but sweet.

YESSSS. He is underrated. He's a VERY good bass player, and he's the reason why I plan on getting myself a bass and learn to play it hehe.

Take a look at the bass riffs on vs....

Being a bass player.....

I would say my biggest complant is hes always down in the mix
the 2005 boots were nice as he was not drowned out as much (hit the bass button on my cd player and Jeffs right up front )

Save You has one HELL of a bass line


and being new to the bass playing world....
what song does he play the 12 string bass on? and what is a 12 string bass? ive never heard of one (ive heard of the 12 string guitar, is it just a bass/acoustic 12 string? Hendrix did an awesome take of Hear My Train on the 12 string )

His bass work is clean, tasteful and stylish, with a groovy rough edge.

Check out the little groove at the start of In Hiding, the breakdown in Save You, all of Rats or the lines beneath Small Town, Daughter and Nothingman.

Perhaps you'd prefer the tasteful standup work during Nothing As It Seems, or the driving bass riffs on Breakerfall, God's Dice or Go.

I'm pretty sure most people here think he's the dog's danglies, but just in case, go check those songs out and pop the bass up high.

Just a quick question. I've also thought Jeff was a bit drowned out. Does anyone know how I can turn up the Bass in Windows Media Player?

Ament's songs, more often than not, rock.

Anyone here ever heard 3 Fish? What are they like?

Spiritual is the best I can do for you. PM me and I'll see what I can do for you.

omg..this is going to become one of those "who´s the best Pearl Jam bassist?" threads...

nah. jeff is clearly better than those early demos when flea played bass

I always thought Stone was the most underated of all memeber,... everybody loves Jeff