Bassists

Sourced gear profiles for the bassists who shaped rock, metal, prog, funk, jazz, indie, reggae, and session work. Each page lists the instrument, the strings, and the records, with citations where the public record allows, and past-tense framing for historical players.

Showing 10 bassists tagged Hard rock.

• Cliff Williams

  AC/DC

  

  Documented bass-string gauges, brands, and tunings Cliff Williams uses with AC/DC since 1977. Music Man Stingray + Fender Precision Bass, hard-rock pocket discipline. With citations.

  4-stringHard rockRockClassic rock

• Frank Bello

  Anthrax

  

  Documented bass-string gauges, brands, and tunings Frank Bello uses with Anthrax (1984-present) and Altitudes & Attitude. D'Addario artist roster, Fender Jazz Bass signature model, four-string contexts. With citations.

  4-stringThrash metalMetalHardcore crossover

• Geddy Lee

  Rush

  

  Documented bass-string gauges, brands, and tunings Geddy Lee uses with Rush on his Fender Jazz Bass and Wal basses. Rotosound Swing Bass 66 RS66LD (.045–.105). With citations.

  4-stringProgressive rockHard rockRock

• Geezer Butler

  Black Sabbath

  

  Documented bass-string gauges, brands, and tunings Geezer Butler used with Black Sabbath (1968-2017) and across his solo + Heaven & Hell catalog. Signature TR Bass Strings (Geezer Butler Signature line), Vigier signature bass, defining doom + heavy-metal bass voice. With citations.

  4-stringHeavy metalMetalDoom metal

• Jason Newsted

  Metallica (1986-2001)VoivodNewsted

  

  Documented bass-string gauges, brands, and tunings Jason Newsted has used across Metallica (1986-2001), Voivod, and Newsted. D'Addario artist roster, Spector + Sadowsky basses, four-string + five-string contexts. With citations.

  4-stringHeavy metalMetalThrash metal

• John Entwistle

  The Who

  

  Documented bass-string gauges, brands, and tunings John Entwistle used with The Who (1964-2002). Rotosound Swing Bass 66 documented historical use, multiple Fender + Alembic + Status Graphite basses, defining lead-bass voice in rock. Historical, with citations.

  4-stringRockHard rockClassic rock

• John Paul Jones

  Led Zeppelin

  

  Documented bass-string gauges, brands, and tunings John Paul Jones used with Led Zeppelin (1968-1980) and across his post-Zeppelin catalog. Rotosound Swing Bass 66 documented historical use, Fender Jazz Bass + Manson 8/12-string + Wal basses, multi-instrumental session legacy. Historical, with citations.

  4-stringHard rockRockBlues rock

• Lemmy Kilmister

  Motörhead

  

  Documented bass-string gauges, brands, and tunings Lemmy Kilmister used with Motörhead from 1975 until his December 2015 death. Rotosound Swing Bass 66 documented use, Rickenbacker 4001/4003 customized basses, Marshall stack overdrive. Historical, with citations.

  4-stringHard rockHeavy metalRock

• Robert Trujillo

  Metallica

  

  Documented bass-string gauges, brands, and tunings Robert Trujillo uses with Metallica. D'Addario artist, Fender Custom Shop signature Precision Bass, primarily four-string E and Eb standard. With citations.

  4-stringHeavy metalMetalThrash metal

• Steve Harris

  Iron Maiden

  

  Documented bass-string gauges, brands, and tunings Steve Harris uses with Iron Maiden. Rotosound SH77 Steve Harris Signature Monel flatwound (.050–.110). With citations.

  4-stringHeavy metalRockHard rock