these are in no specific order:

Geezer Butler
John Paul Jones
Cliff Burton
David Ellefson
Steve Harris
Duff Mckagan
Noel Redding
Mike Dirnt

What aboooot Bill Dick(ens)? I find it strange that he hasn't been mentioned.

But hey, for me it's Jaco all the way!

Jaco
James Jamerson
Andy Fraser (Free)
Bruce Thomas (Elvis Costello's Attractions)
Colin Hodgkinson (Back Door - Early 70's)
Bernard Edwards
Pino Palladino
Martin Turner (Wishbone Ash)
Norman Watt-Roy ( Ian Dury's Blockheads)
Kenny Gradney (Little Feat)
.....this could go on forever....

John Myung is awesome
Les Claypool
Victor Wooten
Alex Katunavich(Dirk Lance)
Flea
Justin Chancellor
JPJ
John Entwhistle
Larry Graham

Adam Nitti
Ryan Martine(Mudvayne)
Ray Riendeau

I like many bassists, but if i had to choose tree of em, I think these would be my favorite players:

Geddy Lee... I remember hearing him for the first time... i liked his inusual approach to the songs.

John Myung has a great feeling, and all that crunchy sound... excellent!!

And Tony Levin!! great feeling, great sound!! he always put the right note at the right moment... His Chapman Stick playing is awesome!

CLIFF BURTON. THE BASS GOD
www.und.8k.com

I can't believe nobody mentioned Dominique Di Piazza!!! Check out this link right fu--ing NOW!

http://www.aic.se/basslob/videos/dipiazza.html

A fabulous bassist who is truly a virtuoso who revolutionized the bass world with one recording ("marie" from John McLaughlin Trio's Que Alegria). Go to amazon.com and listen to the sound byte as well.


Alain Caron is also my fav...damn French names are so good!

i have great respect for all bass payers in this age of sampling im surprised and glad we still exist. if i had to chose 3 they would be
1) Tom Commerford of Rage agianst the machine solid style keeps a beat and stands for something
2) John Entwitsle he was one of the first to experiment with six stringed basses and he just kinda stood there while townshed and daultry bounced around.
3) dirk lance of incubus great band good bassist and he is so young to achive so much at only 25.
theres so many more but im kinda in a hurry. vc

Nathan East. The man can play anything!

Although I haven't heard a few of the bassists named, I like most of them, but there are some who I must point out better than others.
Jaco Pastorius for sure
Stu Hamm
P-Nut is cool
Claypool
Mcartney
Cliff Burton
John Paul Jones
And Flea is my personal favorite.

Don't really know many of the other bassists, considering im a teen. But i would have to say flea. He is definetly the driving force behind all of the chilli pepper's songs.