desire to see Rickenbacker bass re-introduced live..
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i hope that this is in the right section while the Höfner will always be Sir Paul's trademark instrument, and understanding that he used his Rickenbacker bass for most of the '70s live and on a couple tv performances in the 80s (not to mention being on the cover of 'all the best'), (and knowing how he managed to re-introduce the Hofner 1987 onward) i have the desire to see Sir Paul re-introduce this bass in his live performances, as with it, there is an automatic flashback (just as with the Höfner) to the time period for which it was used. suggestion - use it when doing the Wings songs in his sets (for those songs he would be on bass for of course). for example, when i see him do 'band on the run' or 'jet' live in all his live concerts post 1989 (until now), i always think RICKENBACKER. the image for Wings songs just comes with the Ricky
Höfner of course for all else that is not Wings (for those Beatle songs and post-Wings song he would do live, on bass).. anyone else share this feeling/desire? -
McCartney retired his Rick because it is a heavier bass and the Hofner, weighing in at about 5 lbs, is just lighter and easier to play, being a short scale bass (30") versus the Rick which is long scale (just about 34"). So, we will probably not see Paul play the Rick in concert again. But the man does seem to surprise on a lot of occasions. He may break it out for a song for old times sake!
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Hey rahil, I'd like to see him use the Rick again too, but I read that it is too heavy and hurts his back. Maybe he could just use it for one song though! P.S. Please don't write in yellow--it is really hard to read! Thanks!
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I hope Paul realizes how much his fans would LOVE to see him play his Rickenbacker bass live again. At one time, I thought there was no chance of this...but since he actually played Rockshow/Venus & Mars and Letting Go in 2010, I believe anything is still possible
The weight excuse is bogus - I have both basses (reissue versions) - the Ricky is not that much heavier at all. In a 2001 interview, the Ricky was mentioned and Paul just said that he has enough instrument changes per show already & that he's happy staying with the Hofner "at the moment " (no mention of bass weight issue). I think he just needs someone in the band to suggest it or ask him to play it again and he probably would (like when Costello asked him to dust off the Hofner). Strange thing though is that it seems no one around him (producers, bandmates) ever mentions the Ricky to him - c'mon guys, let Paul know....would be incredibly iconic to see him play the Ricky live in 2013!!! 
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I'm less interested in what instrument he plays than what SONGS he plays!!!!
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My Salamander:
I hope Paul realizes how much his fans would LOVE to see him play his Rickenbacker bass live again.
I'm hoping that the reissue of WOA/Rockshow this coming year will clue people (including Paul...He owns it, but perhaps needs to hear other people rave about it) in as to how good that instrument sounded
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I'll believe it when I see it. He has already performed VENUS AND MARS/ROCK SHOW and LETTING GO and did not break out the Rick, I can't imagine that changing.
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thank you everyone for your replies
great to see that i am not alone with this desire -
rahil, I see you obviously are a fan of the color orange (hence the orange shirt!) but please don't type in it too! Too hard to read mate!
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Nancy R:
rahil, I see you obviously are a fan of the color orange (hence the orange shirt!) but please don't type in it too! Too hard to read mate!
lol...my page background is black so the orange shows up quite nicely. Blue not so much.
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oobu24:
Nancy R:
rahil, I see you obviously are a fan of the color orange (hence the orange shirt!) but please don't type in it too! Too hard to read mate!
lol...my page background is black so the orange shows up quite nicely. Blue not so much.
My page background is grey and I didn't know you could change it!
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Nancy R:
My page background is grey and I didn't know you could change it!
yep...in your profile
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Bump - I vote for return of the Rickenbacker bass during Silly Love Songs (which is leading the new set list poll!) Playing the Hofner on Silly Love Songs just wouldn't seem right.... C'mon Paul!!!
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Bring back the Rik! the way he sung "don't saaaay good night to love, it may never, be the saaame, agaaain" on that African performance was probably my favourite Paul live vocal moment, it was effortless, and was like, yeah, i still got it, baby!
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Fly Paul Fly to Australia:
Bring back the Rik! the way he sung "don't saaaay good night to love, it may never, be the saaame, agaaain" on that African performance was probably my favourite Paul live vocal moment, it was effortless, and was like, yeah, i still got it, baby!
He didn't play a Rick on that song, he played a Yamaha. At least in the video!
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He also played the Yamaha when playing it live
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cfergoid:
He also played the Yamaha when playing it live
Great clip! Thanks for posting. It's great to see how animated Paul was in 1979. I also see the Mexican vihuela on stage that starts the song. Also featured on WE GOT MARRIED.
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the last time i've seen a photo of Paul using the Rick...
from http://www.paulmccartney.com/albums/10332-off-the-ground so, circa 1992.. -
ah well, i guess that would be the last time we would have seen him play it..
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Wow that's a great photo! I had no clue he played the 4001 after the '80s. Nice find, there. I was reading today about how Elvis Costello talked Paul into bringing back the Hofner before the "Flowers In The Dirt"/World Tour run. Maybe the real trick is to write Elvis Costello and have him suggest the Rickenbacker to Paul
