Does Macca still play Rickenbacker 4001S LH ?
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RMartinez:
Truth is, the bass doesn't make McCartney sound good, he makes the bass sound good. It's all in the fingers! Yes, there are tonal differences between basses, but in the 60s McCartney recorded with a Hofner, a Rickenbacker, and a Fender Precision bass, and it sounds like McCartney on all those tracks. In the late 70s, he used a Yamaha, specifically on BACK TO THE EGG, and it sounded just like McCartney. The Rick is not some holy grail of a bass, it is just a bass that, in a stadium, would sound about like his Hofner. Why? Because McCartney is pretty consistent about the tone he wants from his bass, and it is HIM playing the bass. Whether the Rickenbacker will see the light of day again on a stage is anybody's guess. But since it weighs twice as much as the Hofner, but does not sound twice as good (about the same in truth, with subtle difference no one in the audience cares about), I put my money on Paul not playing the Rick live anymore. In the studio? Who knows?
No doubt Paul has his own sound. You'll know it's Paul when you hear it. That's what I love! To me, personally, it is sort of my holy grail of bass. Because it's my favorite and it was the bass that got me interested in playing. I was a Wings fan before I became a bigger Beatles fan. I always liked seeing that Ric. I own two of them and love their sound. (I love the Hofner, too. Both fantastic instruments, but different beasts). The evolution of Paul's is also pretty cool to watch (from the red fireglo in the mid'60s, to his psychedelic paintjob, and then sanding it down to natural...somewhat symbolic of his progression through the end of the Beatles and into Wings). As for hearing it live, I would love to hear it in a stage mix. That sound and tone on "Wings Over America" was unlike any for a bass mix in a live Macca album. It might sound different today, it might not; depending on Paul's preference and set-up. When you hear Paul play the Hofner in a larger live gig these days, it doesn't punch through quite like Brian's bass does. The Ric could be a bit brighter or trebly, depending on how Paul would prefer it today. If Paul were to use two basses in a concert, they may both be set up to sound similar to his liking. Then again, if he's gonna use two basses, why not play on both of their strengths? Who knows? We probably won't, because I also don't see Paul sporting a 10-pound bass for nearly half of his concert, especially with the more iconic, lighter bass available. From his perspective (and likely true), the general fanbase wants to see the Hofner. But to see the 4001 in the spotlight again would make me happy! (and in the "Queenie Eye" video, it got a second or two...)
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LetMeRollIt89:
RMartinez:
Truth is, the bass doesn't make McCartney sound good, he makes the bass sound good. It's all in the fingers! Yes, there are tonal differences between basses, but in the 60s McCartney recorded with a Hofner, a Rickenbacker, and a Fender Precision bass, and it sounds like McCartney on all those tracks. In the late 70s, he used a Yamaha, specifically on BACK TO THE EGG, and it sounded just like McCartney. The Rick is not some holy grail of a bass, it is just a bass that, in a stadium, would sound about like his Hofner. Why? Because McCartney is pretty consistent about the tone he wants from his bass, and it is HIM playing the bass. Whether the Rickenbacker will see the light of day again on a stage is anybody's guess. But since it weighs twice as much as the Hofner, but does not sound twice as good (about the same in truth, with subtle difference no one in the audience cares about), I put my money on Paul not playing the Rick live anymore. In the studio? Who knows?
No doubt Paul has his own sound. You'll know it's Paul when you hear it. That's what I love! To me, personally, it is sort of my holy grail of bass. Because it's my favorite and it was the bass that got me interested in playing. I was a Wings fan before I became a bigger Beatles fan. I always liked seeing that Ric. I own two of them and love their sound. (I love the Hofner, too. Both fantastic instruments, but different beasts). The evolution of Paul's is also pretty cool to watch (from the red fireglo in the mid'60s, to his psychedelic paintjob, and then sanding it down to natural...somewhat symbolic of his progression through the end of the Beatles and into Wings). As for hearing it live, I would love to hear it in a stage mix. That sound and tone on "Wings Over America" was unlike any for a bass mix in a live Macca album. It might sound different today, it might not; depending on Paul's preference and set-up. When you hear Paul play the Hofner in a larger live gig these days, it doesn't punch through quite like Brian's bass does. The Ric could be a bit brighter or trebly, depending on how Paul would prefer it today. If Paul were to use two basses in a concert, they may both be set up to sound similar to his liking. Then again, if he's gonna use two basses, why not play on both of their strengths? Who knows? We probably won't, because I also don't see Paul sporting a 10-pound bass for nearly half of his concert, especially with the more iconic, lighter bass available. From his perspective (and likely true), the general fanbase wants to see the Hofner. But to see the 4001 in the spotlight again would make me happy! (and in the "Queenie Eye" video, it got a second or two...)
Yeah, it would be cool if Paul did a WINGS segment for a few songs and played the Rick. How about: TOO MANY PEOPLE JUNIORS FARM LETTING GO LISTEN TO WHAT THE MAN SAID SILLY LOVE SONGS HI HI HI That would be cool!
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I think he doesn't play it cause its heavy as hell! Pauls a little guy, that Hofner is like weightless compared to the Rick the Rick sounded great though.
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RMartinez:
TOO MANY PEOPLE JUNIORS FARM LETTING GO LISTEN TO WHAT THE MAN SAID SILLY LOVE SONGS HI HI HI That would be cool!
Excellent choices! I was ecstatic when "Letting Go" came back a few years ago (one of my all-time favorites), but it was a tamer bass line on the Hofner. If there was ever a song to bring the Ric back to (other than S.L.S.), this would be my vote!
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LetMeRollIt89:
RMartinez:
TOO MANY PEOPLE JUNIORS FARM LETTING GO LISTEN TO WHAT THE MAN SAID SILLY LOVE SONGS HI HI HI That would be cool!
Excellent choices! I was ecstatic when "Letting Go" came back a few years ago (one of my all-time favorites), but it was a tamer bass line on the Hofner. If there was ever a song to bring the Ric back to (other than S.L.S.), this would be my vote!
Yeah! BTW, I own a Rickenbacker 4000 made in 1974! Bought it in 1978 when I was 14, after seeing Wings in Denver.
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LetMeRollIt89:
RMartinez:
TOO MANY PEOPLE JUNIORS FARM LETTING GO LISTEN TO WHAT THE MAN SAID SILLY LOVE SONGS HI HI HI That would be cool!
Excellent choices! I was ecstatic when "Letting Go" came back a few years ago (one of my all-time favorites), but it was a tamer bass line on the Hofner. If there was ever a song to bring the Ric back to (other than S.L.S.), this would be my vote!
I love the Rick in Denny's song, Time To Hide!!
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Nancy R:
LetMeRollIt89:
RMartinez:
TOO MANY PEOPLE JUNIORS FARM LETTING GO LISTEN TO WHAT THE MAN SAID SILLY LOVE SONGS HI HI HI That would be cool!
Excellent choices! I was ecstatic when "Letting Go" came back a few years ago (one of my all-time favorites), but it was a tamer bass line on the Hofner. If there was ever a song to bring the Ric back to (other than S.L.S.), this would be my vote!
I love the Rick in Denny's song, Time To Hide!!
Yeah, I love the whole song!
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Can we also talk about that Rickenbacker 360/12(1963) guitar! That has not been in the public light since the 1960's!
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