Paul McCartney bass strings??

[SpinItOn1979]

Can Anyone Tell Me What Strings the beatles used???? Thanks A Lot!!!!

[Big chicken]

rotosound tru bass

[groooooove]

a friend told me a story about someone he knew meeting paul, and asked him what kind of strings he used. paul replied "long shiney ones."

[hdracer]

Originally Posted by groooooove

a friend told me a story about someone he knew meeting paul, and asked him what kind of strings he used. paul replied "long shiney ones."

That would be the Rotosound 77 Monel ones. I always hear and seen on the Rotosound web site that he used the 88 Tru bass but have not seen any photos with them on any bass he played.

[John Wentzien]

In the old days...He used to "Nick" strings from the closest piano!

[bassnut14]

Originally Posted by hdracer

That would be the Rotosound 77 Monel ones. I always hear and seen on the Rotosound web site that he used the 88 Tru bass but have not seen any photos with them on any bass he played.

he sued them on his rick on Abbey road from memory

[DexterGovan]

88 Tru bass rotosounds, got a set myself...

[jasper383]

Correct me if I'm wrong:

He used the Roto tapes late in the Beatles, on Abbey Road and Let It Be, on the Hofner.

On the Hofner early and on the Rickenbacker, I have read that the strings were most likely Pyramid flats. They may have just been the strings that came on the Ric, which would have been Rickenbacker flats.

McCartney's sound isn't all that hard to get--heavy flats, lots of compression. It's playing like him that's the hard part.

[JTE]

He once told an interviewer "The shiney ones that come in a package"...

He doesn't seem to really care, he's going to use whatever works. That same interview said "I'm anyone's for a free bass. Obviously, I won't use junk, but if it's a good bass I'll use it." That's how he got the Rick (originally Rickenbacker wanted to sell The Beatles the instruments, and a year later on the next tour they gave them to the band), and the Yamaha. Linda bought the Wal for him as a surprise.

Probably the same approach with strings. Whatever's on the bass when he gets it unless he really hates 'em and then he has someone change them to whatever...

John

[deliciouspesto]

It depends on the era.
Early beatles (until revolver): probably the pyramid strings that came with his hofner.
Rest of beatles (except let it be): Rickenbacker S4440
Let it Be: roto trubass88
Wings: S4440

I believe the pyramids are still around, the rotos obviously are too, but the S4440 no longer exist. The new pyramids feel and look exactly like the S4440 but they don't sound like them, the TI jazz flats are supposed to be the best sounding fit at present.

[jasper383]

Originally Posted by deliciouspesto

It depends on the era.
Early beatles (until revolver): probably the pyramid strings that came with his hofner.
Rest of beatles (except let it be): Rickenbacker S4440
Let it Be: roto trubass88
Wings: S4440

I believe the pyramids are still around, the rotos obviously are too, but the S4440 no longer exist. The new pyramids feel and look exactly like the S4440 but they don't sound like them, the TI jazz flats are supposed to be the best sounding fit at present.

Did Ric wind their own strings?

[deliciouspesto]

Originally Posted by jasper383

Did Ric wind their own strings?

More info on them here: http://www.rickresource.com/forum/vi...p?f=2&t=392856

I don't think they are essential to the "tone" or the feel of the playing or anything like that, I think the important info to learn from the strings is that nickel flats are where its at.

[jmorbita]

Originally Posted by John Wentzien

In the old days...He used to "Nick" strings from the closest piano!

are you serious!??!

[SMILEYSIXX]

I read on the rotosound site that his usual choice was 88 trubass. All of Abbey Road was recorded with the 88's too.

[jasper383]

Originally Posted by jmorbita

are you serious!??!

This does not surprise me. They were broke early on, and McCartney is famously frugal.