Playing Country on a Rickenbacker?

[Rockin Mike]

Does anybody play country or new country on a Rickenbacker?

Anybody famous?

[Kenzy]

I'm not that into the Country scene, but I can't name any Country bassists I've seen playing one... Do YOU play Country on a Ricky?

[Duke21]

Chris Squire, kind of

[Kenzy]

Originally Posted by Duke21

Chris Squire, kind of

You misunderstood... he was asking about bassists that play Country...something Chris Squire certainly doesn't do.

[Rockin Mike]

I love Rics but have an offer to do some country work. Just wondering if I have to go find a Fender to get some street cred :P

[Duke21]

Originally Posted by Kenzy

You misunderstood... he was asking about bassists that play Country...something Chris Squire certainly doesn't do.

Listen to No opportunity necessary, No experience needed. Yes plays the Bonanza tune in this song.

[seanm]

Originally Posted by Rockin Mike

I love Rics but have an offer to do some country work. Just wondering if I have to go find a Fender to get some street cred :P

Do they know you play a ric? If so, go for it.

I know all the country bands I played in looked for Fender on the headstock. It wasn't a deal breaker.... but everybody was just immediately more comfortable. YMMV.

[QweziRider]

I've used my Ricks in country for years. Perfectly fine for the job.

[Sharknose79]

I would.

[LordRyan]

Jim Sholter of Sawyer Brown has a Rickenbacker bass he has used occasionally.

Randy Meisner of the Eagles has been seen with a Rick.

James Kirkland played Rick bass with Ricky Nelson during his rockabilly era 1957-1960. He later played the Rick with Jim Reeves.

[Munjibunga]

You can play country on a swinette, so a Ric should be OK, too.

[bassmachine2112]

Go for it.
It will sit right in there with those twangy geetars.
You,ll have loads of room to let a Ricky breathe and stretch it,s legs.

[jasper383]

Why do you need someone famous to have done it for you to try it?


I'm not sure I would walk into a potentially career-making studio session with only a Rickenbacker to play country, but if that's not the case, go for it.

You can play just about anything with just about anything.

[lfmn16]

Getting an authentic country sound has far less to do with the bass being played than the person playing it.

[mcm]

never seen it but dang it would look cool, and set you apart.

[starmann]

Originally Posted by Rockin Mike

I love Rics but have an offer to do some country work. Just wondering if I have to go find a Fender to get some street cred :P

I'm sure they will take their roots and fifth's anyway they can get them.

If anything, you will impress them with the Ric.

Go for it.

[rockinrayduke]

Originally Posted by Duke21

Listen to No opportunity necessary, No experience needed. Yes plays the Bonanza tune in this song.

Actually, Yes took all the quotes in "No Experience Needed" from the 1958 movie "The Big Country", great movie. great score.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6vREiRNMFc

You can play anything on a Rick but if I was seriously doing country it would be on a P-bass, either a 4 or 5 string.

[schwartzbass]

I'm sure Paul played one on country dreamer and salley g

[pklima]

I remembered seeing one in this old video of "Redneck Mother": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTRHIVScAXE

[Rockin Mike]

Originally Posted by jasper383

Why do you need someone famous to have done it for you to try it?

Just trying to dodge peoples' prejudices. I have maple Ibanez that *looks* more country, but the ric is well, a Ric.

You can play just about anything with just about anything.

True.