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Can you tell the difference between a Rickenbacker and a Precision?

Which bass belongs to which song?

  • Darkness = Precision, Robin Hood = Rickenbacker

    Votes: 80 32.1%

  • Darkness = Rickenbacker, Robin Hood = Precision

    Votes: 102 41.0%

  • I honestly cannot tell the difference

    Votes: 19 7.6%

  • This sloppy_phil guy is a complete moron; it's obvious they were both recorded with CARROTS!!!

    Votes: 48 19.3%
  • Total voters
    249
sloppy_phil

sloppy_phil

Aug 21, 2011
4,047
9,507
Toronto, ON, Canada
#1
Alright, so just for a little bit of honest interest and fun, I wanted to put the highly trained collective ear of TB to the test. My band just recorded our first album (hurray); we play mostly reggae with a little bit of edge to it, but some funk and hip-hop too. My 2 basses are a slightly modded MIM P-bass and an '84 Ric 4003, and those are what I recorded the album with. It seems to me that the general perception is that these two basses don't really sound anything alike, and that a P is much more naturally suited to the deep and dirty reggae sound. Funk, too. So I have for your consideration two tracks from the album; one recorded with the P, one with the Ric. Both were put through my amp ('67 Ampeg B-18), and though recorded on different days, the mic used was the same, the amp settings were more or less equal, and the DI unit was also the same (don't remember the mic, or which specific Radial DI it was, sorry). On these cuts you're hearing, there is no added EQ on the bass; the engineer preferred the plain blend of amp and DI. I figure that really the best way to test the ear is also the most realistic/practical; basses get played in bands and, to me, sitting in a mix is the best way to judge and compare tones. Also for consideration, my P was at the time strung with GHS flats, and my Ric is/was with La Bella stainless steels.

So, do your best to identify which bass belongs to which track. I'd love to hear your thoughts on why you feel the way you do about your opinion; do you find it a night and day difference, or is it maybe a littler tougher than you anticipated?


Track 1: Darkness
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Track 2: Robin Hood
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

And, if it's not too much to ask, I'd also appreciate any criticisms on the songs/my questionable playing. There's a small debate in the band about the ending of the keyboard solo in Robin Hood; is it too dissonant? I kinda like it...

EDIT: For those who are curious, I've posted the answer to the poll. It is response #18 down near the bottom of this page

EDIT 2 Post #77 (page 4) is an updated version of Robin Hood; the bass has been boosted, so it's easier to hear it now.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
#2
It's pretty easy to tell the difference between flats and rounds, especially steel rounds. Perhaps if they had the same strings this would be a more legitimate test of our collective ears.

I dig the songs though and when I have more time tomorrow I'll listen a little closer and give some more specific feedback.
 
#3
Hard to tell for me, but, at a guess, I'm leaning toward track one being the Ric, and 2 the P-bass. I can't really delineate exactly why, it's not much more than 2 just sounded more "P-bass like" than one to me. I will say, I liked your tone on both, and your playing is good and solid IMO.
 
#4
I picked track 2 as being the P-bass as I'm hearing more of a well rounded low-mid tone.

Track 1 had some upper mid burpiness which I'm assuming are due to the (old?) stainless steel strings of the Ric.

Then again, I've never owned either a ric or a P, I'm going mostly on what I've read about these instruments and a the few recordings I know which featured each.

In other words, I guessed for the most part.
 
#11
Not too sure, but track 1 sounded thicker, rounder at the low end, where as track 2 was thinner some how.

Liked both tracks though. I almost forgot to listen for the difference. lol.
I like the keys solo on Robin Hood. I see what you mean about it being a little dissonant. I guess it maybe isn't in standing with the traditions of reggae, but that isn't bad thing in my opinion. Makes the song more unique.
 
#12
Epic thread.

I'd say Darkness is recorded with 4003 but then again, when listening to Robin Hood @3:07+ Rickenbacker's neck pick-up comes to my mind instantly! :D

I dig the music and your playing OP. Congrats, keep it up!
 
#16
#18
wow, lots of responses... TB really is awesome! And thanks for the positive comments on the tunes/my playing. Coming from this forum, I hold it in high regard!

definitely some varied opinions thus far. I suppose there is no point to this thread without the answer given, so here.

SPOILER ALERT! IF YOU DO NOT WANT THE ANSWER, STOP READING THIS POST





Contrary to the leading opinion thus far, Darkness was actually recorded with the Precision, and Robin Hood with the Ric.... :eek:

In parts of Darkness, I was plucking really close to the bridge in order to get that more aggressive sound from my P. I have a pretty heavy-handed fingerstyle, so where I play can have a big impact on tone. The Ric I tend to pluck b/w the neck and bridge p'ups, so it can be a bit more mellow at times. Also, part of the ambiguity between the tracks is that both basses have the tone knob rolled completely off, so those classic Ric trebles were definitely muted.

If you read this, please refrain from posting the answer anywhere else; I'd prefer to let the people who still want to guess have a fair shot at it


END/SPOILER





Let's keep those guesses coming... oh, and actually it was carrots, not basses!
 

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