Chris Squire's pre-mod Ric (video)

[skygzr]

I assume this video has been shared before, although a cursory search didn't turn it up. The Ric looks like it hadn't yet been covered with stickers and shaved down. No shortage of snarly attitude, though. I got a chuckle out of the coiled cord. I hated those things!

The bass is well forward in the mix, as it should be ;-) Great performance all around. I also appreciate Tony Kaye's playing.

There's some sadness in the fact that Chris is gone (I call him by his first name like I knew him or something), but you could do worse things with a life than he did. Gotta tip your hat where its due. Speaking of hats, it takes a strong man to wear one like that and make it look good.

The selfish man in me looks at this and says, damn, I used to be young and skinny and pretty, too. Sigh. Happy to still be here and playing.

 

[Paul Boyer]

It was at the point where he applied white tape around the body and headstock as faux binding. You also can see a clamp above the nut that holds the head in place after he had cracked it. When he had it repaired, he had it refinished. At least that's the story as I understand it. The flowery appliques may have come before this or maybe after this and before the repair.

 

[skygzr]

I figured since it was a different color later this must have been Before the Belt Sander ;-)

I've got your book....thanks for the reply!

 

[Dbassmon]

They sounded great, early 1969.... they sound like Yes.

 

[JxBass]

For those who'd like to see more, that clip is part of a 43 minute video of old live broadcasts. Yes doesn't appear until you start the video.

 

[Axstar]

There is some great old footage of Yes out there from 1969 or so. That first lineup was quite wild; a mix of Vanilla Fudge's taste for pompy over-composed Beatles covers, and a love affair with the vocal harmonies of the Byrds etc. When Yes became a proper prog band, rather than a circa 1969 prog band, they did lose a bit of that charm (though the payoff more than makes up for it). If anything I sometimes prefer Peter Banks' more straight ahead guitar approach. Especially on the heavier Yes cuts of the '80s, I'm left wondering why Steve Howe always had to reach for the country licks.

Back in 1969 Chris would have been running that bass in mono, and in this clip it looks like he's going straight into a Marshall stack! The silver foil finish on the bass was apparently the 2nd DIY refinish Chris attempted. After each DIY finish he took it to Sam Li (who build Dave Hill of Slade's early oddball Gibson mashup guitar, and who rewired Peter Green's Les Paul incorrectly) who scraped the finish off and started again.

 

[UNICORN BASS]

Speed and energy, both of which i don't possess any more!

 

[Jeff Scott]

Here are a couple of photos of Chris with the truly pre-modded RM1999.

 

[Figjam]

Ive been listening to Yes in my car lately, after taking a break from them for years. Wondrous Stories blows my mind every time.

 

[Axstar]

View attachment 3023869

That is an interesting rig. Vox head, Marshall head, two stacked vertical AC30s for cabs? I bet it still sounded like Chris Squire!