McCartney - Acoustic?

I play guitar and cello, but not bass. So this is a question for the ears of experienced bass players.

On the song "All You Need Is Love" by The Beatles, off of "Magical Mystery Tour," I'm having a hard time hearing whether he's using a double bass or an electric. He’s credited as playing both on it, but you only hear one bass part. At times I think I hear the distinct attack and character of a double bass (an instrument I’m very familiar with). But it often seems to be played with the touch of an electric as well, and sounds like one. It’s very hard to tell which I’m hearing.

I’m very familiar with the complicated history of the recording of this song, so I’m really not looking for any facts that people have heard or read about it. I’ve heard and read them all at this point.

My question is this: Can I ask experienced double or electric bass players to please give this song a listen (it’s 3+ minutes) and tell me if in your opinion it’s an electric or an acoustic bass that you’re hearing (I've included a link to the song).

The link below is to a video of the Beatles recording the song in the studio, which was simultaneously being broadcast live for television. The Beatles are playing against a previously recorded backing track which McCartney played double bass on. You’ll see McCartney playing his Rickenbacker bass, but it may actually be an acoustic that we’re hearing (with the Ric being mixed way down or out completely). You don’t hear two basses. It’s one or the other.

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

Thanks a lot. I appreciate you taking the time to spend a few minutes listening and giving me a player's opinion.

 

Thanks for your response. But if you listen to the recording, it's clearly one bass tone that you hear. If both electric and acoustic made it into the final mix one of them is buried to the point of being inaudible. There's a predominant bass track on this tune and I'd love to know whether it's electric or acoustic.

If you don't own the recording you can hear it on YouTube.

Thanks again.

 

Thanks. That clip was actually interesting. If his bass on "All You Need Is Love" sounded as acoustic as that did I'd be in good shape. That acoustic couldn't sound more acoustic. I'll say this much -- he obviously isn't playing anything complicated but his intonation sounds right on. At least I know he can play it in tune. But then playing what he plays on "All You Need Is Love" in tune is obviously another matter.

I'm still interested in getting bass player's opinions about what they're hearing after giving the Beatles song a listen.

 

I appreciate everybody who responded, but I honestly was hoping to get more players to actually listen to it and tell me what their ears hear.

Like I said, I'm not a bass player, but the person who listened and thought it sounded like a Ric with flat wounds and a bridge mute might definitely have something there. I'm not familiar with the sound of a bridge mute on an electric bass. But I do know the sound of bridge mutes on cello. And I can imagine that the effect of a mute on an electric bass with flat/tape wound strings could create the sound he's getting.

Anyway, I figure this forum has got to be filled with musicians who have had an acoustic bass under their fingers (and ears) every day for the past 30 years or more. So again, if some players could give it a listen and tell me if they think it could be a double bass, I'd be interested in your experienced opinion, and I'd appreciate it.

Thanks again.