Mccartney's sound

[No_Germs]

i really like mccartney's sound on "with a little help from my friends". i know he plays a rickenbacker on that song, but i've been told that it's not the typical rick sound, so what bass would you use to get that sound, had you not known it was recorded on a rick?
(i've asked a similliar question before, but i feel that i was too vague and didn't get a satisfying answer, so i'm asking again)

 

[bigbajo60]

This is the formula as I've come to understand it:

Flatwound strings (they don't make the ones he used back then; he uses La Bella's now)... high action on the Rick (as high as you can get away with)... the right EQ on a tube amp (lots of mids & not too much treble)... and a pick.

Voila! McCartney tone (or at least close to it)!

Now... as far as McCartney technique... well... you're on your own there!

 

[steveb98]

McCartney recorded sound on early Beatle records has a lot to do with generation loss. Sgt Pepper's I've heard was done on first 8-track machine, two 4-tracks sync'd up, or a single 4-track. What this means is a lot of ping-ponging tracks around to put all the instruments and vocals on. Each time you bounce a track you lose a little of edge off the sound. The drums and bass were usually put on first and recorded hot knowing they would be bounced a lot. So McCartney recorded sound early had a lot to do with the recording technogy of the time. Like the secret "black box" they had back then that eventually because known as Dolby noise reduction. Listening to Beatles records from beginning to ends is a history in recording technology.

 

[No_Germs]

ok, this really is different from what i had in mind... some questions:
1. lots of mid? it sounded to me that he turned the mids down low on that song...
2. suppose i don't have a rick, what the best setup for it (neck\bridge pickup etc...)?
thanks

 

[cheezewiz]

Ric 4001 with a toaster and horseshoe pickup (NOT a modern 4003), flatwounds, pick. That's it in a nutshell. I certainly don't hear any lack of mids in that recording.

 

[No_Germs]

again, the rick is the main ingredient i'm missing in this concuction... how can i achieve the best result without a rick?

 

[TimBosby]

I just heard this song yesterday and really listened to the bass part this time, I love it, and the tone is great too.

 

[cheezewiz]

again, the rick is the main ingredient i'm missing in this concuction... how can i achieve the best result without a rick?

You're not likely to cop that exact tone without a Ric.

 

[No_Germs]

You're not likely to cop that exact tone without a Ric.

i didn't think i could get the exact same tone, but i like that tone and i'd like to sound as close as possible to it...

 

[bignote]

Try this, Play on the bridge pickup on jazz type bass. Turn the trebel up alot and turn your tone control down on your bass. It may get you Close.

 

[No_Germs]

Try this, Play on the bridge pickup on jazz type bass. Turn the trebel up alot and turn your tone control down on your bass. It may get you Close.

thanks, i catch your drift...

 

[bigbajo60]

I get it now No_Germs...

...you want the tone on THAT PARTICULAR song...

OK

Same formula as I gave you earlier... but to that, add picking close to the end of the fingerboard as the 'missing ingredient'. This actually should approximate the sound you're looking for on most any passive bass.

At least it does for me!

 

[Iridescentone]

Try some Roto Tru-bass tapes.

 

[No_Germs]

Try some Roto Tru-bass tapes.

aren't they supposed to emulate a double-bass sound, and therefore will have really short sustain?

 

[jz0h4d]

The key to the sound of that period is simple . Good mic in front of a Fender tube Amp.

 

[AGCurry]

The key to the sound of that period is simple . Good mic in front of a Fender tube Amp.

Surely there must be a bass and a bass player involved.

 

[iamthebassman]

The key to the sound of that period is simple . Good mic in front of a Fender tube Amp.

Except that they didn't receive the Fender amps till '68.

 

[iamthebassman]

Try some Roto Tru-bass tapes.

McCartney didn't use the TruBass strings till the Let It Be album, and it was on the Hofner not the Ric.

 

[iamthebassman]

McCartney recorded sound on early Beatle records has a lot to do with generation loss. Sgt Pepper's I've heard was done on first 8-track machine, two 4-tracks sync'd up, or a single 4-track. What this means is a lot of ping-ponging tracks around to put all the instruments and vocals on. Each time you bounce a track you lose a little of edge off the sound. The drums and bass were usually put on first and recorded hot knowing they would be bounced a lot. So McCartney recorded sound early had a lot to do with the recording technogy of the time. Like the secret "black box" they had back then that eventually because known as Dolby noise reduction. Listening to Beatles records from beginning to ends is a history in recording technology.

Except that by the recording of SP he was recording the bass last, after everything else was recorded, and on it's own track.

 

[bovinehost]

What many modern bassists fail to recognize is how essential those flatwound strings were to McCartney's tone.

Also, McCartney's fingers and brain would count quite a bit, but you gotta start with the flats.

Who was talking about turning the treble up? What? Treble is for guitarists.