My dad doesn't like Paul McCartney :(

[Stealth Fighter]

As the old saying goes, "It ain't bragging if it's a fact." No name calling involved - statement of fact. Attributing it to name calling doesn't change the truth.

I won't claim the Beatles cured the common cold or found a way to world peace. They simply had a permanent impact on popular music. It's not really debatable for anyone who was there and witnessed it.

There's a well-known quote by Paul Revere (of Paul Revere & The Raiders, one of the most popular US bands in the early to mid 60's). He said something to the effect of: "The Beatles brought out Sgt. Peppers, and the rest of us looked at each other and said 'what the hell do we do now?'"

I think that makes the point.

To quote Sheldon Cooper's mom, "... and that's your opinion."

 

[Stick_Player]

The Motown artists could give the Beatles a lesson in harmony, without breaking a sweat. IMO, of course.

Stealthy, still waiting for your examples of genius Motown harmonic content.

 

[mcarp555]

I guess you're entitled to your opinion and I respect it. I don't like your language though. It clearly shows your lack of tact and education.

What I was trying to say is that his sound could have been more enjoyable, from my perspective, if he used a Fender bass. A great sound is a motivator to improve as well.

Having said that, I really love the Beatles and Paul in particular. His contribution is invaluable and I would have not picked up the bass if not for him.

You know nothing of my education, so any comments you may make about it have zero value. However, to say that a man who is one of the best-known electric bassists of his generation, if not all time, could have improved or made his sound more enjoyable to you by playing a Fender; well, that's just stupid. It's like saying Jamerson would have been much better if only he had played a Wal. Imagine how more we'd enjoy Jaco if he had a Skjold instead. Utter rot.

 

[Alkali Ike]

Me: Your required burden of proof of their ability to harmonize would be their live rendition of Because? Which doesn't exist? But there are any number of videos that demonstrate their ability to harmonize live, even when they couldn't hear themselves. Even when the performance overall is a train wreck, the harmonies stand out (think Nowhere Man).

You: But those harmonies aren't as complex and layered as the studio recordings. Anyone could do that.

Me: Oh crap! You win!

 

[Doublesixes]

You know nothing of my education, so any comments you may make about it have zero value. However, to say that a man who is one of the best-known electric bassists of his generation, if not all time, could have improved or made his sound more enjoyable to you by playing a Fender; well, that's just stupid. It's like saying Jamerson would have been much better if only he had played a Wal. Imagine how more we'd enjoy Jaco if he had a Skjold instead. Utter rot.

Mike, whatever I comment, has value to me which is what really counts

I don't presume to know nor do I care what formal education you may have. To me, you still come across as a closed minded cretin.

On a different note, commenting on Paul's playing, it's all subjective really. I think his remarkable bass lines, through the years, could have benefited from the punchier, well defined sound of a Fender instrument. JMO

 

[Coolhandjjl]

And I don't like The 5th Dimension.

 

[mcarp555]

Mike, whatever I comment, has value to me which is what really counts

I don't presume to know nor do I care what formal education you may have. To me, you still come across as a closed minded cretin.

On a different note, commenting on Paul's playing, it's all subjective really. I think his remarkable bass lines, through the years, could have benefited from the punchier, well defined sound of a Fender instrument. JMO

I don't have any problem with anyone thinking that they'd like to hear Paul's lines on a Fender; I agree it's subjective and opinions may vary. What I disagree with is the idea that Paul would have played better with a Fender, or been inspired to play more. He's certainly had the opportunity to play any bass he wants, and it's a safe bet that he's not enamored of the Fender sound. The fact that people can't agree on which bass he's playing on various Beatles tracks is testimony that the "McCartney sound" is more in the fingers than the bass. And it's definitely not a "Fender" sound.

So you're free to say that you prefer the sound of a Fender over a Hofner or Ric. But it's just silly to think that he would have been a better player with a Fender.

 

[Doublesixes]

I don't have any problem with anyone thinking that they'd like to hear Paul's lines on a Fender; I agree it's subjective and opinions may vary. What I disagree with is the idea that Paul would have played better with a Fender, or been inspired to play more. He's certainly had the opportunity to play any bass he wants, and it's a safe bet that he's not enamored of the Fender sound. The fact that people can't agree on which bass he's playing on various Beatles tracks is testimony that the "McCartney sound" is more in the fingers than the bass. And it's definitely not a "Fender" sound.

So you're free to say that you prefer the sound of a Fender over a Hofner or Ric. But it's just silly to think that he would have been a better player with a Fender.

Mike, look at you! You have the very same bass (I assume your avatar is the bass you play, favor or both) as Paul once played. It seems that you and I share similar preferences. Wish Paul would have stuck with that great bass... Cheers!

 

[mcarp555]

Mike, look at you! You have the very same bass (I assume your avatar is the bass you play, favor or both) as Paul once played. It seems that you and I share similar preferences. Wish Paul would have stuck with that great bass... Cheers!

It is a '67:

And I have this:

But I enjoy them both, and don't think one would make me "better" than using the other.

 

[Doublesixes]

My compliments on both those instruments. As a side note back 1970, I auditioned a Hofner, just like yours and Paul's but didn't have the cash to get it. If I had the cash, my musical world would have changed forever, perhaps.

 

[ICM]

Let's not forget that The Beatles were the first to use backwards guitar in their work, later borrowed by Jimi Hendrix.

I think Paul would have been a much better bass player and gotten more recognition if he would have adopted a Fender bass from the get go. Either a Precision or a Jazz. Eventually he used a Jazz but not much and it shows. His Rick years were perhaps his best as a bass player. A small scale bass like the Hofner was adequate to their sound but not really outstanding.

I disagree, that old poorly put together (I say that endearingly) hofner contributes to the early sound. After using the rick, it's pretty clear he tried to emulate the sound of the Hofner on it while with the Beatles.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Lennon's chords , themselves, often included Django configurations.

I had noticed that and often wondered if he was in some sort of alternate tuning. I could probably knock up a genetic algorithm to analyse that and tell me what to tune to if I thought it might actually result in a tuning that did make it easier. But I suspect he was just being deliberately obtuse to make it hard for poor George

 

[KeithPoker]

hey well we're all not perfect , be grateful you have musicians in your immediately family can be a neat thing.

 

[ICM]

I had noticed that and often wondered if he was in some sort of alternate tuning. I could probably knock up a genetic algorithm to analyse that and tell me what to tune to if I thought it might actually result in a tuning that did make it easier. But I suspect he was just being deliberately obtuse to make it hard for poor George

Playing some of those Lennon chords is a pretty tall order. Look at "happy just to dance with you" that's some complex stuff. He was a sloppy player, but very solid nonetheless.

 

[Doublesixes]

Let's not forget that The Beatles were the first to use backwards guitar in their work, later borrowed by Jimi Hendrix.



I disagree, that old poorly put together (I say that endearingly) hofner contributes to the early sound. After using the rick, it's pretty clear he tried to emulate the sound of the Hofner on it while with the Beatles.

That violin has the tremendous advantage of weight over any solid body. I can imagine that playing in Hamburg, 5 to 6 hours per night, 7 days a week, weight becomes a real concern.

 

[ICM]

That violin has the tremendous advantage of weight over any solid body. I can imagine that playing in Hamburg, 5 to 6 hours per night, 7 days a week, weight becomes a real concern.

Apparantly PM said something along the lines of "when I play the hofner it becomes an extension of my body" I don't remember the exact quote.
I don't think he was concerned with weight, just a symmetrical bass that was affordable, but totally an added bonus.

 

[fjadams]

This has degenerated into one of the top five asinine threads on the board.

Congratulations to all who have made it so.

 

[ICM]

Mike, whatever I comment, has value to me which is what really counts

I don't presume to know nor do I care what formal education you may have. To me, you still come across as a closed minded cretin.

On a different note, commenting on Paul's playing, it's all subjective really. I think his remarkable bass lines, through the years, could have benefited from the punchier, well defined sound of a Fender instrument. JMO

Adding to that, listen to if I needed someone live...

 

[RoadRanger]

This has degenerated into one of the top five asinine threads on the board.

Dunno, about half the threads here get me LMAO and/or facepalming myself . And Sir Paul rulz, anybody says different droolz .

 

[GregC]

I think his remarkable bass lines, through the years, could have benefited from the punchier, well defined sound of a Fender instrument. JMO

I've read a lot of Beatles/Macca discussions here over the years. Folks can't even come close to a consensus on which tracks Paul played the Fender on vs. the Ric or the Hofner from simply listening to them. So I disagree with this conclusion.