You are right about George. The lead guitar lines was often - if not always - done as overdubs around 1967. So it might be so, that George experienced less time spent recording Sgt. Pepper - compared to the other three... Don't know - but you are right about GH's playing on the songs mentioned - and to me he's doing an outstanding job.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Paul McCartney and his Basses
- Thread starter JD Supernatural
- Start date
You are right about George. The lead guitar lines was often - if not always - done as overdubs around 1967. So it might be so, that George experienced less time spent recording Sgt. Pepper - compared to the other three... Don't know - but you are right about GH's playing on the songs mentioned - and to me he's doing an outstanding job.
There was a transcription in Bass Player a while back and they said it was the Rickenbacker strung with flatwounds. They confirmed this with someone who works with McCartney, maybe his guitar tech.
- Steve
I've enjoyed this thread and learning about my music icon's gear. It's funny because some people buy gear in order to sound like their heroes. I enjoy learning PM's basslines and musical ideas, but I can't stand playing the same gear. The Hofner feels like a flimsy toy in my hands and the Rick feels like a boat anchor it's so dang heavy. I'm glad others (and PM, of course!) have made this gear sing but those instruments are definitely not for me.
Interesting you find the Rick heavy. I imagine it is heavy compared to the Hofner......I have never played a Hofner, but I don't really find the Rick any heaver than other solid body basses I have owned (Squire P bass, Yamaha).
I kind of know what you mean about getting the same gear to sound like their heroes. I've just never liked the look or sound of the Hofner......so have never been able to bring myself to buy one. Maybe I will someday just to see what they are like.
Disclosure: my electric bass is 7.25lbs (Rob Allen Solid 4). The weight is perfect for those 3-4 hour gigs. I don't know how you guys withe the (much) heavier basses do it ... you have all my admiration! AND I'm especially grateful to Macca for enduring the weight while giving us so much musical enjoyment! Now, back to a discussion of his basses .....
For the Hofner, some like it some don't. I personally won't use anything else when seriously playing, my main bass is a Hofner CT.
As for the Rick, you just haven't tried the right one yet. Some ricks I have played are downright awful, but then there are those amazing perfect Ricks that show up and just blow my mind.
- Nov 27, 2003
- 2,017
- 5,417
- 50
- Disclosures
- Rogue luthier employed at Knooren Handcrafted bass guitars
Go to 2:33 to see Macca play his Wal.
The low B during the guitar solo confirms that he indeed used that bass on this song.
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I'm late to the party, but still, Nice thread anyway. Thanks for the great infos here. I personally don't really interested in the 'historic' or 'historically correct' sides of the discussion,..but still there are many great informations I read here.. oh and the pics, YT links etc, I like them more actually 
..
Let me add one thing that seems haven't been mentioned:
The righty 'dotted fretboard' (instead of the block inlay) neck Fender (Jazz or Precision?) Bass
..Let me add one thing that seems haven't been mentioned:
The righty 'dotted fretboard' (instead of the block inlay) neck Fender (Jazz or Precision?) Bass
The righty 'dotted fretboard' (instead of the block inlay) neck Fender (Jazz or Precision?) Bass
This may be the right-handed Jazz bass used by Denny Laine on tour when Paul would play piano. Paul took his own '67 Jazz (w/block inlays) on the 1976 Wings Over America tour as his own backup. In 1973 Paul used a Sunburst righty Jazz strung upside down in Lagos, Africa for basic tracks on what would become the Band On The Run album, not wanting to bring his own basses.
This, perhaps?
Yep; that's from Lagos.
You're correct, Steve. I couldn't remember, but it clearly doesn't have dots now that I've gone back and looked. The photo of Paul with the 'dotted' Jazz looks circa mid-70's, and possibly on board a private jet (strongly suggesting the WOA tour). Maybe it's a backup to Denny's main bass.
Possibly, and unlike the blocks & binding Jazz Bass this one is still string righty. It seems like Denny had a few different Fenders.
- Steve
- Steve
He's seldom photographed with that bass and until pictures of him playing it in the studio surfaced, the belief was that the only basses he used on the Beatles recordings were the Hofners and the Rickenbacker.
- Steve
Yes, it seems those shots of him with the Jazz only came to light recently in the past few years. It's not listed in The Beatles' Gear. But it's clearly visible on stage in all the Wings Over America tour footage.
Now of course, everyone swears nearly all of the White Album, and most of Abbey Road are done with the Jazz. Whatever Paul plays, it just sounds like Paul.
Now of course, everyone swears nearly all of the White Album, and most of Abbey Road are done with the Jazz. Whatever Paul plays, it just sounds like Paul.
But even if it's only late information after, listening very closely again, there are nuance of them.
Possibly. But without corroborating evidence to back it up, it can be very difficult to know for sure. Many people have very strong opinions about it, but Paul tends to get the same sound, whatever he plays. When someone says, "Oh, he's playing the XXX there", I take it all with a grain of salt, unless there's strong proof behind it.
