Paul McCartney and his Basses

[copacetic]

Perhaps slightly late posting on this one but after coming across this thread I thought to add my 2 or 3 bits with respect to some of the above comment: Come Together was recorded with the Hofner strung up with the Roto black tapewounds. Most if not all of Rubber Soul was still with the Hof. The Rick definitly made it 's debut in the studio on the Rain and Paperback Writer sessions leading right into Revolver. It seems to me most of Pepper was the Rick, perhaps a few w/the Hof. White album time he might have had a mix of them but for the most part he used a Jazz Bass and in fact pretty much traded that off w/the Hof til ...The End.
You can really hear all of this especially well with the recently remastered recordings.
Re: Fender and Paul McCartney..he has a Fender Precision slab or something like it that he has been using in the studio for some of the last studio recordings. Not sure about the new one. hedhas stated that he likes the sound that Brian Ray gets with his Epi JC.

 

[Bassy Mark]

Great thread. Is this the famous Rick or is this a different one? Photo says 1976.

 

[SirMjac28]

I just play everything with my Hofner great thread.

 

[Ric5]

Great thread. Is this the famous Rick or is this a different one? Photo says 1976.

That pic was taken in 76 the Ric is his 60s 4001s sanded down.

 

[Bassy Mark]

If one of the richest players in history goes through a 50 year career with a handful of basses, one really has to rethink GAS.

 

[Itzayana]

It that Paul or Faux-Paul?

 

[ExaltBass]

All interviews with Paul and others who know, seem to indicate that Paul is NOT a gear-head. Q: What strings do you use? A: Shiny ones... etc.

 

[Itzayana]

My guess is that it is just too hard to find the time to be a gear-head when most of your time is spend actually playing and making records.

 

[corinpills]

Perhaps slightly late posting on this one but after coming across this thread I thought to add my 2 or 3 bits with respect to some of the above comment: Come Together was recorded with the Hofner strung up with the Roto black tapewounds. Most if not all of Rubber Soul was still with the Hof. The Rick definitly made it 's debut in the studio on the Rain JC.

The Come Together bass is my longtime fantasy "if I ever meet Paul" question. Do you happen to recall your source for the info on that one. Mind you, I have a Hofner with tape wounds and it sounds right on the money, but my hesitation is based on the dodgy intonation of the Hofner on a song based around the 10th fret.

 

[Flabass]

Loved it! Very cool stuff.

Hard to believe that in 1960 they were just a mediocre bar band, who according to some were pretty bad. Four years later, they changed music and culture.

Still amazes me.

George Martin had a lot to do with it.

 

[Itzayana]

George Martin had a lot to do with it.

As did charm, charisma, enormous talent and sheer genius.

 

[pedro]

If one of the richest players in history goes through a 50 year career with a handful of basses, one really has to rethink GAS.

And I wonder if he paid for any but the first one?

 

[pedro]

Hard to believe that in 1960 they were just a mediocre bar band, who according to some were pretty bad. Four years later, they changed music and culture.

Still amazes me.

Yea I'm not buying that they were ever mediocre.

 

[corinpills]

George Martin had a lot to do with it.

I would never disparage George Martin's arrangement contributions, but he didn't write those tunes and he didn't sing them. Norman Smith and Geoff Emerick deserve some credit for the sounds they got on tape, but it's really the songs that have lasted.

 

[Itzayana]

George Martin had a lot to do with it.

Yeah, that's kind of like saying Don King had a lot to do with Mohammad Ali becoming the world champ.

Like Don King, George Martin had a little something to do with it but not a lot.

 

[ch willie]

If someone else corrected this, I didn't see it.

Paul played his Wal on "Free As A Bird."
The Fool did not paint Rocky or Paul's bass. The Fool painted Clapton's SG.

 

[ch willie]

What pickups does Paul currently have in the Hofner? In the photos I've seen, they look to be humbuckers.

 

[iamthebassman]

The Fool did not paint Rocky or Paul's bass. The Fool painted Clapton's SG.

They DID paint John's Gibson...and Jack's Bass VI.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

I would never disparage George Martin's arrangement contributions, but he didn't write those tunes and he didn't sing them. Norman Smith and Geoff Emerick deserve some credit for the sounds they got on tape, but it's really the songs that have lasted.

Actually, I understand George Martin did play on several songs - piano principally. But sorry to get OT since we're discussing Paul's basses!

 

[ShoeManiac]

Great thread. Is this the famous Rick or is this a different one? Photo says 1976.

Yeah. Around late 1968 / early 1969 all of The Beatles got this idea in their head that natural instruments without finishes would resonate better. As a result John Lennon had his Epiphone Casino stripped, and McCartney had his Rickenbacker 4001s stripped as well.

Another noteworthy thing about the Rick pictured above? Evidently the horseshoe pickup was getting in Sir Paul's way, so it was removed.... with a hacksaw! This photo seems to be from a time when he had effectively disabled the bridge pickup because of that little move.