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Playing jazz on a Rickenbacker?

Sep 9, 2016
158
173
Edinburgh
Disclosures
Mel Bay Author
Does anyone play jazz music on a Rick? Maybe with flats or tapes? I'd like to hear how it sounds, but doing a search on a bass forum which includes the word "jazz" throws up many thousands of responses.
 
The boy can play:




He mentions in an interview I've just read that he replaced the bridge pickup but hardly ever uses it, preferring the stock neck pup instead.

Thanks for mentioning him. It's exactly what I was thinking of, and I play fretless too. I dare say fretless Ricks are hard to come by, so a defretting would be needed. He gets a great upright sound on some of the recordings I've just been listening to.
 
i've always played jazz and my first EB was a ric! i used rounds. absolutely doable: it's all about EQ and technique (which works for any EB instrument, IME).

that said: i quickly went to fretless (still about EQ and technique) and haven't looked back.

Same here. When I made high school All County Jazz Band, and the conductor first saw it, he almost fainted.
 
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The boy can play:




He mentions in an interview I've just read that he replaced the bridge pickup but hardly ever uses it, preferring the stock neck pup instead.

Thanks for mentioning him. It's exactly what I was thinking of, and I play fretless too. I dare say fretless Ricks are hard to come by, so a defretting would be needed. He gets a great upright sound on some of the recordings I've just been listening to.


This is just ripping bass playing - the whole band really. The tone is great, as it's electric, but he's got such great feel for stopped staccato notes... but that's his hands!
 
This thread has inspired me to bring one of my Rickenbacker's to rehearsal with my fusion band...one of these days...:unsure:
I've done that forever. Totally doable. With both my fretted and fretless Ricks.

Here is a recording of my old 4003FL using just the bridge toaster (yes, I put one there).

 
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