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Playing jazz on a Rickenbacker?
- Thread starter RobMac
- Start date
I always liked slapping Rickenbackers.
That one sounds way better slapped than mine did.
Mine was older (mid 1970's) with bound/sealed neck.I don't quite remember: Is it required or prohibited to play Roundabout when noodling on a Ric?
That one sounds way better slapped than mine did.
I don't quite remember: Is it required or prohibited to play Roundabout when noodling on a Ric?
If playing Rounadout is not required, it should be.
If you were blind and heard this for the first time, would there be any doubt who the bassist is?
Just sayin'.
Its in the fingers. And if its jazz, your fingers may smell kind of funny.
Anders Christensen with Paul Motian:
Well, that sounded great. Fantastic ensemble, all top-level players, tasteful too, and the bass sounded perfectly at home. I'm convinced the Rickenbacker can make a fine bass for jazz.
For those who have commented that you can play jazz on anything, I already know that, of course. I guess I was aiming for a particular sound and context, and several of the videos give me what I'm imagining.
One of my students appeared with a Ric once (sorry I never got the model) and wondered why she opted for that for playing bluegrass, which was her passion. So I played it for a short time - the first time I'd ever played one - and I thought, "This bass is capable of a lot more than what I had thought it could do." I'd been living in ignorance, but now I have an increasing appreciation for it subtleties and variety of colours, and when matched with particular strings can have the sound I would like to play with. I might well seek one out, but need a crash course in the various models and their capabilities. I dare say there will be a website devoted to that.
Thanks for all the comments!
For those who have commented that you can play jazz on anything, I already know that, of course. I guess I was aiming for a particular sound and context, and several of the videos give me what I'm imagining.
One of my students appeared with a Ric once (sorry I never got the model) and wondered why she opted for that for playing bluegrass, which was her passion. So I played it for a short time - the first time I'd ever played one - and I thought, "This bass is capable of a lot more than what I had thought it could do." I'd been living in ignorance, but now I have an increasing appreciation for it subtleties and variety of colours, and when matched with particular strings can have the sound I would like to play with. I might well seek one out, but need a crash course in the various models and their capabilities. I dare say there will be a website devoted to that.
Thanks for all the comments!
@RobMac
Check out the Rickenbacker Club right here on TB,more than you ever wanted to know, discussed Ad Nauseum.
Check out the Rickenbacker Club right here on TB,more than you ever wanted to know, discussed Ad Nauseum.
No one in my band, the Post Traumatic Jazz Disorder, or audience has complained about either of my Rics. I usually use my '15 4003, which wears the stock Ric strings (which I like). Sometimes I use my '83, which is strung with D'Addario EXP Reds (successor to XL Reds, and also now discontinued). Practicing at our sax player's, I play through my '72 Ampeg B-15S. To gigs I bring my GK MB-212II.
In addition to the video of Ornette Coleman in which Jamaladeen Tacuma is playing a Ric, I've seen videos of Coleman playing with another Ric player, playing a fretless. His name escapes me at the moment, but his first name was Fred, I believe.
In addition to the video of Ornette Coleman in which Jamaladeen Tacuma is playing a Ric, I've seen videos of Coleman playing with another Ric player, playing a fretless. His name escapes me at the moment, but his first name was Fred, I believe.
There has been some Jazz Snobbery applied to Rics over the years, mainly due to simple ignorance. A friend was a Bass performance student at Berklee, he walked into his first Jazz composition class, and the professor literally kicked him out until he got a "real" (aka Fender) bass. A classic case of "hearing" with your eyes. That happens a lot with Steinberbergers too....until they pick it up and play it.
Geddy Lee has been playing Rickenbacker on a Jazz for years!
That nice maple 4004 in your avatar?This thread has inspired me to bring one of my Rickenbacker's to rehearsal with my fusion band...one of these days...
I had one of my favorite Ricks, a Cheyenne ii, professionally converted into a fretless.
Edit:the Cii was a good candidate for this as it has an unvarnished fretboard.
It sounds great, but I’m just a dabbler, at best, in fretless playing.
I kind of regret doing it, because I loved the sound and feel of that bass when it was fretted.
I am a pop/rock player, playing jazz is above my pay grade.
Edit:the Cii was a good candidate for this as it has an unvarnished fretboard.
It sounds great, but I’m just a dabbler, at best, in fretless playing.
I kind of regret doing it, because I loved the sound and feel of that bass when it was fretted.
I am a pop/rock player, playing jazz is above my pay grade.
Think Boz Burrell. His Bad Co. stuff was on a fretless.I had one of my favorite Ricks, a Cheyenne ii, professionally converted into a fretless.
..... I am a pop/rock player, playing jazz is above my pay grade.
Not sure I've ever played a Ric but this thread is about the best advert going!!
Oh yeah! i can go for that, or something like “sledgehammer” for sure.
Real jazz is just more challenging than I’m currently capable of.
He has a Jazz pickup in the bridge position and an original neck Ric toaster pickup and he said in BP mag he very rarely uses the J pickup so what you're hearing is Rickenbacker all the way.
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