Rick Danko's bass of choice

[3toes]

What kind of bass did Rick play on most occassions?

 

[Mastema]

Not sure about most occasions, but on The Last Waltz he's playing some sort of Gibson... a Ripper, I think.

 

[GrooveBass]

I just finished the Last Waltz, and it surely is a Ripper. I could swear that was his main bass during the last period of The Band, but don't quote me on that one.

 

[jerry]

I've seen him with a P-bass and a Ampeg Baby bass in the early 70's.

 

[3toes]

I thought I saw someone mention he played a fretless P-bass at some point...

 

[iamthebassman]

During his Band days Rick played:

Fender Bass VI
Fender Jazz
Fender fretless P
Ampeg fretless
Ampeg Baby bass
Gibson Ripper

 

[markjazzbassist]

I just finished the Last Waltz, and it surely is a Ripper.

+1

 

[Tom Howland]

During his Band days Rick played:

Fender Bass VI
Fender Jazz
Fender fretless P
Ampeg fretless
Ampeg Baby bass
Gibson Ripper

Good work.
Rick also played a Lakland later in his last few years.

 

[GM60466]

Rick was Lakland's first poster child back in 1995. He was also playing a Gibson Les Paul signature bass a.k.a Jack Casady, and a custom made hollow body bass which he used on Letterman's show, just weekes before he passed away.

GM

 

[The Lurker]

That's an AUB-1, which he'd installed Jazz pickups in. The Baby Bass looks like an upright that shrunk in the wash, the AUB is a bass guitar.

http://theband.hiof.no/articles/musician_rd_dec_1993.html

 

[Fphoenixc]

Rick was Lakland's first poster child back in 1995. He was also playing a Gibson Les Paul signature bass a.k.a Jack Casady, and a custom made hollow body bass which he used on Letterman's show, just weekes before he passed away.

GM

I have Rick's Lakland - it was given to me shortly before he passed.
I contacted Dan Lakin - He thought he gave Rick a 4 string but said it could have been a five.
Bottom Line ( no pun) I'm looking for photos of Rick with the Lakland

 

[jerry]

Is it this one?

 

[Fphoenixc]

I have Rick's Lakland - it was given to me shortly before he passed.
I contacted Dan Lakin - He thought he gave Rick a 4 string but said it could have been a five.
Bottom Line ( no pun) I'm looking for photos of Rick with the Lakland

Is it this one?

Ricks playing guitar in that photo and Levon is playing bass -Don't see the Lakland
It was given to Rick during a duo show with Professor Louie
Thanks for checking

 

[Fphoenixc]

I've seen him with a P-bass and a Ampeg Baby bass in the early 70's.

I had the fun task of playing the Ampeg Baby with Rick and Levon
Probably had the original strings
Not much tone but that helped hide my bad intonation

 

[jerry]

Ricks playing guitar in that photo and Levon is playing bass -Don't see the Lakland
It was given to Rick during a duo show with Professor Louie
Thanks for checking

He plays a five string in the video that I didn't recognize, is the bass he gave you a five string?

 

[Fphoenixc]

He plays a five string in the video that I didn't recognize, is the bass he gave you a five string?

Yes it was a red Lakland 5 string Dan Lakin remembers giving it to him but no photos
Can you send me a link to the video
Much appreciated

 

[jerry]

Yes it was a red Lakland 5 string Dan Lakin remembers giving it to him but no photos
Can you send me a link to the video
Much appreciated

You can just push the play button in my post if you have Youtube, it should play. He sounds excellent in it too, lots of Danko grease.

 

[Fphoenixc]

You can just push the play button in my post if you have Youtube, it should play. He sounds excellent in it too, lots of Danko grease.

Thanks for sending -
The bass in the video was his go to bass for the last 20 years of his life -I don't know the brand but it is a red 4 string.
I'm not sure if he ever played the 5 string Lakland on stage.
Anyway thanks so much for doing the research
Frank C

 

[jerry]

Thanks for sending -
The bass in the video was his go to bass for the last 20 years of his life -I don't know the brand but it is a red 4 string.
I'm not sure if he ever played the 5 string Lakland on stage.
Anyway thanks so much for doing the research
Frank C

He also plays a five string in that video.

 

[Fphoenixc]

He also plays a five string in that video.

You are absolutely correct - I think that is a bass that was made by Mark Dan a local engineer/ bass player in our area
I think the Lakland was given to him a couple of years after this video - I do love watching Levon humping that bass into submission
Thanks again