Rickenbacker or Precision - which is it?

[BassyBill]

This question has been discussed here and elsewhere for some considerable time. On the album cover of the classic live recording “Made in Europe”, made during the band’s European tour of 1975, Glenn Hughes is pictured playing a Fireglo Rickenbacker.But it’s been claimed that the recording could actually be a Fender Precision, because that’s what he played on the film of the band’s “California Jam” of the same period.

Today I found the isolated bass and drums tracks from that album of the song “You Fool No One” on YouTube. But is he playing a Rickenbacker or a Precision bass? Have a listen, cast your vote and comment away! Thanks for reading, guys.

NOTE - long sections of the video, including the first couple of minutes, are silent, because the bass and drums are tacet at these points. There’s also an extended drum solo. Just wait a bit, it’s worth it in my opinion. It’s been a big favourite of mine for about 45 years.

 

[BassyBill]

Further evidence for your perusal.

 

[Warpeg]

Both. You’re welcome

 

[blacktocomm]

Not idea, but they were a fun listen.

 

[Deleted member 394181]

Both. You’re welcome

Best of both worlds

 

[BassyBill]

Both. You’re welcome

Agreed. But what’s he playing on these clips?

 

[BassyBill]

Early days, but votes are pretty evenly split at present. Could it be the case that the collective experience of TalkBass can’t tell a P bass from a Rickenbacker? That would be strong evidence for my “Basically, all basses sound pretty similar” theory.

 

[Deleted member 394181]

Early days, but votes are pretty evenly split at present. Could it be the case that the collective experience of TalkBass can’t tell a P bass from a Rickenbacker? That would be strong evidence for my “Basically, all basses sound pretty similar” theory.

If not, I can get a wide variety of sounds out of a Rick, not just "clank".

 

[dbsfgyd1]

This question has been discussed here and elsewhere for some considerable time. On the album cover of the classic live recording “Made in Europe”, made during the band’s European tour of 1975, Glenn Hughes is pictured playing a Fireglo Rickenbacker.But it’s been claimed that the recording could actually be a Fender Precision, because that’s what he played on the film of the band’s “California Jam” of the same period.

Today I found the isolated bass and drums tracks from that album of the song “You Fool No One” on YouTube. But is he playing a Rickenbacker or a Precision bass? Have a listen, cast your vote and comment away! Thanks for reading, guys.

NOTE - long sections of the video, including the first couple of minutes, are silent, because the bass and drums are tacet at these points. There’s also an extended drum solo. Just wait a bit, it’s worth it in my opinion. It’s been a big favourite of mine for about 45 years.

Rick no doubt. The timbre change most of the way through was a dead give-away

 

[Doug4321]

It sounds like a neck pickup like on a Rick. That sort of hollow sound. Trebly, grindy pick and round wound tone though.
But I’d like to vote “not sure.”

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Both clips sound to me like a rick with the pickup selector in the middle.

 

[BassyBill]

If not, I can get a wide variety of sounds out of a Rick, not just "clank".

But they do give a fantastic growling, singing sort of “clank”, don’t they?

 

[Doug4321]

Rick no doubt. The timbre change most of the way through was a dead give-away

You mean it sounds like a pickup switch? What time stamp? Please…

If I had a Rick and a Precision this would be easier due to better familiarity, but I have neither.
This is a great video outlining the typical sounds of classic basses:


(Some people complain that video isn’t scientific enough, like he should play all with the same strings the same way, same riff, or something)

 

[OkayistBassist]

Certainly sounds like a Ric to me.

 

[Paul New]

Ric. Just takes a few seconds. Thanks for stoking my Ric gas.

 

[PhR75]

It's the Precision. The Martin folded horn cabs Glenn used at that time with the Hiwatt heads shape the sound quite a bit too.
The Ric was used on "Burn" album and the early part of the tour and gradually the P-bass replaced it. Listen to some bootlegs from their early gigs and the sound is different. The same backline.
The album photos are mostly from "Burn" tour, for example Jon Lord doesn't have the Clavinet on top of his C3 even 'though he used it on that tour and can be heard in the album.
All the photos from those gigs the album was compiled from show Glenn with the P-bass.
Show me one photo from "Stormbringer" tour with Glenn playing the Ric.

 

[MVE]

Ric

 

[Doug4321]

It's the Precision. The Martin folded horn cabs Glenn used at that time with the Hiwatt heads shape the sound quite a bit too.
The Ric was used on "Burn" album and the early part of the tour and gradually the P-bass replaced it. Listen to some bootlegs from their early gigs and the sound is different. The same backline.
The album photos are mostly from "Burn" tour, for example Jon Lord doesn't have the Clavinet on top of his C3 even 'though he used it on that tour and can be heard in the album.
All the photos from those gigs the album was compiled from show Glenn with the P-bass.
Show me one photo from "Stormbringer" tour with Glenn playing the Ric.

That sounds convincing….. it could be the hollow sound is from picking way up at the neck…..

 

[PhR75]

Graz 1975:
Deep Purple Graz 1975 Photo Gallery

 

[metron]

Ric