Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I just bought the new copy of Bass Player. It features Geezer Butler as the cover story. At one point they ask him about the Rick he plays on the '78 tour video:

Q: In the "Never Say Die" tour video you are using a Rickenbacker for the whole show.

GB: Yeah, that's because I forgot my proper bass! (Laughs.) I had just gotten that Rickenbacker from (Deep Purple's) Glenn Hughes. I swapped a Gibson Thunderbird for it. I completely forgot my stage clothes and bass for that show, and now it is captured on video.


He also talks about using a fretless Rick on "Johnny Blade".


I'm sure nobody cares but me, but I thought that was pretty interesting as Geezer & Glenn are 2 of my faves.

I read that...used to have the never say die video...that rick had flats on it...it was fireglo. I think he had all the tone knobs down too because I remember it being muddy sounding...There are some great shots of it in the video though....

That must be the Ric from the back of the "Made In Europe" cover. Interesting history. It went through 2 of the preeminent heavy '70s bands.
Here are shots of Geezer with it:
http://s87889151.onlinehome.us/geezer/

And here's one of Mr. Hughes with it....

Hey some people just have no taste for proper basses that's all. He was a P bass player anyway most of the time wasn't he? everything he played sounded like mud. I thought he was a good player though.

Cool Video, Geezer is an awesome bass player and I thought his tone was alright...it's not the classic Ric tone but it was still decent. It's not that his tone is muddy...I like to think of it as evil.

I don't get why Ozzy is stage left and not center. Nice sound though.

As I recall, it had to do w/Tony's giant ego. He wanted center stage.

That makes sense. "Black Sabbath featuring Tony Iommi".