McCartney fingerstyle technique

scottpro1969 · Post by **scottpro1969** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 1:05 pm

I've seen Paul play fingerstyle very rarely with the Beatles but never with Wings. I just viewed a performance of Wings from around 1977 or '78. They're playing on a British TV show called "The Wogan Show", anyway, on 'Listen To What The Man Said' he's playing his Rick and playing fingerstyle...using his index finger only but it's between the bridge pickup and the bridge!!!!

Just thought that was an interesting spot since the pickup cover is off of the Rick and would think the tone would be better if played above the neck pu or closer to the neck. They show a closeup of it and I'll take a pic and would need someone to post it if anyone is interested. If anything, good close-up of his 4001S!!!!

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 1:11 pm

You get a clearer more crisp sound when you play close to the bridge. I usually play right on top of the bridge pickup.

scottpro1969 · Post by **scottpro1969** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 1:23 pm

I hear ya Bob...but this is almost at the bridge!! Just thought it was interesting. Re-reading my last post I meant to say the tone might be better if played on top of the bridge pickup since the cover was off...duh me..haha.

Who am I to tell McCartney what tone would sound better....lol. Sounded great on the video so I guess I'm the dumb a$$

wints · Post by **wints** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 1:23 pm

Scott, were they playing live? The Wogan show like nearly all UK shows from the 70's were heavily mimed.

scottpro1969 · Post by **scottpro1969** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 1:34 pm

Yes it was live...I know what you're talking about. Like bands that played on Solid Gold in the '80's...ugh. There's no doubt it is live. I just played it back.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 2:12 pm

I once saw a live clip of Wings from sometime during the 70's and Mac had a really bad tone, all midrange, no top or bottom, I don't remember whether he was using a pick or his fingers nor what song it was, it definitely not a good advertisement for Rickenbacker though. He was probably using those big Acoustic 360 folded horn bottoms that make any bass sound like a tuba with a pillow stuck in it's bell. (or he had the usual soundman with a DB, haha!)

jps · Post by **jps** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 2:44 pm

A lot of bassists play fingerstyle right near the bridge. Maybe Paul was trying to cop a Jaco tone!

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon Jun 06, 2005 3:41 pm

He certainly didn't succeed that night. I used to play right next to the bridge when I played P bass often, got a nice poppy sound, same with the Rics.

revolver323 · Post by **revolver323** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 2:33 pm

Well, I play very near the bridge fingerstyle on all my basses, but when playing with a pick, I usually go just ahead of the bridge pickup. Onething of interest: in a few pictures I've seen of Paul in the studio with the Rick, the pickup toggle switch is in the down position, meaning bridge pickup only. I wonder if this was common practice? Certainly his bass tone didn't sound like it.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 4:50 pm

Yeah we've commented on that a lot.