Paul and the better bass

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 8:54 am

Gotta love youtube:

Junior's Farm 1974:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWlbgm-HVlA&search=Paul%20McCartney%20Wings

Band on the Run 1976:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEnLQ86eZac&mode=related&search=Paul%20McCartney%20Wings

winston · Post by **winston** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 10:11 am

Thanks Jeff (and youtube),

I enjoyed those.

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 2:24 pm

Thanks, Jeff....I enjoyed those as well...Youtube is a fantastic way to enjoy long lost videos.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 4:09 pm

Notice the difference in tone between the two videos - HS vs early high gain?

jps · Post by **jps** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 4:36 pm

Notice the Acoustic 360 in the first video?

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 5:39 pm

Now that you mention it....

alansan · Post by **alansan** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 10:15 pm

I was thinking the same John. To me the tone in the 'Band on the Run' vid scarcely resembles a Ric whereas the first one has textbook Ric sound.

bob_atherton · Post by **bob_atherton** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 1:15 am

Alan, I noticed that as well. I'ts almost as if he like the way it plays but is not happy with its natural voice.

I will be drummed out of the forum for this but I prefer his playing and sound on the Hofner.

Nice knowing you chaps......

alansan · Post by **alansan** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 3:16 am

Bob, I really like the Hofner tone as well. 'Glass Onion'. Lovely dead string hollow-body sound.

rickaddict · Post by **rickaddict** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 4:55 am

Consider objects thrown in your general direction, Bob!

I like them both, but prefer the Rick.

You're welcome, Brian and Chris. I didn't do much searching around. I just clicked on a several that looked interesting and posted two.

I like how prominently the Rick sits in the mix on the Band on the Run video.

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 5:54 am

It's funny, what we consider the classic Rick bass tones: the "Squire/Lee/Camp" round-wound grind that is nearly unmistakable, and the Sgt. Pepper/Magical Mystery Tour plunk of McCartney's with flat-wound strings. However, after that, Macca's tone with the Rick sounds muddy, and I have difficulty distinguishing it from that generated by Paul with the Hofner. It's probably just Paul's preference to have it that way. He's never been much of a gearhead, so who knows what the setup may have been, or how old the strings were. The bass tone on that live Band on the Run clip doesn't scream "Rick bass" at all, IMHO.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 12:24 pm

At some point between the two videos, Paul's HS pickup died and was replaced at the factory with a current (at that time) high gain. John Hall has posted about this event before, on the RIC forums IIRC.

The Junior's Farm vid has more clear grind to his tone than I've ever heard him have. Great. The Band on the Run tone is more of the (to me) confused tone of the high gains.

Hi Hi Hi - Notice the two different video eras - in the color he has the high gain, and in the b&w he has the HS. Same tone as BOTR; it is the high gain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zCCM4cYZxY&mode=related&search=Paul%20McCartney%20Wings

[shields up]

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 4:07 pm

He is also lacking a pick in the "b&w"... thumb anchored on the end on the fretboard and playing over the toaster. The color has a pick, and him playing over and behind the high gain. Plus the "b&w" has the older band members...