What are your favorite recordings with a Ric bass?

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Thu May 29, 2003 10:17 am

I believe the bass guitar on 'Brass In Pocket' (the record) to be a P-Bass rather than a Rick 4001. I've never seen the video to that Pretenders song. Does it feature a Rick 4001?

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu May 29, 2003 10:30 am

Yeah, he had that black Ric I mentioned, I know that he also used P bass on that album though, at least there is a Photo of one in the sleave.

corey · Post by **corey** » Thu May 29, 2003 11:30 am

Lots of Ric goodness on R.E.M.'s "Murmur" from 1983. Mike Mills has some highly addictive and melodic bass parts.

mortivan · Post by **mortivan** » Thu May 29, 2003 1:47 pm

Being a "Squireista" rather than a "McCartneyite" ...

Well put Lindsay! Me too.

I also love Spock's Beard's RIC bass sound.

turlu · Post by **turlu** » Fri May 30, 2003 2:33 pm

YES - Close to the Edge ( Chris Squire )

And recently, Spock`s Beard - Albums "V" and "Snow" - ( Dave Meros )

Dave Meros from Spock`s Beard has the best Rickenbacker Tone these days (along with Chris Squire.. of course !!!). I even offered him to buy his Bass so much I liked his Tone !!!

bottom4 · Post by **bottom4** » Sat May 31, 2003 6:19 am

Not sure if McCartney played this one on his Rick - it sure sounds it to me. The bass line in Old Brown Shoe

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Sat May 31, 2003 12:32 pm

Hungarian prog outfit Omega recorded some interesting stuff in the mid/late 70s, namely 'Time Robber' (1976), wherein a 4001 was used to great effect. Play 'Invitation' very loud and hear the definitive Rickenbacker bass sound which you simply can not get from current 4003s.

gpatt5762 · Post by **gpatt5762** » Sat May 31, 2003 5:37 pm

12-Bar Original has just thundering bottom. Too bad Normal and Geoff liked to roll off all those highs back then.

Garry

ken_james · Post by **ken_james** » Sat May 31, 2003 9:37 pm

I'd have to say that Rush Hemispheres and Farewell to kings were pretty much the thing that decided my fate on what to play. I went out and bought a 4001. And that was 24 years ago.

rekesbass · Post by **rekesbass** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 3:25 am

while I do agree with all the songs listed,I'm kinda suprised no one said Lemmy's Ric tone...it may not be the best example of what a Ric should\could sound like but,you gotta admit its brutal....sing it with me(while you make "devil horn" hand jestures)THE ACE OF SPADES....THE ACE OF SPADES!!!!!!

philco · Post by **philco** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 8:39 am

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers did a song in their early years called "Listen To Her Heart" that sounds like a Rickenbacker bass was used during the recording. That was by Ron Blair, and it beats the tone that more noted Rickenbacker users have usually gotten. Whatever it was, it sure had a nice tone. When the song was recorded for video in the late 90's, a Fender Jazz bass and pick were used by Howie Epstein to get a somewhat similar tone. Ron is back with the band, and I wonder what bass he is using now.

levykev · Post by **levykev** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 5:36 am

R.E.M.'s Mike Mills definitely has a great sound on 1983's 'Murmur'. Standouts: 'Pilgrimage' and '9-9'. Also, his Rick tone on 1984's 'Reckoning' is fantastic. Particularly on 'So. Central Rain' and 'Second Guessing'. Great pick player!

As an aside... I don't think it was George playing bass on 'Taxman'. I know Paul played the guitar solo, but the bass line under the second verse is totally Paul. They didn't have their Fender Bass VI or Jazz Bass in the studio at that time, so what would George have played?

This topic is brought up in the 'Beatles' section of this site.

dougp · Post by **dougp** » Mon Jun 02, 2003 10:36 am

Hey Patrick - you must have missed my post (on the previous page, I think) mentioning Lemmy's tone on Hawkwind's 'Space Ritual' live album (also by Hawkwind, check out 'Doremi Fasol Latido', 'Hall of the Mountain Grill', and 'The 1999 Party' live; but NOT 'Warrior on the Edge of Time' - he plays a T-bird on that one, and it shows). Granted, a different tone (not quite as fuzzed-out) & playing style (more arpegiated than strumming) than he uses with Motorhead. But still a very cool heavy sound that deserves to be appreciated by Ric bass connoisseurs ...

robj · Post by **robj** » Tue Jun 03, 2003 5:47 am

Check out Magnification from Yes' latest CD by the same title. The the tone Chris gets out of his Rick on the song's intro is great, very warm and punchy with just enough top end clank to let you know it's Squire playing. Squire's tone has matured over the years and for the better in most cases I think.

I really like the CD overall.

titanic_tony · Post by **titanic_tony** » Fri Jun 06, 2003 5:55 pm

The intro to "Born For Adventure" by Styx from the Equinox album. That one made me sit up and listen when I first heard it years ago.