Which Bass on Nowhere Man?

[lyle_from_minneapolis]

So I recorded this cover of "Nowhere Man" : http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7235577 ...for an online cover competition...only to end up in an argument with someone over which bass Paul used on the studio recording. I am convinced it was the Rickenbacker. Can anyone confirm this, or point me to a source where I might cite the facts?

Thanks,

-Mark

[winston]

According to this source:

"Nowhere Man was the first recording in which Paul McCartney used his brand new Rickenbacker 4001S bass guitar. Rickenbacker boss F.C Hall had first offered this instrument to Paul in the US in February 1964, but Paul declined to accept it. But a year and a half later he had changed his mind. Paul started using this specially constructed Rickenbacker quite a lot in the studio from then on."

http://www.thebeatlesonline.com/pages/b ... ereman.htm

[lyle_from_minneapolis]

Awesome! Thanks, Winston.

Now I wish I knew where this info came from...

[Scastles]

Mark, in the Recording the Beatles book, it states both basses were available. However, it says there is no record of the Hofner being used.
But...none of us were there, so who knows? I do tend to believe the RTB book to be pretty accurate though.

[winston]

It came from the Beatles on line............see the embedded link in my first post.

[lyle_from_minneapolis]

Thanks Winston...yeah, I just meant I wonder where BeatlesOnline got the info. But that "Recording the Beatles" bit is probably about as solid as it gets. ...Other than my gut-level-"that's definitely a Rick!" response.

[beatlefreak]

It does sound like the Rick.

[brammy]

Very nice recording, Mark!

[lyle_from_minneapolis]

Thanks Brammy! I'm still working on it. Now there's a new bassline played by a guy named Bill Gaunce who nailed the Macca style...much bouncier now, with that trademark palm-muting.

[leftybass]

The Rickenbacker.

[epitreture]

Great cover Mark !

[beefandbones]

Huh, I've always thought it sounded like the Hofner - dark and woofy with little sustain. I have a friend that also recorded a note-for-note copy of Nowhere Man and used his Hofner and it sounds spot on. I think the only specific mention of a bass during the Rubber Soul sessions comes from a quote about Paul recording Michelle. I'll have to find it... I've always considered Michelle the dividing line. If you arrange the recordings chronologically, the bass sound does change slightly from Michelle on. To my ears, anyway.

[nukebass]

Huh, I've always thought it sounded like the Hofner - dark and woofy with little sustain.

I agree with this, based on my ears. Although, it is difficult to tell in those "early" recordings. Rain, Paperback Writer, and I'm Happy Just to Dance With You (for instance...) have very similar bass tones, in my opinion. It isn't until Pepper that I can really tell a difference.

[lyle_from_minneapolis]

I think one of the big differentiators here is the engineer.

In '65, we see a lot of Rickenbacker action on Rubber Soul...with Norman Smith engineering. But the stuff we hear from the Revolver sessions, including "Paperback Writer" and "Rain", are all engineered by Geoff Emerick. Emerick--very young, very geeky, very insecure, but very focused and creative--somehow managed to throw the EMI rulebook out the window and do whatever it took to get a remarkable sound. Once he became a full-fledged engineer, we started hearing incredible bass tones. So I think the Rick is used on "Nowhere Man"...only it's recorded "by-the-book" and lacks the clarity of tone that was soon to be achieved by Emerick.

[kiramdear]

I think one of the big differentiators here is the engineer.

In '65, we see a lot of Rickenbacker action on Rubber Soul...with Norman Smith engineering. But the stuff we hear from the Revolver sessions, including "Paperback Writer" and "Rain", are all engineered by Geoff Emerick. Emerick--very young, very geeky, very insecure, but very focused and creative--somehow managed to throw the EMI rulebook out the window and do whatever it took to get a remarkable sound. Once he became a full-fledged engineer, we started hearing incredible bass tones. So I think the Rick is used on "Nowhere Man"...only it's recorded "by-the-book" and lacks the clarity of tone that was soon to be achieved by Emerick.

Really good one, Mark. That makes sense to me.