Macca and His Rick

[johnallg]

Here is a story how Macca got his ric and why he accepted it, excerpt from Andy Babiuk's Beatles gear book.

" owing in large part to the Ricky's interesting pickup wiring; the bass pickup is what we call a split coil which means the wiring is offset while the treble pickup is a dual coil."

What's up with this about the pickups? Are they not both single coil?

Yeah, I got involved with something here and missed posting about this too. They are good 'ole single coils. And what the heck is offset wiring?????? 10:1 odds he never had a science class.

[sloop_john_b]

The Hofner was having serious intonation issues around LIB - you can hear it in the songs where he plays high up the neck ("Don't Let Me Down" comes to mind).

As for the Jazz on the White Album, I'm not sold. I feel like a lot of those tracks with the really trebly bass tones that are commonly thought of as the Jazz could be the bridge pickup of the Rick - with the cap.

[leftybass]

The Hofner was having serious intonation issues around LIB - you can hear it in the songs where he plays high up the neck ("Don't Let Me Down" comes to mind).

As for the Jazz on the White Album, I'm not sold. I feel like a lot of those tracks with the really trebly bass tones that are commonly thought of as the Jazz could be the bridge pickup of the Rick - with the cap.

I think he probably did use it on some tracks, there are pics of him playing his Jazz Bass on some White Album sessions.....

[tallpat1]

we should ask Andy what the heck that was all about, I only copied what he said but i didn't think it was correct either.

[admin]

A great thread everyone.

Paul was guitar and bass savvy and a keen observer of others' style. I believe that it was the timely introduction of the Rickenbacker that enabled him to develop his bass technique further.

At the same time, watching others play and understanding the limitations of the Hofner's intonation it is likely that he would have moved beyond the Hofner in any event if only in his recordings.

I am just glad that it was the Rickenbacker that played a role in his bass playing.

[johnallg]

The Hofner was having serious intonation issues around LIB - you can hear it in the songs where he plays high up the neck ("Don't Let Me Down" comes to mind)

John, the Hofner always had intonation problems. Back then I always wondered why he was out of tune so much - I mean, it was the BEATLES!! Didn't he know how to tune his bass??? Then many years later I learn the Hofner had major intonation problems.

[atomic_punk]

Great interview with Paul this morning on the Howard Stern show.
He gave Howard a birthday gift, a Hofner autographed "To Howard, Paul McCartney".

[shamustwin]

I always thought Macca + Rick + pakalolo = the great beatle bass lines.

[kiramdear]

Good point, Jerry. Who's to say that meeting Bob Dylan (and expanding his imagination) didn't have as much effect on his "new style" as getting a new rick bass? The new bass certainly helped him run with that new experience and helped him grow faster. He would have done it anyway, but the Rick removed a lot of limitations re: intonation and playability. I can't imagine that the Hofner would have served him as well for Pepper and later work. He was out of tune a lot on Let It Be and not using his real fancy style on the Hofner.

[jagdeluxe]

Is there any chance that Macca visits this site now and then,or maybe one of his aids points out interesting threads.The music is deeply rooted in him and i can just imagine him peeking here once in awhile.

[kiramdear]

That would be cool, and entirely possible. It is a public forum.

[antipodean]

Is there any chance that Macca visits this site now and then,or maybe one of his aids points out interesting threads.The music is deeply rooted in him and i can just imagine him peeking here once in awhile.

He is one rather busy man.... I think it highly unlikely, but it is a cool daydream...

[soundmasterg]

Here is a story how Macca got his ric and why he accepted it, excerpt from Andy Babiuk's Beatles gear book.

" owing in large part to the Ricky's interesting pickup wiring; the bass pickup is what we call a split coil which means the wiring is offset while the treble pickup is a dual coil."

What's up with this about the pickups? Are they not both single coil?

Yeah, I got involved with something here and missed posting about this too. They are good 'ole single coils. And what the heck is offset wiring?????? 10:1 odds he never had a science class.

Yah I saw that too and was going to post but got busy and forgot. It is basically nonsense what Andy said there....it doesn't make any technical sense at all.

Greg

[johnallg]

Is there any chance that Macca visits this site now and then,or maybe one of his aids points out interesting threads.The music is deeply rooted in him and i can just imagine him peeking here once in awhile.

He is one rather busy man.... I think it highly unlikely, but it is a cool daydream...

+1 I'd be really amazed if he read RRF.

[kiramdear]

More likely someone could repeat to him what they read here. He likely has many eyes and ears.