I thought Sir Paul's bridge pickup didn't work in 75/76?

[jamespaul71]

I just noticed something, the harmonic makeup of the tone in silly love songs is clearly a bridge pickup. I thought that prior to getting the pickup replaced (which would have been after the album was recorded) the bridge was dead? Any ideas?

[jamespaul71]

Here is the proof:

Here is the 5th fret on the D string:


At left is Paul, in the middle is me with bridge full tone and solo, and last is me with the neck full tone and solo.


It is quite clear that the tone is a rickenbacker, that it is from the bridge pickup, and that it sounds great. Now, back to the question!

[jamespaul71]

I just noticed that unless the window is very wide the screenshot won't display properly, please just right click and view image or drag it into a new browser window to see it fully.

[sloop_john_b]

I believe Paul's bass was at Electro for repair in August '75, at the start of the Wings Over America tour. "Silly Love Songs" was released in April 1976. That bass tone is pure bridge position higain.

[antipodean]

I believe Paul's bass was at Electro for repair in August '75, at the start of the Wings Over America tour. "Silly Love Songs" was released in April 1976. That bass tone is pure bridge position higain.

Without the cap....

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

did mr. "sir" use roundwounds or flats 0n the 4001s in the day ? silly love songs tone is sort of a muffled sound almost as if he was using the mute in the tail piece. anybody know for certain on the string choice ?

[teeder]

Long Shiny Flats

[jps]

Long Shiny Flats

At this point it should be Long Shiny Flats®

[ken_j]

According to Mark Arnquist: "The P.M. bass came back to the factory prior to the 'Wings over America tour.' " Link: http://www.thecanteen.com/arnquist.html

[rickaddict]

It's so cool to have that story documented!

[ricaddic]

I nail that sound on my 4001C64, with the bridge pick 3/4 of the way up and the neck pick up alittle less than 1/4 on, the tone on the bridge pick up off and the tone on the neck less than 1/4 on however I also nail that sound on my Fender 60th anniversary jazz bass which has and came with stock the 62 jazz bass pick ups I use the bridge pick up with the tone just a crack on and the neck pickup and tone just a crack on, I use Thomastik J344 flats on both basses.

[maplered]

I believe Paul's bass was at Electro for repair in August '75, at the start of the Wings Over America tour. "Silly Love Songs" was released in April 1976. That bass tone is pure bridge position higain.

Without the cap....

It sounds like it has the cap. It's definitely a thinner sound.

[jayfbv]

I was under the impression that he had a backup to the one he carved up. I can't produce a picture of it, but I know I've seen one.

[jamespaul71]

I believe Paul's bass was at Electro for repair in August '75, at the start of the Wings Over America tour. "Silly Love Songs" was released in April 1976. That bass tone is pure bridge position higain.

Ah, I thought the repair was post-album pre-tour. Thanks for the answer guys!

[cassius987]

Here is the proof:

Here is the 5th fret on the D string:


At left is Paul, in the middle is me with bridge full tone and solo, and last is me with the neck full tone and solo.

Would be more beneficial as an overlay of all three with different colors, but I know unless you have access to the raw data that made the spectra it could be hard to generate.