Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Did Macca use the RIC on all the songs on the White Album? I thought he used a Jazz bass on some of them?

I've only used TI flats so far and I like them a lot, but I may experiment with other brands like Pyramids one of these days.

I think they keep their brightness for maybe a few months Ronn maybe a little more, they do have a nice crisp sound when new. I'm always searching too. I like the TI's but like a little more muscle sometimes and I get it from Pyramids. I still haven't tried Labellas and I know they been around for years also.

I like the lighter tension of the custom light set of D'Addario Chromes I use, 40-55-75-95, this is their soft set with the .060 D string replaced with a single .055. Lighter guage strings will ring truer with better overtones and intonate better than heavier strings.

I've heard that before but I don't have any problems with heavier strings.

What size strings are you using Bob?. The Rotosound flats I am using are 45-105. I wish I could find these Pyramids locally. They sound like they might be what I am looking for.

I have been using Lakland Joe Osborn flats and I like them a lot, thumpy and rich, but not too tight.

I think they are about the same gauge Scott, I buy mine online, I can't get those locally either. You can find them for a little over 50 bucks at a few places. That sounds like a lot but I've had two sets on two different basses now for at least two years and they still sound the same as when I put them on. I think they are worth it though, they have a rich complex sound I haven't gotten with other flats and it's in the midrange, not the treble, they would be excellent jazz strings for soloing especially on a fretless.
I've heard a few other people using the Laklands that like them also, I've never tried those either. He's a great bass player though.

Any intonation problems, dead sounding strings with those Pyramids? For that kind of money I would hate to expierence the problems I have had so far with the two different sets I have tried. Thanks.

"Did Macca use the RIC on all the songs on the White Album? I thought he used a Jazz bass on some of them?"

Yes, he absolutely used a Jazz too. I was referring to what strings I use on the bass I use when we play post-'65 Beatles. I already haul 4 basses to an Eggmen show, that's enuff for me. And most people in the audience only think of the Hofner when it comes to McCartney's bass and are only somewhat familiar with the Ric, they would be bewildered if I brought out a Fender Jazz for a few tunes.
I get my strings here:
http://www.bassemporium.com/catDetail.php?1090076928

Bob Young asks: Ed what do you pluck with? A hammer?

LOL! The first time I broke the A about 7 or 8 years ago. Basically I was using my thumb very much like a hammer! That band (aptly named "Haz Mat") was way too freakin' LOUD. we had already finished up our planned sets, and were just ripping out a jam, I can't remember the tune. I thought that the A string had slipped off the tuning peg, but after I tried to tighten it a bit I saw the outer windings stretch...I though "day-ummm...what have I done?"

Last time (the D) confuses me. It was last December, and I used the J because there was a major league buzz in the 4001. We weren't that loud, and the house sound system was sounding OK. I really didn't feel like I was abusing anything. Fortunately the string snapped at the end of the song we were doing...again I can't remember exactly what song it was. But this band I'm in now is far more restrained than Haz-Mat was, and I usually don't slam the strings with my thumb the way I used to do...

Question for Ronn, regarding PM's basses. I've seen some photo's of George Harrison playing a J, and the photo caption claims is was PM's. But it was a righty. Confuses me, had to be an error, since the bass GH was playign was certainly a righty. Do you have any links of PM playing a J Bass?

Ed, I know the RH Jazz that George is playing was given to them along with the Fender amps and BassVI. I'm not sure what became of that bass but photos from the "Band on the Run" sessions show Paul playing a RH Jazz upside-down, may be that same one, I'm not sure, have to check fingerboard inlays and tuners. Here's a shot from the "White Album" sessions.

Yeah, I saw the pics of GH in a book chronicling the Abbey Road years (a very good, detailed look at the recording processes the Beatles dealt with). It was a B&W photo, and all I can remember is the inlays were the typical block inlays the J's of the time had. It looked to be a solid finish, probably black.

All in all it looked quite like Geddy Lee's J.

Ronn,

The bass Paul was playing in Band On the Run did not have oval tuners, and had 70's pickup spacing plus the large black CBS Fender logo. Its probably an early 70's jazz bass.

I've been wanting to try Lakland Joe Osborn flats but I can't find them in light gauge. The Lakland home page only has them in medium guage. Does anyone else carry them?

Cool, I never knew if it was the same bass or not, and never got around to checking but I knew those oval tuners would be a clue.