Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2003 11:45 am
I think Rickenbackers have been trying to live down that image for a long time. Ever since Rotosound strings were all the rage back in the 70's, and the real trebly sound that they ushered in also was in style. It became associated with Rics for better or worse, because Rics were the best at it. Chris Squire changed the way a bass sounded with his Rotos and 4001.
Everyone bought them, threw away the flats that they came with, put on Rotos and cranked the volume and treble up and used a pick.
I do not mean to imply that the Squire sound is a bad sound, I think he is great, it's just that in most everyday situations in bands you can't really use that kind of a sound, unless you are playing progressive rock. But a lot of uninformed people think that Ric's are as someone else here put it "one trick ponies", on the contrary they are very versatile. That is the popular conception of Ric basses with a lot of people including most sales people.
Everyone bought them, threw away the flats that they came with, put on Rotos and cranked the volume and treble up and used a pick.
I do not mean to imply that the Squire sound is a bad sound, I think he is great, it's just that in most everyday situations in bands you can't really use that kind of a sound, unless you are playing progressive rock. But a lot of uninformed people think that Ric's are as someone else here put it "one trick ponies", on the contrary they are very versatile. That is the popular conception of Ric basses with a lot of people including most sales people.