Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Walker - work it into the live show.... might be something to open a set with. You know, before you go wacked!! Kewl rendition!

Thanks guys. Actually, I have played it live for solo gigs, but yeah... it might be a cool thing tossed into the middle of the regular band set, too. A couple of shows back, we did a similarly stripped down version of 'Fool's Overture' by Supertramp. (NOT the whole 10 minutes, mind you, just the 1st couple of verses into the next instrumental theme.) Stuff like that is good for mixing up the energy a bit.

Better Than You sounds a lot like Kings X...sounds good!

Wow! Thanks, Ben.

New song time - this week's offering is 'Blind Road' off the 'Dysfunctional Illaureate' CD. 'Blind Road' is the song I performed live on 'Texas Justice' back in 2003. And yes, it was as weird as you can probably imagine.

The track once again features the '68 4001 MG on both the tremolo and bassline parts.

Hey Mark - this is fun... good tune. Starts off Sting-ish..then..!! Even on my PC Altec's, the bass tone is schweet. Gotta love that '68. How did you record it? Mic it? direct in? Combo?

To help starving musicians, I ordered a copy of DI. What about your new CD (Joy Bomb) – is the wind blowing correctly yet?

Hey Tom - thanks for picking up a copy of 'Dysfunctional Illaureate' You rock! Yes, any contributions to this starving musician are a good deed indeed.

'Blind Road' was recorded a long time ago, so I'm testing my memory on how I recorded it. I'm pretty sure the tremolo part was recorded with one mic about 15 feet across the room from the 4x12 cab - nothing more. The main bassline was a combination of direct, one mic on a 15" speaker, and another on a 12".

'JOYBOMB' is ever so close to being in the can. I've just started the mastering process, so hopefully I'll be able to wrap it up in a couple of days. It will take me forever & a day to secure all the permissions for the sampling I used on the disc, so initial copies will have to be issued on the sly as "gifts." The list of artists who contributed by way of sampling is a long one and includes:

The Cure
Genesis
Led Zeppelin (Bonham beats, of course)
(Pacific Northwestern Indian tribes)
Tchaikowsky
Stravinsky
Yes
Rush
Gustav Holst
Leonard Berstein
The Police
U2
The Beatles
Lyle Mays
Charles Oliver
Gustav Mahler
Samuel Barber
Kate Bush

And I included covers by Stevie Wonder and Mazzy Star. Holy ****! That's the first time I've actually seen this list written out! By the time I actually get the permissions for all the above, I just may have to release 'JOYBOMB' posthumously.

Your list covers a great deal of my faves... notable outs - Clapton, Cray, Hendrix and Aaron Copland, b52s... Maybe a sequel in the next incarnation.... When you get Joybomb finished let me know and we could go back to the barter system. I'll send you a copy of my bands CD and if you like it you can send me a copy of JB as in professional courtesy. HAHAHAHA yeah riiiight.

I have gotten good results lately with DI recording thru a Sans amp. But got a similar sound years ago with a mix of DI, mic on a 15 and a 'room' mic about 12 feet away. Might go back to that next time.

"Blind Road" - I LOVE IT! And the bass tone is awesome - that unique 4001 "voice" which any modern 4003 can not even emulate... Great stuff, Mark.

Thanks, guys! Much appreciated. I forgot to mention that I also used the '76 4001FL for the solo section, and the '79 4001 JG on the arpeggiated runs that counter the FL melodies. (Where are my manners!)

Up 4001s, down 4003s! (ducking VERY fast for cover)

Sergio, I am seriously liking my 4003-5s. My '74 4001 is still my fave but the 4003 is very kewl indeed!!

Well, I have a thing for '74 4001 basses too. Not many years ago I owned a February '92 lefty 4003. It was a dream to play. Soundwise, though, it left something to be desired. A few mods to the p.u.'s and wiring were all it took to make it sound like a good old 4001.

I did make my 4003 ROS capable (it's a 2000 and was mono). But I wanted just a slight difference in the sound between the two. The only thing I might mod later would be the bridge pickup... make it a little hotter. Maybe put the cap in. HAHAHAHAHAHA I just kill me sometimes. Actually would go for the switch there. The 4003 is schweet but the 4001 is killer - IMHO!

Hey Walker - got your Dysfunctional Illaureate CD today and listened to it at lunch while painting the kitchen ceiling. Best $10.24 I ever spent. Good tunes, love the Beatles cover and love the tones you are getting out of that thing... SCHWEET!!! Will have to give it a super duper listen tomorrow driving to and from rehearsal.