Rick or not?

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 3:12 am

Thought I'd start a discussion on whether a Rick bass was used on certain recordings or not. The one that I'm most impressed with is Head East's "Never Been Any Reason" and the bass throughout the song is really strong. It sounds like a Rick most at the end when it is playing solo under the "Save my life, I'm going down for the last time" chorus.

So, Rick or not?

Bring up more tunes! Discuss amongst ourselves!

lshaia · Post by **lshaia** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 3:36 am

John Cyg, time to consult The List.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 5:07 am

If I remember the right song and I think I do it sounds like a Ric to me, although I think the player could have used a few lessons along with the rest of the band.

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 5:42 am

I think it was a P-bass.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 5:51 am

It's hard to tell, it sounds like the guy is using a pick for the first time in his life or he just switched from guitar to bass. But I always thought it was a Ric also.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 6:24 am

Their current bass player who joined in '92 plays a P bass, can't get any info on the original bass player.

lshaia · Post by **lshaia** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 3:00 am

I see that John hasn't chimed in yet, so I'll explain my post: John Cyg (mortivan) is compiling a master list of Ric bass songs, divided into three catagories (as I recall): definitely Ric, might be Ric, and sounds like Ric but isn't. I wondered which catagory NBAR fell into.

I saw Head East sometime around '75 or '76, I don't remember seeing a Ric; usually I remember Ric sightings from those days because they were rare and I wanted one so badly.

hieronymous · Post by **hieronymous** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 4:10 am

I always wondered about Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple Mk. III & IV. On the back of the "Live in Europe" album he's pictured playing a fireglo Ric, but I always wondered, how much did he actually play that bass??? I had a Japanese video tape of the '73 California Jam concert, and he plays a natural finish Fender P-bass exclusively - he does the same in the footage of the "Last Concert in Japan" from 1975.

Sorry I don't have any specific songs in mind, but does anyone know the extent to which Glenn Hughes was a Ric user???

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 9:30 am

I always liked the bass on that song too and thought it sounded like a Ricky. Head East was on the Midnight Special back then with the bassist proving me wrong with a F****r P-bass. I always thought the vocals on that song sounded a lot like Geddy Lee.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 11:37 am

Wow that thing sounded exactly like a badly picked Ric. It does have an awful lot of bottom, but I though he was just maybe heavy on the neck pickup.

mortivan · Post by **mortivan** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 1:17 pm

I've wondered about that song too. It's definitely picked, but I can't prove it's a Rick (requirement for "The List").

There are some entries that I can "prove" are Rick's just by the sound. Hatfield and the North, "Mumps" (off Rotter's Club) is a great example. It can't possibly be anything but a Rick. Same with Marillion's Script for a Jester's Tear (although I can really prove it's a Rick).

How about Golden Earring's Twilight Zone? Rick, or Dano Longhorn? Another cool sounding bass, but not unmistakably Rick.

Back to Head East - if I had to bet, I wouldn't say yes. It's crisp and picked, and sounds great, but not necessarily a Rick. I think the double-stops add to the Rick sound too.

(BTW: I'm trying to use the accepted "RIC" for the company and "Rick" for the instrument, but it's hard...)

greg_mitchell · Post by **greg_mitchell** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 7:03 am

How 'bout just about everything by the Atlanta Rhythm Section? Paul Goddard pretty much exclusively played a Mapleglo 4001 during ARS heyday. And he was an exceptional bassist also.
At least in my opinion anyway.

brianb · Post by **brianb** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 9:13 am

Leo Lyons of Ten Years After stated and even emailed me to confirm that he used a Rick to record "I'd Love to Change the World"

brianb · Post by **brianb** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 9:51 am

Man! I forgot how hard that guy pounds the bass.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 1:05 pm

I saw Ten Years After in 1969 being the geezer that I am, do you remember the Boston Teaparty Brian? The Stooges opened for them, what a show that was.
Paul goddard was a great bassist, great sound too. Very tasteful.