Beatles' Songs Using Rickenbacker 12-Strings

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Beatles' Songs Using Rickenbacker 12-Strings

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The following is the beginning of a list of songs in which The Bealtes used Rickenbacker 12-Strings. It goes without saying, that any assistance or corrections would be most appreciated. The recording dates reflect the final take.

SONGS USING RICKENBACKER 12-STRINGS
TitleRecordedModel Can't Buy Me Love Jan. 29 1964 360/12 I Should Have Known BetterFeb 26 1964 360/12 If I Fell Feb. 27 1964 360/12 I Call Your Name Mar. 1 1964 360/12 A Hard Day's Night Apr. 16 1964 360/12 You Can't Do That May 22 1964 360/12 Anytime At All Jun. 2 1964 360/12 Every Little Thing Sep. 30 1964 325/12 What You're Doing Oct. 26 1964 360/12 Ticket To Ride Feb. 5 1965 360/12 If I Needed Someone Oct. 18 1965 360/12
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm

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Rick_Perrotta

Post by Rick_Perrotta »

Are you sure a 12-string was used on ticket to ride? I think the rythmn was John's 6 strink Rick and the intro lick was an Epiphone Casino.
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Post by admin »

Didn't George say that was the last song he used the Rick?
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Post by admin »

I am not sure Peter. One thing is clear. George definitely used the Rickenbacker 12 on "If I Needed Someone" and it was recorded long after "Ticket To Ride."
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Post by leftybass »

I read somewhere that the 325/12 owned by John was used on Ticket to Ride; there was somewhat of a distinction on the sound of that guitar from Georges '63 360/12 that it was speculated that the little 12-string was used and Paul actually played the solo on this song. Anyone heard of this before besides me??
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Post by leftybass »

Also---I don't know if this song qualifies or not but on the Beatles Anthology 2--"And Your Bird Can Sing" alt.take---Definitely a Rickenbacker 12 was used at this point in the song.......
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Post by admin »

I heard that too, and that really sounds different, also on Every Little Thing, where John used this 325/12 as they say. But doesn't it sound so because it was played on the high strings, where you have no octave strings?..George always seems to have played on the deeper section (You Can't Do That etc.)
I think it was in the Smith book where you could read that John used his 325/12 in the promo video for Ticket To Ride, and this suggested that he used it in the song...I'm not sure....
Is it this old style one on If I Needed Someone or a new style 360 like the one he used live?
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Post by admin »

I meant leftybass' first post.
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Post by leftybass »

Well, its always been my understanding he used the roundtop 360/12 on "If I Needed Someone"--
back when I still owned (sniff) a 370/12RM, it would really reproduce the sound that George got on the song. I think he blended the sound with the back pickup being more pre-dominant.
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Post by admin »

I read in a guitar magazine a year ago a list where you could find all instruments of the Beatles and which album they used them, and for Revolver it said among others: Rickenbacker 325/12! So is this the guitar on And Your Bird Can Sing?
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Post by leftybass »

Interesting----I've never heard of that one but it would be cool...I dont think that it made it to the final take but it is in your face on the outake released on the Anthology 2 CD. AND--the sound of the twelve is bright on this cut--almost Byrd-like.....
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Post by admin »

It really sounds 'byrdish', too byrdish maybe for the Beatles.
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Post by leftybass »

I would like to submit that the Beatles, mainly George, probably thought of it as just another instrument, albeit a different one, to texture their sound. Although the Beatles introduced it (like an atom bomb with 'A Hard Days Night'), Roger McGuinn raised it like the prodigal son and made it a foundation of the Byrds' sound and the '60's....The Beatles moved on rather quickly on their path of evolution. BUT--they were there first. Its all very cool the way it worked out.
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Post by admin »

So there's one thing that interests me, where is George's new style 360, does he still have it? George appears on Jeff Lynne's new album in April, so we can look forward for a few great notes!
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Abel_Pérez

Post by Abel_Pérez »

The second 360 was stolen after the Candlestick Park concert in 1966.
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