Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

If anyone has any information about Cliff Burton's bass tone on MetallicA's debut album, "Kill em' All" (head, what year his ric was etc.)That would be great.

Thanks

Well here is photo to start things off. We will have to see if his bass was in fact red and it would seem that we will need other photos or observations to confirm this.

This next photo is narrowing down the finish of Cliff's Rickenbacker 4001 and provides information concerning the gear (note the pickups) and playing style associated with Cliff Burton's sound. I am interested in your comments. Lighting can always play tricks with the eye, however, I think that this is likely to be Burgundyglo. It appears too dark for Ruby and certainly for Red, which leaves a custom color possibility.

He also used an Electo-Harmonix "Big Muff" distortion pedal, and a Morley wah-wah pedal. Any wah pedal will do, but to get that "classic Cliff" tone, the Big Muff must be there, especially if you want to play his solo. Is that a Gibson and Fender Jazz pu's I see? Who's idea was that?

Looks like he is plugged into the Ric-O-Sound jack..but with the pick-up changes, I wonder if that is in fact ROS.

For those who insist that Burton's 4001 was red. Have a look!

The Gibson pick up in the bridge was actually something that Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath did with a 4003 Shadow. The difference was that Geezer used a EMG 81 in the brdige.

Amongst the rics that I have is an old gibson E-b3 with that big 25Kohm pickup.
No clarity but loads of distortion!

Eden, I am envious like you wouldn't believe. The biggest Jack Bruce fan in the world bows down before you.

"I am not worthy!"

I'm flattered (or should I say My E-B3 is). AS there is no forum sites for the wonderfully horrible E-B3, if all the other Ric-o-heads out there don't mind, we could talk about the Big thick murky tone of the Gibbo.

I think that cliff hadn't changed his pickups until after Kill Em' All was released. If you listen to his Solo on the album at the very end he is hitting his strings against the pickups. I have tried this on non- ric pickups and it just doesnt get the same effect as button tops do

If you watch the "Cliff 'em All" video, on his second appearance with Metallica, you can see the original hi-gains. This proves Dan's point. I really don't understand why Cliff changed them to a Gibson and a Fender. If it was me, I'd stick to pu's of the same brand.

Eden, I have a Gibson EB-0L, and yes, there is a Gibson bass forum section (moderated by yours truly) at Steve Barr's Dudepit. Stop by sometime http://pub41.ezboard.com/bthedudepit . Peter, I hope posting the link is okay, Steve has avoided putting a Rick section there because of this forum.

Dave: This link is relevant to the discussion at hand and it is certainly acceptable. I very much appreciate Steve's sensitivity. We will be over to have a look. Thanks for the link.

My 4001 came to me with a big fat DiMarzio humbucker in the neck position. The tone was thick and distorted, and entirely lacking in definition. I always wondered why someone would put a mudbucker in a Rick. Maybe this explains it.