In which songs did Paul use his RIC bass?

augustus · Post by **augustus** » Wed May 28, 2003 9:42 am

does anybody know... in which songs did sir Paul McCartney use his RIC bass?

the only song that I know...which was played by RIC bass was "all you need is love"
is there more...?

kennyhowes · Post by **kennyhowes** » Wed May 28, 2003 9:49 am

I believe it was everything post-Revolver, with the exception of the Get Back sessions. Nick?

admin · Post by **admin** » Wed May 28, 2003 10:30 am

I believe that the Rick bass was first introduced with Rubber Soul.

larrywassgren · Post by **larrywassgren** » Wed May 28, 2003 12:39 pm

Yes the Rickenbacker bass was first used on Rubber Soul. Studio shots show both the Hofner and Rickenbacker present, so to say exactly which songs which bass was used on is a matter of opinion and your ear vs. someone elses. It's tough to tell! Even if we have photos of John, George or Paul in the studio playing a certain guitar it does not mean it was used for certain on any record. Some of these studio shots would be staged for the photographer who was there to do his job, get out and let The Beatles do their work. Revolver, Sgt. Pepper, and Magical Mystery Tour to me seem real heavy with the 4001S but by The White Album and into Let It Be and Abbey Road the Hofner is brought out more and more. The Ballad Of John And Yoko is the last time the Cavern bass is used, it was stolen shortly after that recording session. It's a shame as we may have seen Paul using the Cavern bass on the roof-top for Let It Be but by that time he only had one choice in Hofners.

jeff · Post by **jeff** » Thu May 29, 2003 2:03 am

I'm with you guys on this one. 4001S was definitely used during 'Rubber Soul', 'Revolver', 'Sgt. Pepper', and 'MMT'. I have a Japanese book called "The Beatles on Press" which is a thick hard cover volume of photos (b&w) throughout their career most of which that have never been published before. There are several contact sheets of photos taken during the sessions for the 'White Album' (looks like Linda McCartney's work) that clearly shows that Macca was using a '68 left handed Fender Jazz Bass at one point during the sessions. I know Fender gave The Beatles a rosewood tele, a Bass VI, a right handed Jazz Bass, and several new amps. Nothing was mentioned about a lefty version, but there it is in the pictures! Also I would say that the 4001S was used to some degree on the 'White Album' as well. Listen to the grindy bass sound on "Yer Blues".

levykev · Post by **levykev** » Thu May 29, 2003 3:36 am

I think the Fender Jazz bass was used often during the recording of 'the White Album'. That chunky, tonal, flatwound sound on songs like 'Glass Onion', 'Yer Blues', and 'While my Guitar Gently Weeps'. I'm sure the Rick made a few appearences..and the Hofner. Paul probably used what was in that particular studio. Because they bounced around from room to room during that session.

simer4001 · Post by **simer4001** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 11:53 am

I believe his Fender Jazz was a right handed bass restrung. He used it during the White Album and Abbey Road. He also used it for Band on the Run. In one of the books (Sessions or Chronicles) Harrison is seen playing his Fender Jazz.

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu Jun 26, 2003 4:11 pm

Jeff Jerdon has sent in this photo of McCartney with a left handed Fender Jazz Bass during the White Album recording sessions. Thanks Jeff.

larrywassgren · Post by **larrywassgren** » Thu Jun 26, 2003 5:03 pm

That's one great photo that I've never seen before. Love that J-200. They could be working on While My Guitar Gentley Weeps, Here Come's The Sun, Let It Be, who knows for sure. What day did Paul wear that shirt? Looks like the Revolution shirt but maybe he wore it several times? I know I'm still guilty of wearing shirts for several years. But, the main point here is he definitely was given a left-handed Jazz bass. I don't think he was too fond if it 'but gave it a go anyway'. These were the guitars they should have been giving away, not the early ones that George let go.

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Thu Jun 26, 2003 6:21 pm

Great photo, thanks!

jeff · Post by **jeff** » Fri Jun 27, 2003 2:48 am

My pleasure guys! Peter this photo turned out better than I thought it would considering in the book it only measured less than 1.5" in width. You chose the better of the four I sent. These all came from a contact sheet. They are in fact Linda McCartney photos. Don't ask me how the Japanese got hold of them.
By the way Mr. Wassgren you mention above about Macca's '61 Hofner being stolen after the sessions for the "Ballad Of J&Y", but from what I've read it was stolen after the "Revolution" video shoot. Somebody out there has quite a "prize" posession.
Also too Mr. Simer in regard to the Fender Jazz bass that Macca used during "Band On The Run", I had the pleasure of talking to Denny Laine at Beatlefest Chicago 1995. I asked him about why Paul used a right-handed Fender Jazz bass during those sessions. He seemed to remember that a few of the instruments that they used were actually already in the EMI studio in Lagos where they recorded (either studio property or used by another band or artist at the time). He thinks that it was strung right-handed and Paul played it upside-down! I mentioned that I found it unusual that Paul would do that. He said "Well you know Paul being the clever c*nt that he is".

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Jun 27, 2003 2:56 am

I agree Larry a great photo. There is a wealth of information to be had from this photo that goes beyond McCartney's left-handed Fender Jazz bass.

George has the J-200 capoed at the third fret. To my way of thinking, and while speculative to say the least, I think that this is an overdubbing session for "Martha My Dear" which took place on Saturday October 5, 1968. The song was recorded in Eb, and so the capo on the third fret for George fits. Paul played both the bass and electric guitars on "Martha My Dear" with Harrison on the acoustic.

Lewisohn indicates that the session was at Trident Studios, Trident House, St. Anne's Court, Wardour St.,London from 6:00 pm to 1:00 am.

This dating is tentative, of course, pending further research and discussion. Let the games begin.

jeff · Post by **jeff** » Fri Jun 27, 2003 3:22 am

Excellent observation Peter! I'm glad now that I sent the photos enlarged or I wouldn't have noticed the capo position. Feel free to use some of the other photos that I sent you from this session to solve the mystery.

beatlesgear · Post by **beatlesgear** » Fri Jun 27, 2003 5:55 pm

We've had access to all of the proof sheets from these sessions, they actually start on one day, go to the next roll of film and then stop, then pick up on another day after that and go to another roll of film. The serial number for one of their Jazz basses is located on an asset list from 1970, along with a ton of other serial numbers as well. Most of this info will be in the guitar sections of www.beatlesgear.com when they finally go up.

Jeff, the '61 Hofner was there the first few weeks of filming Let It Be, it's in the "Ballad of John and Yoko" promo film, which might be why Larry brought that up.

larrywassgren · Post by **larrywassgren** » Sat Jun 28, 2003 8:49 am

Jeff, I appreciate it but just call me Larry. I'm just one of us trying to piece all this stuff together. I do know more about the early days but I'm also not totally out of it when it comes to their whole career and I'm going to start digging through these later period photos. The Japanese turn up some amazing shots! I remember Tom Hartman telling me when the Aerovons were recording in Abbey Road(around the same time the Tennessean, 2nd Rickenbacker 12-string and Paul's Cavern bass were stolen), John and Paul were working on The Ballad Of John And Yoko in the other studio(he could over-hear them when the doors opened). Shortly after that I got the video for The Ballad Of John And Yoko and sure enough the Cavern bass is being used in the studio on this song. That's the last time it was seen. It's interesting that Paul was just getting into this bass again as he used it on Revolution also, but sad that just as he was getting back into it somebody stole it out of Abbey Road Studios. If I had done it, I would feel a little like the guy in Edgar Allan Poe's Telltale Heart. The beating or the thumping of that bass would penetrate my brain until I'd finally have to come out and scream, 'I did it!!' Now, back to the photos..