But what sets them apart?
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2009 2:20 pm
What is it about the sound of a Ric bass that appeals so uniquely to some people (like many of us here)?
Personally I don't believe Ric basses have a single resulting sound but I do think they share a certain sonic fingerprint, buried under the surface of the player's influence, imparted by the method of construction, wood choices, pickups, and other things. Funny, though, I have never really been able to articulate in a concise way WHAT is so different--it's hard to put words to it even though I hear it and know it's there. When I try to tell people about my basses (if I don't have the fortune of having them around to play) I go into lengthy prose about the striking harmonic content, the juxtapositional tightness and fluidity of the sound, the well-rounded EQ full of deep lows and soaring highs...... and I just end up saying too much and in the end my description is as descriptive as a blank page. It's frustrating, not being able to explain what I hear.
Finally today when I was browsing YouTube (I have been sick all week with a really bad cold and when I can't sleep... it's internet time), I found some sort of promo for Reason "Bass Refill" or something (a digital bass emulator). They heavily sampled 8 unique basses, one of which was a Rickenbacker 1974 4001 (among a couple Fenders, a Gibson or two, and some others I was less familiar with). They played through them all really fast in sequence but sure enough their 4001 sounded predictably Rickenbacker when it came up--no, nothing like Chris Squire or Geddy Lee, in fact it was playing some kind of a funky thing for the sample. But it definitely sounded like a Rickenbacker in light of the others.
Clean and articulate with lots of punch. THAT is what I noticed about it more than anything. The notes were well-rounded, distinct, and contrasted well with each other--not gummed up with lots of sonic mud. To each his own but THAT is definitely something I love about these basses!
The other 95% of the sound--your style and what you choose to emphasize--heavily colors this sonic fingerprint and may even bury it to the point that it's no longer visible. But I'm curious, do you all agree with me that "Clean and articulate with lots of punch" is a succinct and accurate way to describe the classic (and modern) Ric bass signature sound? I have struggled with how to put it into words for a long time but I think I've finally got it. Do you?
Personally I don't believe Ric basses have a single resulting sound but I do think they share a certain sonic fingerprint, buried under the surface of the player's influence, imparted by the method of construction, wood choices, pickups, and other things. Funny, though, I have never really been able to articulate in a concise way WHAT is so different--it's hard to put words to it even though I hear it and know it's there. When I try to tell people about my basses (if I don't have the fortune of having them around to play) I go into lengthy prose about the striking harmonic content, the juxtapositional tightness and fluidity of the sound, the well-rounded EQ full of deep lows and soaring highs...... and I just end up saying too much and in the end my description is as descriptive as a blank page. It's frustrating, not being able to explain what I hear.
Finally today when I was browsing YouTube (I have been sick all week with a really bad cold and when I can't sleep... it's internet time), I found some sort of promo for Reason "Bass Refill" or something (a digital bass emulator). They heavily sampled 8 unique basses, one of which was a Rickenbacker 1974 4001 (among a couple Fenders, a Gibson or two, and some others I was less familiar with). They played through them all really fast in sequence but sure enough their 4001 sounded predictably Rickenbacker when it came up--no, nothing like Chris Squire or Geddy Lee, in fact it was playing some kind of a funky thing for the sample. But it definitely sounded like a Rickenbacker in light of the others.
Clean and articulate with lots of punch. THAT is what I noticed about it more than anything. The notes were well-rounded, distinct, and contrasted well with each other--not gummed up with lots of sonic mud. To each his own but THAT is definitely something I love about these basses!
The other 95% of the sound--your style and what you choose to emphasize--heavily colors this sonic fingerprint and may even bury it to the point that it's no longer visible. But I'm curious, do you all agree with me that "Clean and articulate with lots of punch" is a succinct and accurate way to describe the classic (and modern) Ric bass signature sound? I have struggled with how to put it into words for a long time but I think I've finally got it. Do you?