Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I am a guitar player and know next to nothing about basses. In fact, when I listen to a band, the bass is about the last thing I notice. I can spot a 12-string Rickenbacker in about three seconds, but I don't really have an ear for bass tones. Could some of you weigh in and describe the classic Rickenbacker bass sound for me? Specifically, what distinguishes the tones of, say, a Fender Precision Bass and a Rickenbacker. Forgive me for the elementary question. I am new to Ric basses.

My impression is the "average"Rick bass sound is a mid-scoop, with a lot of brightness.

But, I have been fooled with effects/amp combinations. I used to think John Wetton was using a Rick in the mid 1970's King Crimson, but apparently he had the treble end of his amp cranked (that was a P-Bass). Also, Paul McCartney's Rick sound is nothing like the "classic" clank of Chris Squire or Geddy Lee (Lee is another who gets a very similar sound IMO from his J basses).

From a players point of view there's a special "clank" in a Rick from how the strings and wood vibrate off each other. It's almost like an slap type sound without the extremely violent attack. YMMV

double post - sorry

The way Ric basses are constructed lends itself to a lot of crisp treble articulation riding atop a Phat booming bass sound,with the mids subdued. I have really gotten into the Macca-esque sound i get from my Cii 4004 strung with maxima flats,and played with a pick. ( no compression,tho.)
My 4000 has only one pickup,but gets a full ripping clank sound played pic or fingerstyle with DR fatbeams.
My laredo has hybrid circle k rw strings,that are very sleek feeling,and have plenty of bite,albeit a smoother version of clank. These 3 basses are very different sounding,but all have the RIC sound,which is always very "present",and pretty even across the fretboard spectrum.
Maybe if you don't typically notice the bass in songs,it's because nothing interesting is going on in the song,basswise. That's certainly my impression with a lot of songs/bands. Usually,it's just there providing the "cushion",under the chord changes. It's only when melodic bass parts are applied,that i take any notice.
Any bass can be set up,eq'd,multi amped to sound any different number of ways. John Wetton got a sound out of a P-bass that was unprecedented. Bruce Thomas,too,altho a very different sound. And the same is true for all the different Ric bass players. It would be hard to find 3 less similar sounding players than the Holy triumvirate of Mccartney,Squire,and Lemmy.
Just to summarize,The sound(s) of a Ric bass are among the best of any bass guitar made,for some of us,they are just the best,period.
Whew,no more coffee for me this morning!

For honk, gank and clank, listen to 'Cinderella man' from Rush and for growl listen to Heart of the sunrise' by Yes.

Listen particularly at 2:27


And then, well, the whole thing...

cheyenne wrote:...Heart of the sunrise' by Yes.

Hm, I was just playing some of that on the Snowglo this afternoon, getting to know some of it's tones through the Tone Hammer 500 and the smaller LDS cab. I still have the stock RIC strings on it and soloing the neck pickup sounds great for some nice Squire tone.

Folkie wrote:... the classic Rickenbacker bass sound ...

Great topic!

In my head there are mainly two, but I don't know how to describe them. One is Paul McCartney flatwound, like on "Sgt. Pepper." The other is Chris Squire roundwound, like on the album "Fragile," by Yes. To me, the two types of string bring very different personalities out of the 4001.

Check out the outstanding video clips posted on this forum by rickinroma and miguelbass, true masters of each.

bluewhale wrote:Check out the outstanding video clips posted on this forum by rickinroma and miguelbass, true masters of each.

I miss that lovely gentleman, does he ever post? http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.p ... miguelbass

CJ, you captured my intention dead on.

I love the deep, solid, yet smooth, fundamental a Rickenbacker 4001/4003 provides, and the way it is given definition by the upper mid/treble presence. This contrasts somewhat with a Fender bass, which has less emphasis on the fundamental harmonic, and gets much of it's perceived fatness from the lower mid harmonics. However, the Rickenbacker is very versatile and I like to blend the balance between the pickups in various ways to give totally different tones, ranging from smooth thump to aggressive treble growl, or a combination of both. But however you eq it or blend the pickups it still has that distinctive 'something' that you just don't get from other types of basses...