On Abbey Road it's mostly Rick. On certain songs like "Oh Darling" and "Mean mr Mustard" McCartney used a Fender Jazz Bass. It should also be noted that on some songs George Harrison was the bass player, "Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight" is on of them. He played a right-handed Jazz Bass.
To @ottoiris Stu Sutcliffe was the original bassist of The Beatles from May 1960 to August 1961.Sutcliffe was much more of an artist/painter than a musician, John Lennon convinced him to buy a Höfner bass guitar with money that Stuart earned from an art exhibit.When the Beatles played in Hamburg, Germany.Sutcliffe decided to leave The Beatles and concentrate on painting again Stu lent Paul his bass until he could buy his own and the rest is history
Rickenbacker? Hofner? Fender? I'd guess Ric, but its the strings that are most important here. Strings are definitely Rotosound Tru Bass 88 nylon tape wound. There is no mistaking that dark swelling tone with the snappy attack. Put these strings on just about any bass and you will get this 'sound'. Really! He uses the Rotos on a Hofner in the rooftop film - black strings with gold threads. On Abbey Road, there is more sustain and better intonation (limited at best with 88s) so likely the RIc.
@mikka1963 If listen to it closely it is his Rickenbacker 4001S. I have a 4001c64s (McCartney and Wings model) with Thomasik and Infield JF344 Flats like he uses with the mute on, and it sounds exactly like that. The Hofner doesn't have that kind of growl to it!!!! That is definately a solid body bass!!!
@mikka1963 Alot of people state they know what they played but Geoff Emerick who was the engineer for Abbey Road, Sgt Pepper, and Revolver said that he was using his Rickenbacker, and he tried to add just a touch of reverb to his bass for this song and Paul would always recognize even the slightest bit and make him stop. There are few pics of them recording this album but the pics I saw shows him playing his newly sanded 4001S. BTW his Hofner 500/1 is a 1963 model!!! His Ric is a 1964.
On Abbey Road it's mostly Rick. On certain songs like "Oh Darling" and "Mean mr Mustard" McCartney used a Fender Jazz Bass. It should also be noted that on some songs George Harrison was the bass player, "Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight" is on of them. He played a right-handed Jazz Bass.
Kiljublom 1 week ago
Oh, that's DEFINITELY the Hofner!
Guidotoons101 1 month ago
a true stylist and standout bass player
born2grooveu 1 month ago 2
To @ottoiris Stu Sutcliffe was the original bassist of The Beatles from May 1960 to August 1961.Sutcliffe was much more of an artist/painter than a musician, John Lennon convinced him to buy a Höfner bass guitar with money that Stuart earned from an art exhibit.When the Beatles played in Hamburg, Germany.Sutcliffe decided to leave The Beatles and concentrate on painting again Stu lent Paul his bass until he could buy his own and the rest is history
dougniles1 1 month ago
This song made me go out and buy a bass guitar, unfortunately, my ability on bass did not equal my ability on the regular guitar. LOL
EdmondLau2007 1 month ago
Rickenbacker? Hofner? Fender? I'd guess Ric, but its the strings that are most important here. Strings are definitely Rotosound Tru Bass 88 nylon tape wound. There is no mistaking that dark swelling tone with the snappy attack. Put these strings on just about any bass and you will get this 'sound'. Really! He uses the Rotos on a Hofner in the rooftop film - black strings with gold threads. On Abbey Road, there is more sustain and better intonation (limited at best with 88s) so likely the RIc.
Humtagut 3 months ago
@Humtagut he never put Rotosounds on the Rick, only on the Hofner, for all i know. He used Labella Flatwounds on his Rick(correct me if i am wrong)
animepwn3r 3 months ago
This is Hofner, the G-string to the Rickenbacker doesn't have that treble sound!
TeamMastaPr2 4 months ago
I always hated the Hofner but it was probably fun on stage being so light.
ottoiris 4 months ago
@ottoiris I've heard Paul say he played the Hofner because of the violin shape. He felt it looked goofy to play a right-hand instrument left handed.
SeeDeeMoe 1 month ago
I´m pretty sure it is the Hofner. I also think McCartney is an excellent bass player.
mikka1963 4 months ago
@mikka1963 If listen to it closely it is his Rickenbacker 4001S. I have a 4001c64s (McCartney and Wings model) with Thomasik and Infield JF344 Flats like he uses with the mute on, and it sounds exactly like that. The Hofner doesn't have that kind of growl to it!!!! That is definately a solid body bass!!!
ironcitydevildog 4 months ago
Do you really think this is the Hofner?
He was really an inventive Bass player. Thaks for posting!
ottoiris 4 months ago
@ottoiris No it's his Rickenbacker. The Hofner doesn't have that kind of growl.
ironcitydevildog 4 months ago
@ironcitydevildog, maybe you´re right. I got the Hofner information from Robert Fontenot of the
Oldies Music Guide, who states that the musicians and the instruments were:
John Lennon: piano (Alfred E. Knight) (1965 Epiphone E230TD(V) Casino)
Paul McCartney: harmony vocals, bass guitar (1964 Hofner 500/1)
George Harrison: lead vocals (double-tracked), lead guitar (1966 Gibson Les Paul Standard SG)
Ringo Starr: drums (1968 Ludwig Hollywood Maple)
Billy Preston: organ (Hammond RT-3)
Cheers.
mikka1963 4 months ago
@mikka1963 Alot of people state they know what they played but Geoff Emerick who was the engineer for Abbey Road, Sgt Pepper, and Revolver said that he was using his Rickenbacker, and he tried to add just a touch of reverb to his bass for this song and Paul would always recognize even the slightest bit and make him stop. There are few pics of them recording this album but the pics I saw shows him playing his newly sanded 4001S. BTW his Hofner 500/1 is a 1963 model!!! His Ric is a 1964.
ironcitydevildog 4 months ago
@ironcitydevildog, you convinced me that he used a Rickenbaker there. Cheers, mate.
mikka1963 4 months ago