Cosmo Valdemar Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 (edited) I've always thought so. But I've just stumbled upon this live clip of Renaissance and Jon Camp's extraordinary Dick Knight double-neck makes a remarkably convincing noise, despite the different pickups. Have a listen for yourselves (lengthy bass solo at 7:10) [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY9VfOD8sHQ[/media] p.s. John Tout RIP. Edited May 6, 2015 by Cosmo Valdemar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 One of the classic tones only a Ric can do....IMO but other tones that are credited as Ric sounds were actually from a Jazz... I think work by Squires, Glover and Hughes using both basses are well documented.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1430857622' post='2765377'] I think work by Squires, Glover and Hughes using both basses are well documented.. [/quote] ...and Lee, Foxton! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted May 5, 2015 Author Share Posted May 5, 2015 [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1430857622' post='2765377'] One of the classic tones only a Ric can do....IMO but other tones that are credited as Ric sounds were actually from a Jazz... I think work by Squires, Glover and Hughes using both basses are well documented.. [/quote] Both Geddy Lee and Chris Squire get very different tones from their Ricks and Jazzes, there's very little sonic confusion between the two - except on Moving Pictures where all the bass tracks are smothered in effects! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacey Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 The sound is more to do with Single coils having output thats not self limited and allows clipping and pickup spacing under harmonic points which produces partial phasing on the peaks. Then put the strings, the bridge and pickups all on one through wood laminate neck for sustain and you have a Rick sound . Copy this in any bass even with humbuckers and you wont be far off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted May 5, 2015 Author Share Posted May 5, 2015 [quote name='spacey' timestamp='1430859564' post='2765408'] The sound is more to do with Single coils having output thats not self limited and allows clipping and pickup spacing under harmonic points which produces partial phasing on the peaks. [/quote] I'm afraid that's a bit beyond my understanding, but surely the pickups in the clip aren't in the usual Rick position? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 [quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1430861667' post='2765444'] I'm afraid that's a bit beyond my understanding, but surely the pickups in the clip aren't in the usual Rick position? [/quote] Not even slightly in the same position or the same type. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted May 5, 2015 Share Posted May 5, 2015 (edited) I always say it the person who's playing the bass that dictates tone and sound. Not the bass, strings, or the amp. If I were to get up and play through Larry Graham's rig I would sound like me, not Larry Graham. But that's just me. Blue Edited May 5, 2015 by blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gadgie Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 [quote name='blue' timestamp='1430868414' post='2765499'] I always say it the person who's playing the bass that dictates tone and sound. Not the bass, strings, or the amp. If I were to get up and play through Larry Graham's rig I would sound like me, not Larry Graham. But that's just me. Blue [/quote] I agree Blue. All my guitars sound pretty damn poor when I play them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 I don't, though I do in part. If you played through Larry Graham's rig, you'd sound like you playing through Larry Graham's rig. It's not gonna sound anything like what you do playing through your own rig (unless you so happen to have the same rig, strings & EQ settings), but it would still be your style of playing that comes through. When I switched from round wound to flat wound strings, the sound was very different. The playing style is still very much me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 Are we sure that's an actual Rickenbacker and not a John Birch copy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectoremg Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1430894382' post='2765565'] Are we sure that's an actual Rickenbacker and not a John Birch copy? [/quote]The headstocks look different? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectoremg Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1430857622' post='2765377'] One of the classic tones only a Ric can do....IMO but other tones that are credited as Ric sounds were actually from a Jazz... I think work by Squires, Glover and Hughes using both basses are well documented.. [/quote]I assumed for years that Parallels was a Rick and then learned it was a Jazz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectoremg Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 [quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1430892247' post='2765546'] I don't, though I do in part. If you played through Larry Graham's rig, you'd sound like you playing through Larry Graham's rig. It's not gonna sound anything like what you do playing through your own rig (unless you so happen to have the same rig, strings & EQ settings), but it would still be your style of playing that comes through. When I switched from round wound to flat wound strings, the sound was very different. The playing style is still very much me. [/quote]I agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 [quote name='spectoremg' timestamp='1430895173' post='2765568'] The headstocks look different? [/quote] John Birch made Rickenbacker copies with both his own style headstock and one that looked very much like Rickenbacker's. Mid to late 70s was a time when lots of UK artists were using John Birch instruments especially if you wanted something that wasn't easily available from the US manufacturers of the time. Double neck Ric-style instrument fits the bill perfectly and there were several pictured in the JB catalogue of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Adams Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 I suppose this is going off topic really, sorry, but I was enthralled by that Renaissance track, I didn't realise they were THAT good. Annie is just awesome, and that bass, whatever tone it is, is just brilliant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted May 6, 2015 Author Share Posted May 6, 2015 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1430894382' post='2765565'] Are we sure that's an actual Rickenbacker and not a John Birch copy? [/quote] It's not a Rickenbacker - it's a custom made by Dick Knight. Not the classical guitar-style slotted headstocks. Little can be found of it's history online though sadly. I've edited the original post now to make it clear this isn't a Rick, but just sounds remarkably like one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted May 6, 2015 Author Share Posted May 6, 2015 [quote name='blue' timestamp='1430868414' post='2765499'] I always say it the person who's playing the bass that dictates tone and sound. Not the bass, strings, or the amp. If I were to get up and play through Larry Graham's rig I would sound like me, not Larry Graham. But that's just me. Blue [/quote] Different argument entirely. My post was about how the fabled 'unique' Rickenbacker tone can apparently be acheived by a bass with very different electronics, something I always doubted possible. FWIW, the idea that tone and sound is dictated solely by the player, rather than the gear, is one I find ludicrous. But that's another thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted May 6, 2015 Author Share Posted May 6, 2015 [quote name='Phil Adams' timestamp='1430899515' post='2765619'] I suppose this is going off topic really, sorry, but I was enthralled by that Renaissance track, I didn't realise they were THAT good. Annie is just awesome, and that bass, whatever tone it is, is just brilliant. [/quote] Beautiful isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Adams Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 [quote name='Cosmo Valdemar' timestamp='1430900983' post='2765635'] Beautiful isn't it? [/quote] Certainly is CV. Always loved Northern Lights, but never looked beyond that. Will now. Thanks for posting it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckinthepod Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 Corrraaaalll Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buff Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 Maybe it also depends on the amp thats being used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HengistPod Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 Strangely, one of my Thunderbirds sounded frighteningly like a Rick last week. I always have all the controls full up, so it wasn't that. I had been fiddling with my compressor and turned the sustain down, and perhaps upped the high frequencies a touch on the amp. I'd also just shielded all the cavities with copper foil, completely eliminating any extraneous noise that'd been there before. Other than that, it must just have been the room. It was quite scary, but I was dead impressed with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevB Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 TBH I thought the OP clip sounded like a P from the off and it didn't surprise me to see there were P type pickups on the bass, albeit 2 sets! I sometime wonder if we get fooled by style of play as much as anything - Jon Camp played in a very similar way to Squire, Squire played a Ric a lot and your brain starts filling in the blanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectoremg Posted May 6, 2015 Share Posted May 6, 2015 [attachment=191403:Mike Rutherford twin neck.jpg] I believe this is a Dick Knight 12/6-string bass which apparently Rutherford couldn't get on with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.gif.9ad672bb8b84505709f76b39c8c256ec.gif)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.