The Beatles as a four-piece live and in the studio, 1961–1966
| Period | Lennon | McCartney |
|---|
| August 1964 – December 1964 | 1964 Rickenbacker 325 1964 Rickenbacker 325/12 1964 Gibson J-160E Vox AC-100 amplifier | 1963 Höfner 500/1 bass Vox AC100 bass amplifier |
The Fender Jazz Bass was a bass guitar used both Paul and George from 1968 to 1969.
Who was The Beatles bass player?
Paul McCartney1960 – 1970
Stuart Sutcliffe1960 – 1961
Fender Bassman Blackface. What a lot of people do not know is that the 1964 6G6-B Bassman was actually the most recorded amplifier by The Beatles. The amp was first used by Paul McCartney as his main bass amp from 1965 to mid 1967 (he did use a Vox during this time but not as much as the Bassman).
There were actually two violin basses. The first, bought by McCartney in Hamburg in 1962 is the missing instrument. In 1963, Hofner gave McCartney an improved model as a reward for making the brand world famous. McCartney still plays the 1963 model at concerts, as he did at his 2013 show in Ottawa.
It is a solo performance with McCartney playing a Martin D 28 acoustic guitar. The track includes recordings of a male common blackbird singing in the background. Apart from the blackbird, only three sounds were recorded: McCartney's voice, his guitar, and a tapping that keeps time on the left channel.
Paul plays Yamaha grand pianos on stage and in the studio.
Paul McCartney uses Audio-Technica ATH-M50 Professional Studio Monitor Headphones.
Paul played with a pick from his earliest days on the instrument, and continued this habit all throughout his career. It's rare to find a Beatles where he plays with his fingers instead. Using a pick has a number of tonal advantages, particularly with the violin-style basses that Paul liked to use.
Since foam muting removes all the sustain from a note, the "tone" is obscured significantly and most basses will sound very similar when played like that. So, whatever you have, it'll work! Just get a pick and a little piece of foam. A sock shoved between the strings at the bridge works too.
The '58 Rickenbacker 325 normally rests in New York City with Yoko at the Dakota. It is, however, currently on loan for the first time ever to The John Lennon Museum in Saitama Japan, included amongst the most extensive collection of authentic Lennon artifacts ever assembled.
McCartney almost always uses the neck pickup only. Volume control wide open. Since the bridge pickup is off, it doesn't matter what you do with that knob. Looking at your switches in the picture, you need to have SOLO, BASS ON, TREBLE where it is.
Currently, Rickenbacker is only producing their 4003 line of bass guitars, specifically the 4003S and 4003W. You can buy used Rickenbacker 4003 bass guitars at a lower price.
Paul received his Rickenbacker 4001S during the Hollywood Bowl concert in August 1964.
Was Paul McCartney The Beatles bass player?
Paul McCartney1960 – 1970
Stuart Sutcliffe1960 – 1961
As a musician, Paul McCartney is probably best known for his creative, melodic Beatles and Wings basslines. But he's always been a guitarist at heart. The guitar was, after all, his first instrument (if you ignore the trumpet his father gave him for his 14th birthday), and it's always been his main songwriting tool.
