How The Beatles Recorded Bass in 1967 

He was always a bit narcissistic

@@awubutfilmsab can u blame him? Man's perfect

@@armand2615 that's right

Yeah, he can say that.

@@awubutfilmsab - Gosh, is that your professional diagnosis? Oh...wait...are you one of them internet goblins or gnomes or whatever they call them fellers that like to say stuff that gets folks all riled up?

He is a master bass player himself.

Have you seen his playing style on the "I Am the Walrus" film? He just lays it out casual.

Wow!!!! What a story!

Riiiiiiight 😂

Just in general one of the greatest musical talents who has ever graced the planet. Really tough to describe his, or the Beatles’ in general, impact, other than go to the most remote place on our planet.. tribal places where modern society had not really happened yet, and the people these WILL KNOW Beatles music and WILL want you to sing along with them.

James Jamerson , Carl Kaye and Geddy Lee are considered the best. John Entwhitsle of the Who was the first to bring the Rock bass out as a lead instrument.

It's all subjective. Quincy Jones thought Paul was a terrible bass player. But the final product asnd it's success are the final word. i had some Japanese basses from the 60's that had a foam arm mute that you could engage. Sounded alot like that, of course the pickups and general quality of the bass were terrible but someone at Teisco picked up on the fact that the muted sound was a "Feature". In my studio i'll sometimes mic the bass amp. I have a couple of the Fender White bassmans. If the guiutar players aren't using them the bass players will. I get more of them but Brian Setzer buys them all up. They're wonderful. Just a straight ahead amp. A bit under powered for bass but if the band isn't loud they're fine. Listen to James Jamerson. He had that sound to, never changed his strings unless they broke, played thru an Ampeg 30 watt fliptop. Played on 80% of the hits of the 60's.

Completely opinion, but Paul was a MUSICIAN and well-studied. Reason he could play so many instruments well. His attack of the bass was completely different to a traditional "bassist", which is what made his bass playing great, and the Beatles sound unique. Similar with Keith Moon of the drums in their completely different approach to their instrument. In terms of skillset on the bass? Not really "best" in my humble opinion, but a fantastic and wonderful bassist all the same.

Away from me try to diminish a great player (I’ve been working hard to be better at guitar), but Paul is such an amazing artist and songwriter, that his bass playing tends to be always seem as a tool to a greater talent, which is his music.

He is not muting the rickenbacker has that thing in the strings has the foam you just need to unscrew and the foam come up

@@SoyaIvansOficial Oh yeah, I didn't know that? same with the 40003S JETGLO bass9(see how I put it in capitals to make the bass BIGGER) lol

That is funny!!!! 👍🤣

@@bonnerscott5374 if you play or have a rickenbacker have the foam in the bridge

@@bonnerscott5374 check my videos with my Beatles song am not muting with my palm the foam inside the rickenbacker does it

Yes Sir, Pauls playing slices across all Genres of music. His techniques are great in Jazz.

have to agree... was too young to realize how good Paul was when I was a boy in '64, but by the time I was 15, WHAM, I heard things like "LET ME ROLL IT/HEART LIKE A WHEEL" and could not avoid hearing THAT BASS. From then on all I heard was Paul's bass. Keep in mind that I really disliked "WINGS."

Is.

Not bad for a guitar player! Lol. I also find Paul's lines really interesting. Tracks like Rain are among my favorite bass tracks.... I also thought John Paul Jones played some really great lines. My two favorite mainstream bassists.

@@jerryc8978 I said the same thing. I mean, he is still alive and rockandrolling

@@bishlap There were good bass lines in some Wings songs.

I use the Koss HV 1As - almost a religious experience !

That's a major point... so much is lost by the equipment we all normally use. You got to listen in an ideal situation. That must have been great!

Listen to Magical Mystery Tour with a good sound system. Some of Pauls' best bass work, in my opinion. The title track, Your Mother Should Know, Penny Lane, Baby You're A Rich Man, All You Need Is Love. Great tone on that record!

It's where you put it, right?

Yes he could get pretty busy at times but it always served the song. Rain and the end of She’s So Heavy come to mind

He was a guitar player 🤣

McCartney is a very tasteful player, you can get away with a lot of stuff if you're good, look at Jamerson's lines.

@@G8GT364CI In several interviews, Paul has said he was greatly influenced by Jamerson, although back in the early 60's he didn't know his name as Motown didn't credit individual musicians on their records. It was only when Marvin Gaye recorded What's Going On that James Jamerson got a credit on the record.

Before the marvelous Leland Sklar’s rapid single note entry in “Dr. My Eyes”, Paul McCartney and the Ox (John Entwhistle of The Who, for the young’uns) were bouncing those beautiful “buppada-buppadahs” into MANY a tune ... including Paperback Writer : ). Love those guys...

So true. Listening to them on headphones is just musical candy to your ears.

Really from Rubber Soul onward - you're listening to the bass.

His bass playing is something I always thought of how his lines just walk amongst the track and really bring a lot to it compared to what you may be hearing if not paying attention to his bass

He plays bass the "wrong" way by using his thumb and index finger pretty much as a fat pick and doing a lot of palm-muting. I think this is because he taught himself to play. I play bass exactly the same way because I also taught myself, so this may be a common way self-taught bassists play. I have tried playing the "right" way (finger method) and I simply don't like it nor do I get that thumping sound I love so much. I say "wrong" and "right" because there is NO wrong or right way to play bass, but some gatekeepers and elitist jerks will tell you otherwise. In fact, in the 60s it was common to play bass with a pick (which I occasionally do) before the finger and slap methods were commonly adopted.

@@James-eg3nf I didn’t mean so much his technique, or playing style, since that muted picking was common, though being left handed probably did have some impact on his unique sound. I mean that his rhythms were either unorthodox or straight quarter notes. Rhythmically kind of boring but melodically in outer space. His bass lines are so pleasing and intuitive but interesting at the same time. That’s what I meant by the isolated bass tracks sound weird, because I’d be playing something different, but with the whole band Paul’s bass clicks in like part of a jigsaw puzzle and the picture is completed.

@@James-eg3nf I'm pretty sure some players have been using their thumb like a paddle, along with palm muting, as a way to get that round, thumpy sound ever since the electric bass was invented. I'm self taught and do the same thing so you might be on to something though. I don't like much high end on bass either. I like bass to sound...bassy. Good tone comes from your hands, not eq knobs.

@@James-eg3nf Well, I learned to play "fingers-style" on a mid-60's Hofner 500s/1,, Violin bass like Pauls, only "righty"..Then I learned to play with a pick, as needed, for the sound..BTW, the Hofner is trashed. .needs extensive restoration work..May not be worth it, tho it is vintage..

I’m a musician too and it’s just a warm room. Not intimidating, comfy like someone’s house. I really cherish that aspect of the room

The bass often comes through loud and clear even on the cheapest speakers.

Yes, he m0st certainly is!! Loads of talent in that gentleman!!

Interesting?very awsome?😅

Carol Kaye?? She had chamber on her bass on a lot of records it’s a great sound if done right

I've always added a bit of the room reflection when I record bass, but just barely enough that you wouldn't even notice there's any reflection at all in the mix. It just adds a bit of depth that can't be replicated otherwise.

If anyone says theres no reverb on bass get a new engineer. Sometimes in songs when its just bass and guitar adding some verb to the bass and not the guitar adds a very nice effect. The guitar stays warm n crisp but theres a tiny bit of verb underneath being held up with the bass. You could also double the guitar channels but then that adds another element ...

@@tornadoalleystudios2283 If using 'verb and vibrato on bass was good enough for the late great Chris Squire, then it be good enough for me!! :D Edit: Liked & subbed!

I have noticed reverb does more to a sound than add an ambience trail. It can affect the tone of an instrument not counting any trail.

Yes, a great synergistic effort on all concerned!!

They're great old workhorse tube amps...like a Twin Reverb, no spkrs..

Sounds amazing through my blue tooth

Yeah, and im almost deaf! Had to turn phone volume almost to "max"..

@@samburkes7552 And I still could barely hear it

decent ear buds required...

LOL Maybe because cell phone speakers don't produce ANY BASS. bass is 2 notes below Middle c. 16 - 250 hz.

Roger Furer, that's a very collectible instrument. Double horseshoe pickup motif ended yrs ago. Prob a very rare 4000..or 4001. Hang with it!!

@@samburkes7552 Ah well, I sold it to a friend who was my bass player for a time. He let it fall and cracked off the head. He was trying to get it repaired in L.A. in the late 70s and I lost track after that. Hope whoever has it now appreciates the treasure.

@@rogerfurer2273 Man, that's just really too, too bad. Lots of times headstock repairs are never really the same afterwards..Sorry.

Those REDD EMI all tube mixing boards contributed a lot to the sound. It is also the way he played the bass.

Thank you George that’s very kind

@@BoulevardRecording, you nailed it, man!

brian wilson doubled many beach boys bass parts with tack piano... m)

George Martin no doubt was a great teacher for the lads and Paul was a very quick and talented study. and if the Beatles were not enough for Mr Martin along came the Moodies.

Geritopia definitely their songwriting. But the recording bits are a topic of interest to many. It’s why I got into recording

Song writing and performances. They put tons of energy into everything.

Oh..you think so, huh, geritopia?? Lol

@@chipgaasche4933 Yeah, well... Its just that they could have used other various types of cabinet/mic/compressor configurations and their songs would still shine... but buying all the tools and emulating it wont get you closer to being *like* them. I wouldn't mind the cash resources, however.

George later said he felt the line was in places, too busy.

John was taught tenor banjo by his Mom, Julia. Just adapt ed to six strings. Far as I know J and P taught eachother

@@doitnowvideosyeah5841 yes Paul showed John the 6 string ,,

Hardly ever hear/see a Ric 4000 series with flatwounds one it

Yessir, Ray, correct. After hearing Squires sound with Yes, every bassist/wannabe jumped on the RotoSound roundwound string bandwagon!!

@@doitnowvideosyeah5841 Very true, indeed!! Even P-basses, J-basses, etc..

Joe Osbourne said he never changed the flat wound nylon strings on his Fretless Jazz Bass. He used a pick for the required transient effect; if he plucked without the pick one presumes the sound effect would be pretty dull. Listen to Simon and Garfunkel's "Save The Life Of My Child," "Bridge Over Troubled Water," and of course The Carpenter's "Superstar." If that's not heavenly bass, pray tell what is? It didn't hurt having Roy Halee for a producer.

@@samburkes7552 Hardly anyone uses flats anymore.