For me Chris Squire's the defining Rickenbacker player, not only because he's the reason I ever picked up the instrument in the first place but also the instrument seemed designed for him. When I think of the Rickenbacker sound I think of bright, zingy sounding treble with a small amount of overdrive/saturation. That's his tone, and that's the Rickenbacker sound.

@stevewebster8527

8 ай бұрын

There are plenty of other bass riffs from Yes tracks that would put Chris at No.1 but maybe too difficult for others to replicate. Only he could pull them off. RIP.

@handwriting8804

8 ай бұрын

Its not THE rickenbacker sound but its definitely a rickenbacker sound

@ledorzejean-etienne3747

8 ай бұрын

Yes I would switch squire and Lee too. And I prefer the musicality Chris was able to create with.

@gustavoheberle6265

7 ай бұрын

Agreed : Squire #1 , Lee #2 !

@stanleybroniszewsky8538

7 ай бұрын

​@@stevewebster8527- If Chris used anything other than a Ric, sure it would still sound good. But because he used a Ric, that sound put him over the top

Mani is one of the most underrated bass players of all time. His grooves on I Am the Resurrection are ridiculously tight with Reni’s drumming and make me wanna dance every time I hear it

@jonathongoldby4564

8 ай бұрын

Mani is a bass player’s bass player

@ChrisHopkinsBass

7 ай бұрын

Mani used a short scale Ric

@thesanfordmethod1905

7 ай бұрын

The Tuna Ric Bass I think it was called.@@ChrisHopkinsBass

@Steaminlidz

4 ай бұрын

Normally, when you go and see a band - you come away going, “they were amazing - they’re so tight live”. Seeing The Stone Roses live was completely the opposite. They were so loose…. They’d play a few bars, at the end of the section Reni would launch into a big fill with loads of toms and Squire and Mani would just sort of hang around at the end of the bar for Reni to catch up and drop back into the groove. There was so much push and pull between the band. Totally different experience to watching a super-tight, metronomic band.

@Ukraineaissance2014

3 ай бұрын

Never understood why more fuss isnt made of him. His minimalist bass in fools gold under the main guitar riff is amazing

3:08 I was pleasantly surprised to see Scott Reeder mentioned. One of my favourite bassists. I never really see anyone talk about him. To quote Josh Homme 'He's so god-damn good it's almost bizarre'.

@sullyb23511

5 ай бұрын

I'd like to read that interview.

@nicorepetto5781

5 ай бұрын

@@sullyb23511 it was from the Lo sound Desert documentary, which is on KZread think

@jockkardashian.9407

3 ай бұрын

I came to say exactly the same, love his work.

@henrikw377

2 ай бұрын

Scott Reeder is an absolute beast.

Yes my favorite behs player

@SmoothCriminal69

10 ай бұрын

He's everyone's favorite behs player

@BreakvanProductions65

3 ай бұрын

I have that same bass

@heisenberg6785

3 ай бұрын

​@@BreakvanProductions65you're lucky then

@BreakvanProductions65

3 ай бұрын

@@heisenberg6785thanks 😊

@BreakvanProductions65

3 ай бұрын

I don’t have a Rickenbacker I have the bass in your pfp

This video gets 1,000 points for including "Big Sky" by The Kinks. This video then goes onto achieving LEGENDARY status for including "Gardenia" by Kyuss and "Dragonaut" by Sleep.

@nicorepetto5781

10 ай бұрын

Completely agree. Was pleasantly surprised

@kingcrimson2168

8 ай бұрын

Absolutely, was not expect that example from the kinks, albeit it’s a fantastic one. God save the village green!

McCartney, Geddy, Cliff, Chris and Lemmy are all some of my favourite bassists and all reasons I play a Rick, also another well-known Rick user is Roger Waters from Pink Floyd, who played one during the Floyd’s early career and on their debut album Piper At the Gates of Dawn

@reillyjamessullivan6940

8 ай бұрын

Water's bass riffs from the Syd Barrett/early era are awesome. Look at his playing on Interstellar Overdrive and Let There Be More Light, all awesome

@andrewpappas9311

8 ай бұрын

@@reillyjamessullivan6940 Dude yes, that main riff of Interstellar and the bass solo at the start of LTBML are absolutely insane and I love it

@iidpack1865

8 ай бұрын

Even his basslines on songs like See Emily Play, Lucifer Sam and Matilda Mother are also really good aswell

@Tyrannosaurine

7 ай бұрын

@@iidpack1865I recorded some early floyd covers and the bass parts were really tough. So strange, yet melodic.

@craftiestdude

3 ай бұрын

I think his Rick was stolen after a PF gig. Am I correct?

Happy to see glen matlock on here. Even though his time with the pistols was short he still left a mark with his playing and musicianship.

@DA-rz2dl

10 ай бұрын

He was the bass player. No argument can be made that he wasn't. Sid never learned to play the parts and the whole lifespan of the band was so short he never really played on a record either... Glen's playing was quite good.

@Ukraineaissance2014

3 ай бұрын

They fell apart when it came to song writing without him. He invented some punk staples, such as the 'punk chromatic'

Mike Mills from R.E.M. played a Rickenbacker 4001 in the early 80s. It really suited his style.

@GVike

10 ай бұрын

Ah yes, another omission.

@Farewelltokingz

9 ай бұрын

Yeah, I forgot to mention him. He does good with the P bass too, gets a similar Ric style punch. Cool guy no matter what bass he plays.

@Rib13Bass

7 ай бұрын

I came here to comment about Mike Mills....his Ric 4001 playing on early REM, particularly the Reckoning album, is stellar.....I was bummed when I didn't see him listed

@void0094

7 ай бұрын

@@Rib13Bass I really like his tone on Reckoning. They used a omnidirectional mic to capture the sound of his dual showman amp. A technique that the beatles used in the late 60s

@ednicholson7839

3 ай бұрын

I didn’t even realize Mills stopped playing a Rick. A song like “Laughing” highlights Mills’ great playing - many others too. He’s one of the top guys from the 80s for sure.

I didn't know Peter Hook played a Ric. But checking Equipboard he had a Hondo Ric copy which he described as "terrible". Nice selection. Would have like to see Mike Mills listed.

@GVike

10 ай бұрын

No, he only played that copy.

@fomalhaut9

6 ай бұрын

Yeah. I expect the only thing about it the resembled a Ric was the appearance. He then moved on to a Shergold and Yamaha

Lemmy 5:34 Cliff Burton 5:54 Chris Squire 6:23 Geddy Lee 6:34

Very happy to see Peter Hook on here. He was the inspiration for me to pick up a bass over a decade ago and I have me by put it down since

@garypelow4274

4 ай бұрын

Peter Hook played a Hondo copy, not a Rickenbacker. It has a bolt on neck not through body. The wood is different. The pickups are similar so he was able to get a some but not all tones of the Rickenbacker.

Got to have Paul Gray of The Damned up there. His work (and sound) on their Black album is phenomenal.

@cajunbassdude5012

8 ай бұрын

100 agree! His playing helped propel the band to another level. Also really glad he’s back with Dave and the Captain!

@gabrielcarter4822

7 ай бұрын

I would say The Damned (or The Doomed at one point) had the two best Rick players in Paul and Lemmy.

@BellsCuriosityShop

4 ай бұрын

I wouldn't necessarily say Gray is an influence on my playing, but Black Album and Strawberries are my fave Damned albums. And among the first albums I bought too. His work with Eddie and the Hotrods is up there too of course.

As much as I love Geddy's Ricky tone (still his best one over the Jazz), Chris Squire to me is the definitive Ricky player. He truly made that bass sing when he split both pickups into different amps to what was essentially the precursor to Ric-O-Sound/stereo function for the later 4003 basses!

@thirdlegstalliano

2 ай бұрын

You misspelled behses

Al Cisneros, Lemmy and Scott Reader are my three metal bass heroes. The Gardenia bass line is possibly the funkiest metal bass line ever. So much fun to play

Actually Peter Hook didn't play on a Rickenbacker. It was Hondo II bass.

@tamtenmateusz9475

8 ай бұрын

I remember his favourite bass was the Yamaha BB(something idk what the model number was) but he did play a rickenbacker live sometimes, and it sounds killer

@Humangenerator

8 ай бұрын

​@@tamtenmateusz9475 During Joy Division years It was not actual rick. It was replica, Hondo II bass.

@Ian-qs3fz

8 ай бұрын

@@Humangenerator🤓

I think Lou Barlow from Dinosaur Jr is a hugely underrated Ricky bass player that is up there with the players featured here. Lemmy levels of power, with tons of energy and intensity. Everytime I've seen them live Lou's playing just blows me away.

The bass on Rick James' "Super Freak" was recorded by Oscar Alston with a Musicman Stingray. On the cover of the album, Rick James appears with a Rick in homage to one of his great idols, Cordell "Boogie" Mason, who played for P-Funk.

@markdaniels7174

7 ай бұрын

But make no mistake: Rick really played a Rick. There’s even a picture of him on his headstone 🪦 with a Rick!

@savagliabass

6 ай бұрын

@@markdaniels7174Yes, he played bass, guitar, keyboards and drums. But it's not my mistake. Oscar Alston recorded "Super Freak" from the Srteet Songs album. Just search carefully.

Amazing as always! Keep up the great behs playing!

Thanks for Bruce Foxton. The Jam is underrated. Cheers from Russia 🎸

@evgeniymolyakov1562

7 ай бұрын

привет земляк, от любителя the jam

@iconcanada3660

14 күн бұрын

He rocks love him

Rickenbacker is a fabulous bass guitar. I have a 4001 since 1974 ! It's 50 years old now. A respectful sir.

I think people overlook Roger Glover's bassline on Smoke on the Water because they just listen to the chorus. But he really tears it up on the verses, it's really funky and almost becomes a lead role!

I wish Paul D'Amour was on this list. His bass tone on Tool's Opiate and Undertow was great, and a huge motivation of mine to get into bass.

Much respect for playing so many of these different players and getting their vibe right! My main Rickenbacker player was Chris Squire; I started playing bass because of Chris, always loved his approach and tone! My current Rickenbacker is a blonde 4003S that’s been retrofitted with a number of older style parts to make it look like a 60’s era Rick. It’s also been converted to stereo. It’s a fun bass to play!

Good list! A few honorable mentions: Mike Mills of REM, Steve Smith of The Vapors, Mike Mesaros of the Smithereens, and Rhett Crowe of Guadalcanal Diary.

Glad you included Chris Squire, one of my favourites.

Excellent list!!!! Nice Job!!!

Yay! So happy you added Becky Baldwin! We supported her band in Brighton. I was also playing a Rick that night, so we properly nerded out! They played an awesome set! Geddy totally deserves the no. 1 slot 😄

Excellent selection on here, Danny, loving the content! Some excellent, often overlooked and unsung heroes on this list such as Scott Reeder and Al Cisneros! The only legendary rick player missing from this list is Leon Sylvers III who produced and played bass on all the fantastic SOLAR Records disco hits in the 70s on a Ric with flatwounds a la The Whispers "And The Beat Goes On"!

@GVike

10 ай бұрын

Shalamar too

So sick. Awesome behs video as always. So tempted to buy a Rick now.

What about Mike Rutherford? Genesis's bassits with that literally unique double-neck Rickenbacker bass

@justsomedude5727

7 ай бұрын

Mike Rutherford is great, I love the bass on Fountain of Salmacis in particular

@Farewelltokingz

10 күн бұрын

Was gonna say this, although I think he became more famous for his breathtaking unaccompanied bass pedal solos.

Awesome clip, Danny 😎🤘🏻🎸 lemmy kilmister, cliff burton, Peter hook, and geddy lee are one of my personal favorite rick players.

Hey mate, thanks for this. Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺

Danny,.. this is one of your best videos,.. and that’s sayin’ something,.. ‘cause they’re all good ! 😎👍🏽🎸🎶

Criminal... No Paul Gray The Damned. ... Black Album and Strawberries are unreal. Not forgetting his Eddie and the Hot Rods stint!

I freaking love your channel. Greatest bass channel on KZread ❤!

I'd add Mike Rutherford from Genesis to the list. Can-Utility (amongst others) has a killer Rick bassline. And his Rick was double-necked.

Great video man.. Foxton of The Jam.. if I had to pick one

I’m surprised you didn’t put John Entwistle in here. The Iconic Bass solo of My Generation was performed on a Rickenbacker.

@thecolourrose9022

8 ай бұрын

Nah it was originally recorded on a jazz bass w a pick and flatwound strings the seeker was on a rick though i think

@overjoyous

8 ай бұрын

Nah, Entwistle played a jazz bass My Generation.

@trevorverdoold4843

6 ай бұрын

Both wrong, he actually used a Dan electro long horn and kept breaking the strings and had to buy 2 of them to finish the recording

@stoneyboyd

6 ай бұрын

@@trevorverdoold4843 interesting

@ollyg235

4 ай бұрын

He briefly used 4005 in the late 60s

Royston Lagdon from SpaceHog is super underrated. The band doesn't exist anymore, but his bass lines are killers!

The fact that you had the cheek to rank them made me laugh out loud and ALMOST forgive the endless behs gag AND the boring top 2. Nice video. Thanks!

Chris Squire is the reason I started playing bass. He's also the reason I am in love with the Rick. Paul McCartney and Geddy Lee also played the Rick from time to time. But Squire is the definitive Rick player. I was fortunate enough to see him perform about a dozen times between 1973 and 2013. Every time it was obvious he loved to perform. He was having a blast every time. I was so aggrieved when he went to the great gog in the sky. RIP. Still my musical hero.

Really enjoyed that!

Gotta love Glen Matlock, he may have only been in the Pistols for 2 years, but he was there when they made their top 3 most well known songs, and he co-wrote Pretty Vacant aswell, cant say fairer than that

That was great, enjoyed every one of them.

I knew Chrish Squire and Geddy Lee would be the top 2, definitely deserved placements. This made me realize how many of my favorite bass players have at least at some point played Rickenbackers, I think even Steve DiGiorgio played one on Death's Human.

John Entwistle?

Should have included Colin Moulding from XTC, not enough people are talking about him and his incredible bass playing and songwriting along Andy partridge

@Billyboy939

10 ай бұрын

He never played a Rickenbacker

@LargeWatermelon

10 ай бұрын

I believe he used one for most if not all of oranges and lemons I may be mistaken though

@milesmcmillan-kr6ti

9 ай бұрын

He had an epiphone fretless

@Billyboy939

9 ай бұрын

He played some sort of a copy of a Rickenbacker like a Shaftesbury in the video for Mayor of Simpleton, but it doesn’t sound anything like a Rickenbacker on the recording.

@edwardschaller4129

7 ай бұрын

Pretty sure all of that was on a Wal bass.@@LargeWatermelon

Great list. Particularly nice to see Graham Gouldman there. He's such a prolific songwriter everybody - even Gouldman himself - often forget he's also a great bass player. I'm a bit surprised Michael Rutherford is missing from the list though.

What a great list! I knew it was going to be good when it started with Michael Bradley! Thanks Danny, you made my day!

John Entwistle and Mike Mills were Rick dudes, but only for a few years each, so probably ok to leave them off. XTC's Colin Moulding is probably the one big omission for me.

@Billyboy939

10 ай бұрын

Colin never played a Rick.

A great video!! I’ve loved the Rick sound for decades. I’m more than a little apprehensive about what I’ve heard about their truss rod and (lifting) bridge. Thanks! 🙂😎

Way cool. I love this clip. Thanks. 😎

That was very cool. It’s because of Chris Squire and Geddy Lee I picked up playing bass in the late 70’s.

I really love Geddy Lee, thanks for putting him here alongside with my favorite bass!

Just finally got myself a Ricky about a month ago. It’s been spiritual!!! So worth every penny!

Great tones, and it is so refreshing to see songs other than Roundabout and YYZ for Chris and Ged

Great channel Danny 👏👏👏

Peter Hook used a Rickenbacker copy, not the real deal. Foxton used an Ibanez lawsuit copy for a while. Two guys you could have added IMHO: Steve Smith of The Vapors (once I heard more than their one hit, I was amazed) and Mike Mesaros of The Smithereens (used a Rick for quite a while).

@cletusbeauregard1972

10 ай бұрын

forgot about Mike; definitely a Rick stalwart.

@scottlewis4387

6 ай бұрын

Came to the comment section to look for some Mike Mesaros love. 👍

Awesome list! A few new ones for me to check out! I must say that 12 was actually Ricks bass player, Oscar Alsten on a Stingray. Hes a great olayer and a great guy to boot

Geddy Lee could be in a top 10 list for Fender Precision / Jazz basses as well

Awesome. Love it. Rickys are the tone masters and it was ace to see Becky Baldwin's name in there.

Al Cisneros is unreal. But should have played Cremation Ghat I by OM for his entry. What a bassline. Great video. Great channel.❤

Hey mate, this was great! So many tunes I had not personally heard of. I'm happy I can now check some new, to me, tunes. PS does Lemmy count? Ric in terms of wood but not much else haha. Love the Lemster though...RIP! Omitting Paul D'Amour though ? Are you crazy? Legendary bass tone on Undertow. Simply one of the best Ric tones ever created

Great list of tunes too ❤

Another one is Lisa Umbarger on Possum Kingdom by the Toadies. I believe the bass player from The Smithereens also used one

@bigbadbillb

2 ай бұрын

Mike Mesaros

That was fun to watch! Thanks. Which I could see the pickup select switch on every song...(And Wings had a lot of great ones too.. Same cat as #5). 😉

Great sounds and tone, I love my Rick 4003

So good to see that Peter Hook got a mention at number 7. I was hoping to see this, but not expecting it.

Nicely done

Good to see Scott Reeder and Al Cisneros getting some love on here. Would have gone with the ending of Dragonaut and Space Cadet for Kyuss.

Good job, bang on Rickenbacker bass player pics 😀👍

Thanks for including my friends Martin Gordon and David Paton!

Exceptional video!!! Can you do one for Thunderbird bassists?

great video really really love your videos i like that you did peter hook from joy davision hes so good would love to know how to get is bass tone in 30 seconds

Paul Gray, The Damned/Eddie and the Hotrods. GOT to have him in there, Strawberry and The Black Albums justify an inclusion.

@FromaTwistedMind

7 ай бұрын

EXACTLY! Totally agree with you.... after Lemmy Paul IS Mr Rickenbacker of bass. A shameful exclusion if you ask me. kzread.info/dash/bejne/nIONrLScmtnLqqQ.htmlsi=C2KFbymAht5p3tOS

A satisfying video for all the bass players out there who just KNEW that Squire and Lee were going to be in the 1 and 2 spots - it was a just a question of the order. Love it!

Nice to see Martin Gordon receiving credit. His work on Sparks's 'Kimono My House' and the associated non-album B-sides was absolutely formative for my idea of what a Ric with Rotosounds could do. Mike Mills is an omission.

@RadiantFutureRecords

5 ай бұрын

martingordon.de

Thx for including Al Cisneros!

Tiran Porter (Doobie Brothers) played a Ric- so did Maurice Gibb - they both had funky cool lines

@mdwayne741

7 ай бұрын

Absolutely..... really great stuff. Tiran Porter is incredible. Those bass lines for the Doobie Brothers are iconic. Love Maurice Gibb as well.

Great to see the stoner/doom stuff represented because those bass tones are unrivalled

Killer tone and playing!

al cisneros and scott reeder! spot on

Great job i love Peter Hook Joy Division glad u played him

I think you're an amazing basis. Love watching your videos. Wondering if you can do some Les claypool.

Fred Turner made the list. THAT’S ALL I NEED TO SEE!! In all honesty, glad to see him on the list as a fan of BTO.

That entire list I was thinking "#1 better be Geddy" lol he should be #1 on any list IMO

Ricks are awesome! I would expand a list by Fleetwood Mac’s “Did You Ever Love Me” and whole debut Kate Bush album “The Kick Inside”.

@Billyboy939

10 ай бұрын

Never seen John McVie with a Rick.

No Paul Gray of the Damned, UFO and Eddie and the Hot Rods....certainly one of my favourite Ricky players!

Hi Danny I didn't see you anymore.. beautiful video 👋👋 Great channel 👍👍👍 bye Umberto

I would add Randy Meisner from The Eagles to that list. Used one quite a bit in the 70's .

@Mick_Ts_Chick

5 ай бұрын

That's what I thought also. Love Randy!

Honourable mentions : Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath) - used it in late 70s John Entwistle (The Who) - used 4000 and 4005 throughout the 60s Mat Osman (Suede) Nicky Wire (Manic Street Preachers) Jamie Reynolds (Klaxons)

Nice list!! I'd like to add Jon Camp from Renaissance. Played a double neck Rickenbacker.

@jazwiseman

7 ай бұрын

It was his own home made Ric copy - wasn't a real Ric but he did use Ric pick ups in it.

Nice playing.

You even got my favorites in order 👍

Very happy that you played joy division that rickenbacker is a amazing Behs

very enjoyable bass lines.

Danny, I really enjoy your bass playing videos. I'm wondering...are you a studio musician, because if you are not, then you should be and perhaps a lot more!!

Mike Mesaros of the Smithereens. Very underrated.

Hell yes for the Becky Baldwin reference! She's awesome and its so great to see her making waves and joining Mercyful Fate!

I was very hyped to see Al Cisneros on the list. He has a signature Ric after all.