Did Paul Mcartney muffle his picking...

[Rickson Gracie]

did paul mcartney muffle his picking with his palm when he played? is that was gives that "taxman" sound? its a very short and plucky sound.

 

[-=¤willhaven¤=-]

flatwounds maybe?

 

[EdWonbass]

Not sure but I would say that the tone of the bass and possible flatwounds or dead strings. I know when I use a pick which is rare these days I do some muting and most of the time I'm not aware that I'm doing it. Colin Moulding of XTC has a similar tone on some of their recordings and I think he used a pick quite a bit. Another way to get that sound without palm muting is to use a piece of foam or something under the strings just in front of the bridge.

 

[steve350]

He did use his hand to muffle his picking and also used Pyramid Flatwound strings.

 

[Toki987]

did paul mcartney muffle his picking with his palm when he played? is that was gives that "taxman" sound? its a very short and plucky sound.

Flip that 45 rpm over and listen to the other side "Paperback Writer" it shows up there really well too.

 

[Ronan]

Its the sound of the bass. Paul owned left handed Hofner violin bass serial numbers 1 and 2 and I have recorded serial number 3. It was the exact same sound.

 

[Rickson Gracie]

Its the sound of the bass. Paul owned left handed Hofner violin bass serial numbers 1 and 2 and I have recorded serial number 3. It was the exact same sound.

do you think that this Rogue Hofnor copy would sound close to those?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=bass/search/detail/base_pid/508160/

 

[Dave_M]

Don't the Hofner basses have a felt pad under the strings at the bridge? The one I saw had one. It may have been a usermod and not part of the Hofner design, which is why I ask.

 

[MadAudio]

Colin Moulding of XTC has a similar tone on some of their recordings and I think he used a pick quite a bit.

Nope. Colin uses his index finger only. No picks.

 

[EdWonbass]

Nope. Colin uses his index finger only. No picks.

Wow, that's pretty wild. I hear some of his lines sound like a pick. I guess you can get a pick like attack if you play close to the bridge and hit it sharp.
Either way he is probably my favorite bass player of all time.

 

[Ape32]

When I still played bass I played with my fingers and muted across the saddles with my little finger when I wanted that sound. Colin is also the master of playing staccato, which can sound really similar to muting if yer good....

 

[EdWonbass]

When I still played bass I played with my fingers and muted across the saddles with my little finger when I wanted that sound. Colin is also the master of playing staccato, which can sound really similar to muting if yer good....

I'm amazed that someone besides myself knows who Colin is.

 

[MadAudio]

I'm amazed that someone besides myself knows who Colin is.

OK, that's it. Your on my "buddy list" now. I'm almost embarrased by my XTC collection. I've got a shitload of vinyl (7" singles, 12" EP's, LP's) and a bunch of CD's, including some Japanese pressings and a couple of box sets. I've also got Fuzzy Warbles volumes 1-4, with 5 and 6 on the way.

This OT diversion is actually kinda relevant seeing as how strongly the Beatles influenced XTC.

I seem to remember something about the Hofner basses having a muting system, but maybe I'm confusing it with Rickenbacker?

 

[hixmix]

Don't the Hofner basses have a felt pad under the strings at the bridge? The one I saw had one. It may have been a usermod and not part of the Hofner design, which is why I ask.

Carol Kaye muffles/mutes the strings on her Fender bass in a similar manner. In her case I believe she uses masking or duct tape, right over the strings at the bridge.

 

[EdWonbass]

OK, that's it. Your on my "buddy list" now. I'm almost embarrased by my XTC collection. I've got a shitload of vinyl (7" singles, 12" EP's, LP's) and a bunch of CD's, including some Japanese pressings and a couple of box sets. I've also got Fuzzy Warbles volumes 1-4, with 5 and 6 on the way.

This OT diversion is actually kinda relevant seeing as how strongly the Beatles influenced XTC.

I seem to remember something about the Hofner basses having a muting system, but maybe I'm confusing it with Rickenbacker?

I think the Ric's did. Not too sure about the Hofner. I used to have a Fender with the bridge cover. It had some kind of foam on the underside to mute the strings. I tookit off because I couldn't get the Geddy sound?

The Beatles were also a big influence on the Dukes of Stratosphere.

 

[ahuimanu]

OK, that's it. Your on my "buddy list" now. I'm almost embarrased by my XTC collection. I've got a shitload of vinyl (7" singles, 12" EP's, LP's) and a bunch of CD's, including some Japanese pressings and a couple of box sets. I've also got Fuzzy Warbles volumes 1-4, with 5 and 6 on the way.

This OT diversion is actually kinda relevant seeing as how strongly the Beatles influenced XTC.

I seem to remember something about the Hofner basses having a muting system, but maybe I'm confusing it with Rickenbacker?

I'm right there with ya guys...

 

[beezelbubba]

Did McCartney play bass on "Taxman"?I recall reading somewhere that he played the guitar solo on that song.I believe during that period they switched around alot.I could be wrong!Anyone got the "Anthology" linear notes handy?

 

[Guntram65]

No, it was another bass...!

Hi!
I am a professional bassplayer and I play bass for nearly 30 years now. The answer to your question is: Paul used a Rickenbacker 4001/s bass for "Taxman" and for example "Penny Lane". The sound came from using a bassguitar pick, and the Rickenbacker bass has small sponges (not kidding...!) glued on metal plates that you can "switch on" by using a screwdriver and let tthese sponges touch the bass strings from underneath.
I used this sound a lot in a beatles cover band, too. Without any question, the "Taxman"-sound is NO Hofner Violin Bass, its a Rickenbacker 4001/s. Paul used this bass with the beatles only in the studio (never live) and you can see this bass on the videos of "Hello Goodbye" and "I am the walrus".

 

[Fab4ever]

For what it's worth, McCartney played bass AND the lead electric part on Taxman. He was trying to do something "Indian sounding" on the lead, for the composer, George, heavy into his Indian phase at the time.

 

[Rickson Gracie]

I actually bought the 'rogue' hofner bass copy from musicians friend for $199. im really impressed with the quality of this bass! the playability and sound is very very good.

i replaced the strings with rotosound flatwounds and its awesome!