22 Incredible Rickenbacker Bass Players

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[@nicorepetto5781]

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]

I'd like to read that interview.

[@nicorepetto5781]

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

[@jockkardashian.9407]

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

[@henrikw377]

Scott Reeder is an absolute beast.

[@User-jk8wq]

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]

Mani is a bass player’s bass player

[@ChrisHopkinsBass]

Mani used a short scale Ric

[@thesanfordmethod1905]

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

[@Steaminlidz]

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]

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

[@bassistwithadeathwish7277]

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]

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]

Its not THE rickenbacker sound but its definitely a rickenbacker sound

[@ledorzejean-etienne3747]

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

[@gustavoheberle6265]

Agreed : Squire #1 , Lee #2 !

[@stanleybroniszewsky8538]

​@@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

[@bassguitarman2_3]

Yes my favorite behs player

[@SmoothCriminal69]

He's everyone's favorite behs player

[@CakeEater091]

I have that same bass

[@heisenberg6785]

​@@CakeEater091you're lucky then

[@CakeEater091]

@@heisenberg6785thanks 😊

[@CakeEater091]

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

[@craigdamage]

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]

Completely agree. Was pleasantly surprised

[@kingcrimson2168]

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

[@andrewpappas9311]

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]

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]

@@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]

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

[@Tyrannosaurine]

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

[@craftiestdude]

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

[@cracy2786]

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]

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]

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

[@void0094]

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

[@GVike]

Ah yes, another omission.

[@Farewelltokingz]

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]

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]

@@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]

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.

[@IAmInfinitus208]

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]

You misspelled behses

[@SmoothCriminal69]

Amazing as always! Keep up the great behs playing!

[@FPS_Wingo]

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]

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.

[@abeare9616]

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]

No, he only played that copy.

[@fomalhaut9]

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

[@savagliabass]

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]

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

[@savagliabass]

@@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.

[@resistenceisfutile]

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

[@tamtenmateusz9475]

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

[@resistenceisfutile]

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

[@Ian-qs3fz]

@@resistenceisfutile🤓

[@TheMusicalElitist]

@@tamtenmateusz9475 Not a Ricky.

[@PontiacS]

Thought it was an Ibanez.

[@flomiester5975]

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

[@cajunbassdude5012]

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

[@gabrielcarter4822]

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

[@BellsCuriosityShop]

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.

[@stevec6427]

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

[@michaelhoskins6579]

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.

[@DoingDoneDid]

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!

[@paulsimmons5726]

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!

[@WS102]

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

[@wachout4life]

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.

[@renatomendes774]

Excellent list!!!! Nice Job!!!

[@genlob]

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.

[@jackandrews5579]

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]

Shalamar too

[@BassGuitarInstrumental]

Really enjoyed that!

[@TheGustavok]

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

[@stoneyboyd]

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

[@thecolourrose9022]

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]

Nah, Entwistle played a jazz bass My Generation.

[@trevorverdoold4843]

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]

@@trevorverdoold4843 interesting

[@ollyg235]

He briefly used 4005 in the late 60s

[@toznerd6369]

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

[@paulsimvient]

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

[@MarvinForte]

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.

[@LargeWatermelon]

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]

He never played a Rickenbacker

[@LargeWatermelon]

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

[@milesmcmillan-kr6ti]

He had an epiphone fretless

[@Billyboy939]

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]

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

[@Vaskonga]

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

[@justsomedude5727]

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

[@Farewelltokingz]

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

[@1funkyangel]

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

[@steviemac8075]

Great channel Danny 👏👏👏

[@alexskibicki2262]

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

[@tezzanewton]

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

[@penttikoivuniemi2146]

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.

[@mccypr]

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! 🙂😎

[@iidpack1865]

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

[@cletusbeauregard1972]

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]

Colin never played a Rick.

[@markcoggins6592]

That was great, enjoyed every one of them.

[@antonina-fk7lq]

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

[@evgeniymolyakov1562]

привет земляк, от любителя the jam

[@iconcanada3660]

He rocks love him

[@ssmouse77]

Way cool. I love this clip. Thanks. 😎

[@Metalcomedienne]

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

[@GVike]

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]

forgot about Mike; definitely a Rick stalwart.

[@scottlewis4387]

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

[@johnboothman390]

Great list of tunes too ❤

[@さびつき]

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

[@pooryorick831]

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.

[@zuke55]

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). 😉

[@tessjuel]

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.

[@tonyspro]

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

[@donovanemery597]

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

[@davidfox7983]

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

[@innocentoctave]

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]

martingordon.de

[@russfoulkes5490]

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

[@Jeffcatbuckeye]

John Entwistle?

[@AvStevieStevenJamesDrums]

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

[@TheMusicianTom]

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

[@mdwayne741]

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

[@rikpontician8499]

Nicely done

[@the.bloodless.one1312]

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

[@nigelrmason]

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

[@barrieglenn8353]

Glad you included Chris Squire, one of my favourites.

[@riftwalkers165]

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

[@captainchunk4078]

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

[@mcdazz2011]

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

[@jamescoderre9595]

Good job, bang on Rickenbacker bass player pics 😀👍

[@murdomaclean2067]

Great sounds and tone, I love my Rick 4003

[@bathroomcarpet7198]

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

[@MaxKazakevich]

Killer tone and playing!

[@AJ_KISH]

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

[@bigbadbillb]

Mike Mesaros

[@gonnfishy2987]

Nice playing.

[@MalachiGuy]

As much as I love Geddy Lee and Chris Squire. I wouldn’t play bass if it weren’t for Paul McCartney’s Ricky. Early Roger Waters also played a rick.

[@TheCrusader1099]

Thx for including Al Cisneros!

[@Viper505repiV1]

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.

[@tannhausergate6310]

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!

[@iraevans2013]

You even got my favorites in order 👍

[@monsterforge1763]

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

[@wearetomorrowspast.5617]

Very cool. Top 3, perfect.

[@michaelp8529]

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

[@armbarre]

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!

[@visog]

Good fun!

[@fernandoperdomomusic]

Thanks for including my friends Martin Gordon and David Paton!

[@claudiogallucci563]

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

[@JDWDMC]

This video made me happy. Unpossible.

[@eddbass1]

Cheers danny-lad.

[@Supernautiloid]

Paul D’Amour. His bass tone on Undertow has influenced me ever since I first heard it.

[@OriginalUsername]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I was under the impression he mainly used an Ovation Magnum bass for Opiate and Undertow?

[@timhebden-cl1yr]

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

[@FromaTwistedMind]

EXACTLY! Totally agree with you.... after Lemmy Paul IS Mr Rickenbacker of bass. A shameful exclusion if you ask me. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIC8e4WZn9uYsKMsi=C2KFbymAht5p3tOS

[@althetriangle2559]

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

[@canthusdown]

very enjoyable bass lines.

[@brightonmischief]

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 😄

[@EBShusky]

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]

Never seen John McVie with a Rick.

[@tyretear1263]

al cisneros and scott reeder! spot on

[@jimthethirdprobably]

Glad to see Fred turner on here, one of my biggest influences.

[@maurocoimbra9624]

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

[@kronglemcdongle-quiverberr7778]

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

[@benfranky]

So glad Al got some love.

[@pereirammachado]

congrats by the incredible list

[@davidcudlip6587]

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

[@Mick_Ts_Chick]

That's what I thought also. Love Randy!

[@Radiohell]

Nice Video man, kyuss and sleep

[@MorzakEV]

The adverts! Yes!