I went to watch Yes on Thursday night at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, UK. Chris Squire can still certainly pluck a string or two, but one question that has always been in the back of my mind over the years, is why he's never played an Alembic. Well, not to my knowledge anyway.
It was an excellent concert! I must say that Yes are a different group when Rick Wakeman is playing with them. Not to do the other keyboard players down who have played with Yes over the years of course. But there is just something about Wakeman. Even Senior Management enjoyed it and she is far from being a Yes fan!
But I digress. I've owned a Rickenbacker 4001 from new (1981) and it plays and sounds like nothing else I've ever played - except the Alembic Series I that I played in 1993. I can leave or leave Fenders (my apologies to any Fender lovers in here), they leave me cold and I won't pay the wrong side of ?1000 for a bass with a bolt on neck. Squire did break out his Lakland though - I'm not sure what to make of that, I've never played one but it does seem to have a pretty good sound to it, especially for what appears to be a single pick-up bass.
I thought that the bass sound at the concert lacked a crisp bottom-end, and the top-end wasn't as distinct as I was expecting. Which is a little odd as Squire is known for his sound. What it has made me do is listen to my own bass sound, which I was only thinking last weekend seems to have gone a little astray.
So half an hour with the graphic on my Trace Elliot this afternoon has made me re-think the sound I use on my 4001. I now have a very crisp bottom end with clear a ringing top. If my Dragon's Wing is as good as this, I'll be very happy. If it's better (and I'm assuming it will be) - I'll be throwing a street party :-) Everyone from the Club invited of course!!!!
