Dear Prudence is a song recorded in August 1968 and released that same year in November.
The late 1960s was a time of experimentation not only in music style but also in the way it was recorded. This song in particular has a bass track that sticks out in a good way. Slow, smooth and even thumpy in some parts.
This is the original track:
This is the same song with just the bass track heard and nothing else:
What you can hear in the isolated track that you really can’t in the full song is that treble is actually present. Also, when notes are being “slid up” to, the sound of going fret-to-fret is also heard, confirming this was played on a fretted bass and not a fretless. And the fact you barely hear any string drag strongly suggests that flatwound strings were used.
While this certainly isn’t a difficult song by any means, the tone of the recorded bass has good punch and definition to it. You will especially hear this at the 3-minute mark of the song. It’s a very strong, punchy, thumpy tone that any bass player can appreciate.
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Um, maybe mention the bass played. Probably the Hofner, a Ric? Good catch on the flatwounds though. Fingers, a pick?
Though Paul acquired a Fender Jazz Bass in 1968 and reportedly used it on some tracks, I would wager it’s the Ric on this one. Sounds like fingers vs. pick. It’s also worth noting that Paul played drums on Dear Prudence as well as piano and a fluegelhorn track that didn’t end up in the final stereo mix (though a snippet of it can be heard in the mono mix).
What’s interesting about the isolated track is that the attack sounds overly edgy when heard on its own, but it’s very percussive, ballsy and perfect in the context of the track. It’s hard to imagine the song without the bass part, a great example of the genius of McCartney and how he revolutionized the role of the bass in pop music – an accomplishment that he doesn’t get enough credit for in my opinion.
Sounds like a Ric to me. I’ve read in several places that Paul recorded with his Ric far more than people realize. His bass skills are often over looked because of great vocals.
The comment about the bass line not being hard should be in the context of Paul writing this line as opposed to me copying it and saying its not hard. To write that concise to make it fit just right with less being better is one hell of a skill. We see so much super fast slapping now days and that is almost a different instrument altogether. So speed and difficulty does not necessarily make for a great bass line that stands the test of time.
I’ve read that he strung his Ric with Rotosound black nylon tapewound strings and played with a hard felt pick. The sound of this track doesn’t make me think otherwise. It also sounds like he dropped the low E to a D for this one.
that’s all there was were flatwounds! it’s standard tuning. it’s probably a jazz bass but quite possibly the 4001S. attthe end sounds like he goes behind the horseshoe, but that could be done on a jazz too. he also played drums on this. ringo quit for about a week. so, the 1st 2 songs on white album he played drums, too…