The Fab Sixties Return A.K.A "From Out of the Blue"
By Dean Farley
Whew! After those interviews I've been doing, it's given me a rest and a nice hiatus to present to our readers some new and really exciting news! When you least expected this to happen, it did, and with a vengeance. Since our last episode in Beatle-land, all of you rabid Beatles freaks out there will now be able to have your cake and eat it too! I've been having almost nightly discussions with a fellow that doesn't live too far from Ken Fischer. and this very interesting occurrence didn't hurt what is happening right now as this column is being written.
Never in a million years would I have thought that someone out there was as tenacious in the quest for the authentic REAL early Sixties Beatles tone from a string standpoint. The gentleman in question is a true nuts hardcore Rickenbacker twelve string junkie from the get-go. He knows everything that anyone would ever care to know about what makes the 1964-1968 Rickenbacker twelve (and six-string for that matter) a truly unique sounding and important instrument of that time in our musical heritage. This guy was completely adamant about recreating the strings that the Beatles used during this era, which were the Pyramid brand of flat-wound strings manufactured in Germany. These flatwounds are so different than any other brand of this string type, it's not even funny. First off, they are made with a very special attention to detail as no others after them. Secondly, the plain treble strings have a sound that is very different from any others I've heard or used. My guess is that the metal sources are not the same as the ones American string manufacturers have been using. One very important aspect is the old world craftsmanship; most everyone knows that the European countries are down right proud of this well-known trademark.
They have long been unavailable in this country in the same formula that the Beatles used. The machines that wind these all-nickel flat-wounds are found only in Europe, which explains why all the string manufacturers in this country have no real desire to duplicate this particular string. They feel very loose and pliable when compared to the modern style flatwounds that are made of stainless steel, for the most part. As stated before, stainless is an entirely different sound and feel than nickel, and they will never ever be able to capture that warmth regardless of the string being smooth and glassy feeling to your fretting hand. These Pyramids feel like pasta does right after you take it from the boiling water you just cooked it in. You can bend them very easily, and they are the only MUSICAL flatwound strings on the planet! Remember that "click" that Paul McCartney got on the early records?
Modern flats will not produce that sound at all. Paul used them on his original Rickenbacker bass... just listen to tunes like "Lady Madonna". That's the sound! Any of you Hofner bass owners out there will just absolutely, not believe that you can finally get that tone again and right now to boot. These strings are just pivotal in the production of the "politically correct" timbre, not to mention attitude.
Now, I know what you're thinking... "Gee, these strings most likely cost some coin, Huh?" Well, you hardcore guitar fanatics realize that we all live for tone, right'? Correcto mundo! Now here's where the fun began. Once samples were in hand, I sent the aforementioned individual down to see Mr. Ken. Kenny has all the right instruments (and amps, natch) to really put these strings through tests that Hell couldn't ever think of. Fischer's just too clever, as we all know! A few days later, I received a call from Ken with the results. Ken himself decided to serenade me by playing the opening riff to the Beatles song "I Want to Hold Your Hand". This was a Telecaster being played through one of his Trainwreck Rockets. God, I just froze in my slippers! You know that "tone" immediately when you hear it, there's just NO QUESTION. It was at this point that I received some samples to try. Everyone who saw them at the San Mateo Show said, "Dean, where the *%#^ did you get THFSE?!!" They all knew, that's for damn sure.
It's just something you don't forget when you grew up on that magical Sixties music. Now, we have yet another interesting twist in this saga. These great strings are going to be available in all the gauges of the past times, but there will be newer more "modern" gauges that today's player might be more familiar with as well. For the folks who own Gretsch guitars in the hollow-body format(s), as well as our Rickenbacker lovers (Bass, six-string and twelve-string alike), if you are definitely desiring this tone, then these are the only strings that will give it to you. Heck, these things would greatly appeal to all the jazzhounds who like the "flat" sound. They are not dead sounding like all the others I've had experience with. They are very rich and snappy for this type of string... just too cool and special. I could very well be easily talked into using them on my jazz box, dig? I believe you all know that I like round-wound strings from our previous columns. What's really hilarious is that the guitar manufacturers of today don't think that a market exists for these sets. In their dreams... they just don't seem to care! Another shining example of what we called "Big Corporate Thinking". Try to play "Love Me Do" on your short-scale Hofner bass with round-wounds, it won't cut the mustard.
The Pyramid strings have a really cool tone to them when used in a clean setting, but when you punch it up into distortion, they're really happening you just get goosebumps for days! Now, that our Beatles fanatics have been informed about the reappearance of the Fab Four's string of choice, you should check these babies out or forever hold your peace. These guitar and bass sets are available from the Rainbow House Charitable Trust, Inc. You can get the information by calling (201) 589-6175. By the way, all of the proceeds are being given to this charity organization, which helps children (and their families) who have been diagnosed with terminal illnesses or who will have shorter lifespans due to other reasons. This charity is in affiliation with the British Rainbow House Charity that similarly helps children with the backing of rock luminaries such as Phil Collins. Last, but not least, Pyramid is manufacturing these string exclusively for Rainbow House and they cannot be gotten from any other source. I can honestly say that I've been very excited by this turn of events as I can believe in the quality and integrity of this string. I feel like a kid again, what a concept!!