4001c64 FG or MG? - from a Beatles standpoint

[Tramper Al]

You Beatles/Rickenbacker fans, which do you consider the more iconic or representative of the Beatles - the Fireglo or Mapleglo McCartney Rickenbacker bass?

I don't believe that either bass features in any well known live Beatles show/video - but I could be wrong. The one appearance that comes to mind is the All You Need Is Love video, but of course that is the DIY painted phase for this bass. Certainly, the MG is huge when you start to consider the Wings era.

Edited to add: I Am The Walrus in MMT - DIY painted. Hello Goodbye - DIY painted. Hey Bulldog - DIY painted.

From a recording standpoint, I consider the original FG, DIY painted, and sanded MG to have about 1-2 years of use each, though my perception is that Paul played a little less bass than usual on later LPs like Abbey Road, and evidently used the Hofner quite a bit on Let It Be.

Some of my other Beatles gear preferences were I think determined in part by concert/video appearances. For the Lennon Casino, for example, I went with the natural version and even got a cool rooftop reproduction strap.

I am thinking of re-watching Anthology and Let It Be this week, so that may help me make up my mind.

Any thoughts on this? I can only really justify owning one McCartney RIckenbacker bass reproduction - after all even Paul himself has just the one!

Thanks in advance . . .

[deaconblues]

For Beatles? Definitely FG. MG reminds me of Wings era.

I think the MMT paintjob is ugly, but that's just me.

[rickendelic]

For Beatles? Definitely FG. MG reminds me of Wings era.

I think the MMT paintjob is ugly, but that's just me.

+1 but I can't think of a instance where I've seen the FG in a moving picture where it didn't have the MMT paint job.

[congerz83]

Do like I did and get them both...

But seriously, The majority of it's life w/The Beatles had it in FG. Both basses should should exactly alike. You should listen to your first instinct and get whichever one you like.

As unique at the C series is, it would be hard for any true Beatle-fan not to realize that the bass itself, in either finish, represents your Beatles inspiration. However the "truest" representative instrument they made was the C64S. Actually re-creating Paul's personal modifications. Again, choose with your gut. BUT MAKE SURE WHATEVER YOU BUY YOU PLAY IT FIRST! I recommend people do that for ANY instrument purchase they make.

[antipodean]

For Beatles? Definitely FG. MG reminds me of Wings era.

I think the MMT paintjob is ugly, but that's just me.

+1 but I can't think of a instance where I've seen the FG in a moving picture where it didn't have the MMT paint job.

Have you seen the "Hey Bulldog" film clip?

[rickendelic]

I just re-watched it I hadn't realized it was in that clip, but at the :30 or so mark you can see the upper horn of the bass and it has already been painted MMT by McCartney.

[Tramper Al]

Well, I did just re-watch the key segments in Anthology, and I never did see either the original fireglo or the sanded maple in use. As above the hand painted bass can be seen in several segments from the MMT-Pepper-YS era. Maybe I should just consider that to be fireglo (underneath!). I did not re-watch Let It Be yet, though.

[rickendelic]

I think there's bits from LIB where you see the back of the headstock and it's still FG. I don't think he sanded it while the Beatles were still together. I'm sure some one else here will have a better idea of when it happened.

[deaconblues]

Well this is the image that always comes to my mind:

[antipodean]

I just re-watched it I hadn't realized it was in that clip, but at the :30 or so mark you can see the upper horn of the bass and it has already been painted MMT by McCartney.

I don't think that's the case. The upper horn looks as though it is discoloured or maybe very dirty, but it doesn't look blue....

[Tramper Al]

I also looked at the Hey Bulldog video with this in mind - and convinced myself the bass was painted. Wasn't that video shot well after the July 1967 All You Need Is Love appearance? I think once it was painted, it never went back to fireglo. I read that is was sanded by 1968. Once source had it out for sanding as the reason the Hofner appeared in the Revolution video. But yeah maybe the back of the headstock (or back of the whole bass) stayed FG a little longer. The unpainted FG and MG basses hardly appear in the Beatles visual record, is my point.

[deaconblues]

It's painted.



This session was in Feb. 1968, post-MMT era.

Also, the bass horn was silver, not blue. I'm really not sure why all the people who re-create this bass paint the horn blue.

[JakeK]

It's like those who recreate "Rocky", certain colored parts of the guitar were pink...not red

[antipodean]

It's painted.



This session was in Feb. 1968, post-MMT era.

Also, the bass horn was silver, not blue. I'm really not sure why all the people who re-create this bass paint the horn blue.

Much better resolution than I could get form the youtube - awesome! Thanks!

[Tramper Al]

I found the Beatles-era 4001S in sanded (mapleglo) state.

Bonus points if you can tell me which bass George is playing!