OK, inspired by Peter's study in Toasters, I thought I'd post a question I've wondered about for a while. This is the horseshoe from my 4001CS:
This is a horseshoe I got from Jim Rhoads a few years back:
The mounting plate is more rounded at the corners than the CS. Why the difference?
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Most of the 60's hardware was templated by hand I presume, hence the differences you see with all the early stuff. The new hardware has a quality control that you didn't get 40 years ago!
It seems the early horseshoes on the V's are pretty close in relation to the 60's versions as is Ronn's CS. Later on they are not so accurate visually in regard to the horseshoe taper.
Henny, the green bass is DE and the white DH. The basses of Squire, Entwistle, (who probably had a DB serial number) and Roger Waters whose bass I am investigating at present are all the early short taper versions.
The white bass is the used on all the 60's Bee Gees material and appearances, Massachusetts, Words etc...The 70's white bass with inlays/black trim was the bass you were referring to, used on SNF etc.. It was apparently given to a D.J. in the U.K. I was told.
No two vintage surrounds are alike, it seems. I think Wints is right in that they were cut by hand. I have shown this a few times here but this is my '63. I should take some new pics as you guys are probably sick of looking at the old ones.
The earlier reissue surrounds have sharp corners while the later ones have round corners and probably more tappered rear ends. Take the 4001 CS for example, the early ones are sharper than the later ones.
'91 4001 CS
'99 4001 CS
I personally prefer the earlier ones. They just LOOK SHARP!!!