Al Jardine and Roy Orbison's Bass Player

anonymous · Post by **anonymous** » Sat Nov 24, 2001 3:41 pm

Some PBS stations are running classic episodes of The Ed Sullivan Show.

A little while ago I caught the Beach Boys doing "Wendy." While CW was playing a white Jazz Master, Al Jardine was playing a 330-12FG O.S.

Last week the one with Roy Orbison doing "Pretty Woman" was aired. Both episodes are from 1964 I believe.

Amidst a bunch of Gretschs Orbison's bassist was playing a 4001. It appeared to be white but as the print was so-so quality black-and-white it may have been MapleGlo.

Anyone know anything about this guy?

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Tue Sep 23, 2003 11:04 am

I saw that Roy Orbison B&W video the other night, I couldn't hear it as it was running while a band was playing but I'm positive it was Pretty Woman. The bass player was standing on a pedestal (where all bass players should stand while playing IMHO) behind and above Roy and played a 4001, I think it was a MapleGlo even though it did look kind of white but I thought I saw the grain one or two times when he turned a little. It was a beautiful bass and really stood out in the video the way he was standing, the bass was above Roy's head immediately behind and to the side of him.

robj · Post by **robj** » Tue Sep 23, 2003 12:50 pm

Very cool. I haven't seen this video unfortunately.

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Tue Sep 23, 2003 1:04 pm

when I played bass they wanted me to stand in a hole...upside down!

bassman · Post by **bassman** » Tue Sep 23, 2003 3:59 pm

I've seen this video quite a few times and love it. Not only does it feature a great song but it screams Rickenbacker because of how prominent the bass player and his shining 1999 bass are in it.
I agree with David that the bass looks to be finished white. Wasn't Maurice Gibb's 1999 (4001) White? It could be another one?
It could be Mapleglo. Either way, the bass looks stunning!

wints · Post by **wints** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 8:42 am

I think there was a thread a while ago where someone mentioned Orbison,s bassist playing a M/G 4001 from the Sullivan show. I presumed they meant it had triangle inlays and was the deluxe model. Anyone here made a positive I.D.? As far as I know all the 64 RM1999,s were originally fireglo. Maurice Gibb,s RM1999 bass was refinished white over F/G, and there was the refinished cream coloured 1999 on e bay a couple of months ago.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 9:24 am

Yeah, I am 99% positive it was a 4001 because of triangular inlays, but I wouldn't bet my life on it. I'm going to go back to that theater and see if they will run it for me, (people here in Perú are very accomodating with things like that)
And yes, the video is almost like an ad for Ric because it is so prominent in the video. The bass player has a big smile on his face and looks like he is having a ball (I'm sure it's because of his great looking Rickenbacker) I think the bass is the most prominent thing in the video, it catches your eye right away, even before Roy! It does look white, but I do think I saw the grain a few times. Even on Ebay a lot of mapleglos look white sometimes.
I will check back if I can get them to run it for me. Maybe a few soles will help, donations anyone?