Why Did Paul McCartney stop using his 4001?

westtexasrickenbacker · Wed Jul 26, 2006 11:05 am

I absolutely love the tone of the Rickenbacker throughout Paul's catalog. I think it's his best sounding bass. Too bad he doesn't use it anymore.

rickfan63 · Post by **rickfan63** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 11:14 am

From what John Hall has said, Paul dosen't play the Rickenbacker live because of his bad back. At 64, the Hofner is just more comfortable for him to play now. He does use the Rick in the studio as I understand. It would be nice to see him pull it out live for even a few songs though.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 11:14 am

I agree. He apparently prefers the weight and scale of the Hofner.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 12:04 pm

I think Eric Clapton also talked him into playing the Hofner again ... and yes a Ric does sound better than a Hofner ...

bassduke49 · Post by **bassduke49** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 12:11 pm

I think it was Elvis Costello who suggested the return, if I recall the story correctly. I wouldn't say Höfners don't sound as good as Ricks, they certainly sound different. I put round wounds on one of my Höfners, and it cranks pretty well.

bob_atherton · Post by **bob_atherton** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 12:18 pm

That's right Paul it was Elvis Costello. Paul M was saying to him that he couldn't get the tone/sound he was after, and E C said he should get the old 'Beatle Bass' out again. PM said that he hadn't played it for quite a while and that it was a pain in the *** to keep in tune.

Anyway he did get out the Hofner and I guess he hasn't looked back. Shame....

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 1:00 pm

Frickin' Elvis. Why didn't he just suggest putting the mute up and switching to the neck pickup?

fran4001 · Post by **fran4001** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 1:02 pm

As mentioned here in previous posts, at least it was used semi-recently on record though on the tune "Spinning On An Axis". Tell you what, give that a listen. Ungodly fat Rick sound. Just beautiful!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 1:48 pm

It would be cool if Paul played his 4004ci ...

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 3:16 pm

I think it's mainly because of his Beatle image, he's playing that for all it's worth or was anyway. He started using it again around the early 90's full time as far as I know because his sales and popularity were waning, then out came the Hofner and Beatles songs were put into the set lists. I saw him live and it was very muffled and indistinct as most of them tend to be live (on record usually also). The sound at the concert was excellent other wise.

simer4001 · Post by **simer4001** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 3:43 pm

He stopped playing his 4001 long before he picked up the Hofner again. Most photographic evidence points to a brief halt in the late 70's from "Back to the Egg", to the mid 80's "Tug of War" These albums were at least, if not all, recorded with his Yamaha. The 4001 made an appearance in "Give My Regards to Broad Street" and then disappeared until a series of shows in 1987/88 to promote "All the Best". I don't think it was used again after that. He may have brought it on tour in 1989/90, but he clearly was favoring his WAL 5 string (Another heavy bass) and his Hofner. If his 4001 bothers his back that must be more recently because the WAL IMO is heavier. His 57 Gibson must be pretty heavy on stage as well.

He didn't use his 4001S on "Spinning on an Axis". From what I understand he used a 4001C64S that was used in the LINDA McCARTNEY STORY film.

maplered · Post by **maplered** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 4:41 pm

Paul did play his 4001 on Off the Ground. I remember a photo that came in the cd case that showed him recording w/ it.

He did use his 4001 on Back to the Egg. I watched the video of the recording of So Glad to See You Here and The Rockestra Theme, he played the 4001 in the video for So Glad to See You Here.

fran4001 · Post by **fran4001** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 4:47 pm

Wow Brian! There's some news for me! How cool is that. The bass does sound great nonetheless.

lucky · Post by **lucky** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 9:24 pm

Paul started using the Hofner for The flowers in the dirt album,and was seen in the video for the single My brave face.The last time i saw his 4001s was the Spies like us video.

levykev · Post by **levykev** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:28 am

the "Put It There" DVD (i have the VHS from all those year ago), right before his '89 tour, shows him and Elvis Costello recording or demo-ing "My Brave Face" in the studio, and Paul was playing his Rick. a very different version. more straight ahead/driving sort of thing with Elvis taking the vocals and Paul cracking him up. the cool Hofner/Beatle riff had yet to be added.