Squire's other basses

elysrand · Post by **elysrand** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 10:48 am

Darned if I can remember what that first thing was anymore, either....

lyle_from_minneapolis · Wed Aug 08, 2007 11:02 am

I always forget to remember.

vincent_gallo · Post by **vincent_gallo** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 3:51 pm

All this talk of 1963 thin necks and refinished basses and suddenly this came to me today. A 1963 4000 serial #CE XXX . Original pickup and surround (mint bobbin), original tuners, tailpiece, nut, pick-guard and pots. Wood is unreal Birdseye maple with nice dark walnut stripes. Paint was striped without removing any wood whatsoever. Looks like a very light sealer applied. Truss rod cover is a repro as is the mute. Not sure what to do with it . Strung up it played very good. Very close profile and weight to the 63 Elys got only not converted to 4001. Its neck is also like Elys’s 63 bass, not super thin or fast compared to the several other 63’s I own. This is the third 63 4000 I have purchased in the last two years. All three came with un-original finishes. One, a 63 that was painted black over the fire-glow and has a neck that is super super thin and fast as well as stable. However, the finish was so carefully removed from this one that it is a perfect bass for a high end refinish. Not sure what to do here as I am not the biggest fan of refinished instruments with only two exceptions. Andy Winters refinished white RM1999 and of coarse Chris’s bass

vincent_gallo · Post by **vincent_gallo** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:09 pm

the 63

vincent_gallo · Post by **vincent_gallo** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:11 pm

i took some photographs of the 63. can anyone tell me the best way to upload them here ?

vincent_gallo · Post by **vincent_gallo** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:20 pm

http://s204.photobucket.com/albums/bb250/nbvbn/?action=view&current=r8-1.jpg

lyle_from_minneapolis · Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:25 pm

Hey Vincent, other than redirecting us to a photobucket site, the pictures just need to be brought down to a smaller file size--I forget how light but it tells you when you try to upload a file too large.

Ciao, ragazzo.

lyle_from_minneapolis · Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:28 pm

"Not sure what to do here as I am not the biggest fan of refinished instruments with only two exceptions. Andy Winters refinished white RM1999 and of coarse Chris’s bass"

We'll have to show you some of the work done by Dale and Paul. Paul Boyer's '72 4001 in "Mink" is one exceptional example, but there have been some true headturners coming out of these gentlemen's shops.

vincent_gallo · Post by **vincent_gallo** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:41 pm

I have heard many times from friends that both those gentlemen do fine work. Living in NYC during the 70's and 80's gave me so many chances to see and buy 100% original instruments. All through that period i would never consider anything that was not straight. I got used to that system. I have driven thousands of miles for a set of original screws or a pick-gaurd or something like that. always trying to get everything back to what it was and perfect. A wasted life maybe but lots of fun as well. By the way, i tried shrinking the photographs but they would not upload

vincent_gallo · Post by **vincent_gallo** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 4:51 pm

Chris Squire gave me a RM1999 that he got from Donovan. It was missing a few parts. I was able to get original replacements but there was slight patina differences etc etc. Most would never notice but I sure did. One day Chris and I went to his storage room to pick up some things. Screwed into his tool box was the original to the bass truss rod cover. Inside the toolbox was the original to the bass surround. A bag with everything else original to the bass was also there. Chris gave me everything. I was so excited that tears fell. Chris who has known me a long time and through some very high moments, said that that was by far the happiest he had ever seen me and could not believe how some old junk could make anyone so happy. I would do anything I could to put an original finish back on a bass. It just cannot be done. The other choice is not for me.

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 5:14 pm

The birdseye on the back of that neck is only the second time I've ever seen that on a RIC. The first time was Wint's bass. This bass was obviously fireglo once and should be again. The chrome on the surround and tailpiece looks better than new. Did you have them re-plated Vince? If so, and they are local, I'd like to know who did it.

lyle_from_minneapolis · Wed Aug 08, 2007 5:52 pm

I hear you, Vince, and I know several on this forum who would also have shed many a happy tear in such a moment. (Some would shed tears just to visit Chris's bathroom.) I for one was startled to hear where Donovan's bass went...we spend a lot of time wondering where some of these fabled Ricks may have ended up. Sounds like they've actually ended up in the best of hands... I'm sure you'll agree you're a bit obsessive. Well, thank goodness for that. Rickenbackers are in the top echelon of electric guitars, and electric guitars have not existed for even 100 years yet. In posts on this forum, some have bemoaned the fact that there are people like yourself with the will and wherewithal to snap up all the best early examples. Taking the longer view, I am grateful for your particular jones. Someday when I'm old, I'll pick up a Smithsonian magazine and see a picture of a mint 60's RM1999...and on the caption it will say "from the Gallo Collection."

And what's wrong with that?

elysrand · Post by **elysrand** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 6:19 pm

Vince, that is an absolutely gorgeous 4000 body. It is what I dream of the one you sold me becoming when it is fully restored. The heel on the back is perfect and square, the birdseye in the neck is stunning, the plating is perfect, and the headstock wings are drop-dead perfect. That wood just couldn't be in any better shape! It is amazing...

If you want it finished to better-than-factory original, then my friend Paul Wilczynski in San Francisco is equipped to do simply the best finish in the world. There is no one better on this planet, period, specializing in Rickenbacker instruments and museum-quality finishing. He is currently the only person ever to have been licensed to produce Rickenbacker's acoustic line outside the factory, IIRC. Paul is building a custom pair of new Rickenbacker jumbos for me right now, a matching 6 and 12 string in 6A quilted maple and Sitka spruce, with some very special features.

If you want a comparable luthier who started out working in the RIC (Electro) factory in 1972, and now owns his own shop with factory-authentic procedures and skills in place, then Dale Fortune is the one to call, up in Oregon. Dale is finishing up a 1966 4005 WB in its original MG and will be shipping her to DC it in a few days.

I can send you complete contact info for both by private email if you wish. There are none better than these two, don't even bother looking further.

You are very fortunate to have that bass, take great care of it, it is a beauty!

Thanks for posting the photos!!

shinynewtoy · Post by **shinynewtoy** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 6:56 pm

Oh, my, that neck... wow, Vince. That's amazing!

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 6:58 pm

What maple that 4000 has - simply wonderful!

Vince, pics to post - use the "Upload Attachment" button where you type your message to post. Pics have to be no larger than 500 x 500 pixels and the file size is 35k - resize and save the pic using 72 pixel resolution (web resolution).