Rare Photo - McCartney Plays 4001S

[ganister]

Never mind, I think I got it now. There are a few close-ups where you can see the controls in "for sale" section.

Seppo

[JakeK]

I know for a fact the 4001S was present for "Rubber Soul", "The White Album", "Let It Be" and "Abbey Road", and used exclusively on "Revolver", "Sgt. Pepper" and "Magical Mystery Tour".

I have a list of songs that I wonder if Paul used the 4001S for definate on or if it were Paul at all:

You Won't See Me
Nowhere Man
The Word
Michelle
Girl
I'm Looking Through You
She Said, She Said (I hear George was on a Burns bass for this song)
Fixing a Hole (I hear John could have been on a P-bass for this song)
Hey Jude
Back in the USSR
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Yer Blues
Don't Let Me Down
I Want You (She's So Heavy)

[sloop_john_b]

"I Want You" is the Hofner, for sure.

"Don't Let Me Down" is the Hofner too - you can tell by the really poor intonation on the higher notes!

"Hey Jude" is George on the Bass VI.

"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is double tracked, Fender Jazz and Bass VI IMO. Ditto with "Rocky Raccoon" and "Back in the USSR".

"Yer Blues" is Paul on the Fender Jazz.

Though I have to say, i've been rethinking some of the stuff that I always thought was the Jazz. I'm wondering if a lot of it isn't the capped horseshoe of the 4001s - especially the really "grinding" bass, like the ones listed above.

[revolver323]

I know the prevailing logic is that Paul used the Rick all through Rubber Soul, but there are certain notes where the bass is out of tune that make me say "Hofner." For example, the main lick on "Drive My Car" -- the G is wobbly. However, he plays plenty of Gs in "You Won't See Me"and none wobbles. "USSR"is a Bass VI, played by John. As for "Fixing a Hole," this was discussed previously. No way it's not Paul.

[studiotwosession]

McCartney played some "bass" on the White Album on his D-28, run thru the board whilst pinning the needle in the red.

[beefandbones]

I subscribe to the theory that Paul started using the Rick, for whatever reason, around the time they recorded 'Michelle'. Before that, I think he was still using the Hofner. If memory serves, 'Michelle' was also the first time that Paul recorded the bass as an overdub rather than live as a part of the rhythm section.

These sound very Hofner-like to me:
Wait (from the Help! sessions)
Run for Your Life
Norwegian Wood
Drive My Car
Day Tripper
If I Needed Someone
In My Life
We Can Work it Out
Nowhere Man

At this point, it sounds to me like the Rick starts popping up:
Michelle
What Goes On
12-Bar Original
I'm Looking Through You
Think for Yourself
The Word
Girl

But what's interesting to me is that Norman Smith gets a very consistent bass tone, whether Paul is using a short scaled hollow bodied bass, or a full scale neck-though solid body. The Rickenbacker doesn't stand out the way it would once Geoff Emerick took the controls, and during the Rubber Soul sessions it can be pretty difficult to say which is which.

[simer4001]

That last pic taken during the LIB/Get Back sessions above shows that Paul only had the front of the bass sanded off at first, for the neck and peghead are still Fireglow. Cool.

John, I'm not 100% sure, but I would be willing to bet that the bass is still psychedelic on the front. I think the bass was sanded down during the LIB sessons. it came back natural and was seen later duriong the performance of Two of Us.

[simer4001]

Hang on, that's not THE 4001S. You can tell because it still has the cresting wave shape of the horns intact. And the tell tale crack on the pickguard isn't there either.

I saw pictures of Macca during the Wings Era with Two Rickenbackers on stage, could the bass in this picture be that second one?

That is the 4001S. I have several pictures from this photo session. In many of the pictures with different lighting the crack in the pickguard is clearly evidient. These pictures were taken in 1969 in his yard on Cavendish Ave. I have contended for years that the bass actually went through 2 different sandings. The first one with the horns intact and then another around 1971/72 when the horns were shaved.

The other 4001 that you refer to is a fretless model from what I understand.

This picture isn't the best quality, but you can see the cracked pickguard.

[simer4001]

another Jap '66 pic

This is a cool picture. This is one I had never seen before. Thanks for sharing this one.

Sorry if the above posts repeated anything already mentioned. I was replyng to posts as I read them. I'll go through the rest before repeating someone elses brilliant analysis as my own.

[simer4001]

I'm just wondering if anyone on the board has the British version of the Let It be album -- the one that came with a book of color pictures taken during the filming sessions. I had this LP but sold it on Ebay several years ago for $150 (paid $3 in 1969). I can't recall if there were shots of Paul with the 4001 since the Hofner was used in the film. But it's worth a look.

Dave,

I think the US version came with the book. My copy is US and has the book. I'll check out the book.

[nattiep]

Hang on, that's not THE 4001S. You can tell because it still has the cresting wave shape of the horns intact. And the tell tale crack on the pickguard isn't there either.

I saw pictures of Macca during the Wings Era with Two Rickenbackers on stage, could the bass in this picture be that second one?

That is the 4001S. I have several pictures from this photo session. In many of the pictures with different lighting the crack in the pickguard is clearly evidient. These pictures were taken in 1969 in his yard on Cavendish Ave. I have contended for years that the bass actually went through 2 different sandings. The first one with the horns intact and then another around 1971/72 when the horns were shaved.

The other 4001 that you refer to is a fretless model from what I understand.

This picture isn't the best quality, but you can see the cracked pickguard.

um, just look at the headstock wings. Question answered.

[simer4001]

"I Want You" is the Hofner, for sure.

"Don't Let Me Down" is the Hofner too - you can tell by the really poor intonation on the higher notes!

"Hey Jude" is George on the Bass VI.

"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is double tracked, Fender Jazz and Bass VI IMO. Ditto with "Rocky Raccoon" and "Back in the USSR".

"Yer Blues" is Paul on the Fender Jazz.

Though I have to say, i've been rethinking some of the stuff that I always thought was the Jazz. I'm wondering if a lot of it isn't the capped horseshoe of the 4001s - especially the really "grinding" bass, like the ones listed above.

I think that is McCartney playing bass on "Hey Jude". Especially if you listen to some of the improv in the fade out. Most of the bass track was wiped out and the track was given to the strings so they had a separate track.

George played the Fender VI on the bands performance on David Frost, but I still believe McCartney played on the record.

[bottom4]

I have contended for years that the bass actually went through 2 different sandings. The first one with the horns intact and then another around 1971/72 when the horns were shaved.


This picture isn't the best quality, but you can see the cracked pickguard.

You’re absolutely correct, Brian! THE bass went through two transformations. The first was to remove the MMT paint job, the second – well it’s anyone’s guess why he did what he did…

[simer4001]

I have contended for years that the bass actually went through 2 different sandings. The first one with the horns intact and then another around 1971/72 when the horns were shaved.


This picture isn't the best quality, but you can see the cracked pickguard.

You’re absolutely correct, Brian! THE bass went through two transformations. The first was to remove the MMT paint job, the second – well it’s anyone’s guess why he did what he did…

Don't forget the transformation to the MMT in the first place. I always refer to that paint job as LSD Induced. But to show you what a whacko crazed McCartney fan I am, I will have a version of the 4001S in all its incarnations soon. I have the 4001C64 FG, C64S (2nd sanding) in MG, a C64 FG that Paul W is transformng into the MMT and a C64 MG ( not to be confused with the C64 S) on order. Two of them actually. I know, I know... I have serious issues.

[bottom4]

That's right, Brian It was actually 3

Can't waith to see all those versions lined up!