4001 Paul McCartney Fireglo Lefty

MaccaFan · Post by **MaccaFan** » Tue Sep 26, 2000 9:38 pm

How much are these going for. Looking for one but dont want to get waxed.

simer4001 · Post by **simer4001** » Sun Nov 12, 2000 12:50 pm

If I recall, I picked one up for $1295. It is the 4001V63 PMC LH in Mapleglo. It was brand new. I've had it about a year. If you want info email me.

squirebass · Post by **squirebass** » Sun Nov 12, 2000 9:02 pm

I hear Rickenbacker is discontinuing these at the end of the year. And possibly the 4001v63 as well.

simer4001 · Post by **simer4001** » Sun Nov 12, 2000 10:59 pm

Any particular reason these pieces are being discontinued?

Maybe it means McCartney has authorized a limited edition 4001. Not likely, but it is an interesting idea.

Peter_Greenwood · Post by **Peter_Greenwood** » Fri Nov 24, 2000 2:20 pm

I have just registered my 4001CS #H3 6407(provided my e mail works)So having found the site I have been reading the various queries.One that interested me was the guy asking for advice about the old horseshoe pickup magnets.One of the old 4001s/1999 basses that I used to own had a very poor magnet.I never bothered to get it fixed as the neck warped beyond the point of repair and a collector bought it.However,several years earlier I owned probably the best old 4001s I have ever played the pickups were outrageously powerful,so all I can say is shop around.In the late seventies I saw a review of an Ibanez Rick copy in a guitar magazine and in passing the reviewer happened to mention reviving the horseshoe magnets on original Rickenbackers.The writer was (as far as I can remember)Peter Cook a luthier of some repute ,who has a fine guitar shop in London.I suppose its a long shot but you could try his e mail address ;[email protected] Cheers and keep up the good work.

F.P. · Post by **F.P.** » Fri Nov 24, 2000 4:38 pm

Brian, you are correct concerning the discontinuation of the model 4001v63 PMC as of "late" December 2000. Another model from the Vintage Series, "1997" will also be discontinued. ( Axed ! )

simer4001 · Post by **simer4001** » Fri Nov 24, 2000 8:09 pm

F.P., I have learned that the 4001V63 PMC can be ordered if done so by 12/20/00. The 1997 can be ordered until then as well. The rest of the vintage line may also be disappearing. Keep an eye out for latest developments on the RIC website.

F.P. · Post by **F.P.** » Sun Nov 26, 2000 3:13 pm

Peter G., look again at the SN. on your 4001CS, it should read # H4, as the no. 4 dates to 1991, the first year this model was produced. ( unless you own the "proto" of a 4001CS ) in that case, your a lucky guy !

Gerry · Post by **Gerry** » Tue Nov 28, 2000 11:14 am

Peter Greenwood, thanks for the tips and welcome.

Peter_Greenwood · Post by **Peter_Greenwood** » Mon Dec 04, 2000 4:10 pm

FP,my 4001cs really is H36407 and may well be a prototype as it was a display model at the 1991 Frankfurt Music Fair.I was lucky getting the bass as I had only heard about the possibility of this model being made and got on the phone to Linda Garson at RIC UK in Bury Lancashire just 15 miles from Manchester where I live.As luck would have it the 4001cs was coming back to the Bury office from Frankfurt apparently for a photo session for Guitarist Magazine,and as luck would have it again a certain Chris Squire was having his picture taken with the bass since he had come from the states without his bass.Linda asked me if I could wait until the end of the week then I could buy it from my local Rickenbacker agent(A1 in Manchester)at the list price.As it turned out I actually paid £990.for it which isnt bad considering it was the only one available.My bass did feature in Guitarist in May&June 1991(I bought it on Sat16 March 91)and appeared on the front cover of Bassist Jan 97 with C.S.I also submitted a piece about the bass in the Nov 97 Bassist.Cheers, PG.

admin · Post by **admin** » Mon Dec 04, 2000 6:50 pm

Peter: For 990 BPS this is a fair price and one heck of a nice story to tell for the rest of your days. Thanks for the story and the information with respect to your serial number. Another fine example of how a pooling of information in a worldwide forum is of value to all. Please register this at The Rickenbacker Registry and submit photos as well.

F.P. · Post by **F.P.** » Mon Dec 04, 2000 8:23 pm

Hello Peter G. tnx for the info. on your 4001CS, you certainly have one of the very first made, perhaps John Hall can explain the sequence of how this instrument got "tagged" with # 3 which dates to 1990 ? I hope you enjoy your bass for many years to come ! Thanks, F.P.

Bob_Brunn · Post by **Bob_Brunn** » Mon Dec 18, 2000 10:12 pm

Speaking of Macca's 4001... Anyone know why he never uses it anymore?? Always see him with the Hofner now.

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue Dec 19, 2000 6:34 am

Paul McCartney talks a bit about Hofner and Rickenbacker basses in his July 1990 interview with Guitar Player.

Guitar Player: You used a Hofner, even though most bassists in the U.S. had Fenders.Quote:Yeah, most of the players were using Fenders in England, too. They still are better instruments. But, for me, it was a matter of expense. That’s all it was.

Guitar Player: Really? Hofners aren’t cheap basses in the States.Quote:Yeah, well you’re talking about over here, but I was in Germany, where they’re made, and I think they were about 30 quid, which is about 70 dollars. I wasn’t earning that much. And the thing is, the way I’d been brought up, my dad had always hammered into us to never get in debt, because we weren’t that rich. So John and George went easily in debt and got beautiful guitars: John got a Club 40, and George had a Futurama -- which is like a Fender copy -- and then, later, Gretsches. Then John got the Rickenbackers. They were prepared to go into hock and use what we call hire/purchase credit. But it had been so battered into me not to do that, I wouldn’t risk it. So I bought a cheap guitar. And the other thing was that the Hofner was violin-shaped and symmetrical, so being left-handed didn’t look so stupid. And once I bought it, I fell in love with it. That’s why I’m using it again now. For a light, dinky, little bass, it has a very rich bass sound.

Guitar Player: You did switch to a Rickenbacker eventually.Quote:Well, it was when Mr. Rickenbacker gave me one, when we were in L.A. I’m a cheap sort, I am. I’d always wanted to get a Fender -- I’ve got a Fender now, which I sometimes record with -- but funnily enough, it never was my thing to get a Fender. It wasn’t always the expense, because later I could afford it, but by then I’d kind of made the Hofner my trademark. And really, it was only when Mr. Rickenbacker said to me, “This will record better than what you’ve got.” It looked nice, and I said, “We’ll see.” And, obviously, a free guitar was a pretty hefty thing. You know, I’m still impressed by stuff like that. People expect you not to be impressed when you get a bit of money, but I’m still impressed by that.

Guitar Player: How did the Rickenbacker change your approach? Did you have to really labor with it?Quote:No, the Rickenbacker was very nice. They were right: It recorded better. It had sort of a fatter neck, and it was much more stable -- didn’t go out of tune as easily. Also, it stayed in tune right up the neck; the Hofner had problems when you got right up near the top. So I hardly ever went up there -- although some of that stuff in “Paperback Writer” is Hofner, so it did actually stay in tune for that. But it was a little more difficult to work with, being a cheaper instrument. I guess you pay for that precision.

I suspect that Paul uses the Hofner as it has been a trademark for him and many fans look for it when he performs. Also, it is a lot lighter to use for live gigs and perhaps more comfortable. When he goes to the studio to record, however, he has traditionally preferred the Rickenbacker looking for the "precision."

simer4001 · Post by **simer4001** » Wed Dec 20, 2000 1:46 pm

I believe Paul has been recording mostly with his WAL 5 string bass. The same bass he opened his 89/90 tour with. An interesting note is that Paul used a 4003/5 JG as his backup on that tour. Paul seems to use the hofner mostly for live and video performances. As for his 4001S, it can be seen popping up sparingly the past few years. It can be seen in the 1997 documentary "In the World Tonight". It is sitting in his guitar rack. It is also seen on the inner sleeve artwork for the 1993 release of "Off the Ground". Paul is playing the 4001S while wearing headphones. I don't know if this was a photo of an actual recording or just a photo opportunity, but those are the few places I've seen his 4001S in recent years.