Questions about early basses

[bluewhale]

Forumites,

Two unrelated questions about the old designs, out of curiosity:

Is it known whether Roger Rossmeisl designed the pickguard on the 4001? I think it's quite a departure from the pickguard designed for the original 4000.

Also, do any of you have experience playing a toaster + horseshoe + Ric-o-Sound combination? I don't have a specific question, just curious to know what it is like. I don't think I've ever seen it discussed, and I'm not actually sure there are such basses.


Thank you,
bluewhale

[sloop_john_b]

I believe Paul Barth was behind the design of the 4000.

[rictified]

Forumites,

Two unrelated questions about the old designs, out of curiosity:

Is it known whether Roger Rossmeisl designed the pickguard on the 4001? I think it's quite a departure from the pickguard designed for the original 4000.

Also, do any of you have experience playing a toaster + horseshoe + Ric-o-Sound combination? I don't have a specific question, just curious to know what it is like. I don't think I've ever seen it discussed, and I'm not actually sure there are such basses.


Thank you,
bluewhale

I'm not a Chris Squire expert at all but he was supposed to have converted his 60's 4001 (RM1999?) to stereo which would make that a horseshoe and toaster combo played in stereo. Early Flamin' Groovies had a 60's 4001 with horseshoe on the Flamingo and Teenage head albums. It was probably played in mono though but he has one of the best Ric bass sounds I've ever heard on those albums, great albums too.

[Rockin' James]

According to Dale Fortune and Steve Soest who knew both Paul Barth and Doc Kauffman, they have confirmed that Paul designed most every Rickenbacker guitar and bass from 1954 through 1960 when he worked for Electro String in Los Angeles during the 1950s. Dale told me that he met Doc and Paul Barth in 1964 when he went to Doc's house in Santa Ana at the young age of 16. Paul said Roger got a lot of credit for things he never had any hand in designing. From what I've seen Roger was instrumental in the design and building of Rickenbacker and Fender acoustic guitars during the late 50 and the 1960s. I've seen Magnatone guitars from the early 60s that are the exact shape as the 325 Rickenbacker guitars. Barth held the patent on this design when he worked for the Magnatone factory in Los Angeles during the 1960s and produced the same style guitar except it had a full scale neck.

[bluewhale]

It's good to know that Paul Barth probably designed the 4000. That would put him in the Pantheon, as far as I am concerned. Note that I didn't attribute the design to Rossmeisl.

I think the original question asking whether Rossmeisl designed the 4001 pickguard is still open. Just curious.

rictified - I'll be sure to check out the Flamin' Groovies albums you mentioned. Thanks for the pointers.


bluewhale

[1boominrick]

Regarding stereo horse and toaster: Go to the RRF forum Chris Squire and Yes Forum and open the post "Nevermind all that check this." In the video clip, note that Squire has a split cord running from his bass to the amp. I would suggest that this is evidence that the bass was wired stereo.

[wints]

My green RM 1999 is stereo, but I can't recall ever playing it through two amps.

In fact, come to think of it, I can't recall playing it through any amp...

[pag]

Send it to Altrincham!

Ampeg waiting.

[pag]

On the "nevermind that" post I sent, check Chris Squires RM and note the nut is still the bakelite one.
I think it changed sometime after Close To The Edge.

[wints]

Send it to Altrincham!

Ampeg waiting.

Next summer Pete! It has been over 20 years since she was "plugged in"...

[gemspa73]

Those first two Groovies LP's are stunning! Pete, you may be interested to know that I was playing a Fireglo C64 in Forsyth's in Manchester today. Felt really nice, though I have to say, the neck didn't seem quite as thin as the RM1999, but the price tag of £2,700 almost made me drop it! The guy said he thought it was a 2010, but didn't seem sure.

[bluewhale]

My green RM 1999 is stereo, but I can't recall ever playing it through two amps.

In fact, come to think of it, I can't recall playing it through any amp...

wints,

If you don't mind my asking, why haven't you been playing the RM 1999 through an amp all these years?

I think an amp could really help that bass cut through the mix. Especially a big one.


bluewhale

[bluewhale]

Also, do any of you have experience playing a toaster + horseshoe + Ric-o-Sound combination? I don't have a specific question, just curious to know what it is like. I don't think I've ever seen it discussed, and I'm not actually sure there are such basses.

The only basses so far mentioned as having this combination are two RM 1999's, and rictified suggests that Squire's may have been converted from mono. I would have to believe that, as I had thought the RM 1999 had the same electronics as a 4001S, which I assume was shipped mono.

Also, have any foumites thought about wiring their V63's or C64's for stereo?

[rictified]

My green RM 1999 is stereo, but I can't recall ever playing it through two amps.

In fact, come to think of it, I can't recall playing it through any amp...

wints,

If you don't mind my asking, why haven't you been playing the RM 1999 through an amp all these years?

I think an amp could really help that bass cut through the mix. Especially a big one.


bluewhale

Haha!

[1boominrick]

I have thought about wiring my C64 stereo, but I'm afraid of screwing up the wonderful stock sound. It has the voice of the RM1999 and 4001S as it is.