When did McCartney sand off the points on the "horns?"

[bobbolux]

as stated here previously - 1st sanding was pro, during late Beatles era. 2nd sanding was Macca at home on the farm post Beatles, probably bored of feeding the sheep.

as to the OP - White Album he used a Jazz Bass.

[iamthebassman]

I don't believe the "White Album" is ALL Fender Jazz, pretty sure there's 4001S on there too.

[bigbajo60]

In my imaginary scenario, I see him mindlessly sanding... whistling the idea for a new melody... when he suddenly realizes that he's sanded the point on one of the horns clean off. He then decides to "even things out" by rounding the other point off.

All in my imaginary scenario, of course.

[bobbolux]

I don't believe the "White Album" is ALL Fender Jazz, pretty sure there's 4001S on there too.

agreed.

[MaplegloMatt]

I think if you were to look over all the tracks on the White Album, it'd work out to about four equal parts of 4001s, Jazz, F*nd#r six string bass (played by John/George) , and tracks w/no electric bass.

[RobW]

as stated here previously - 1st sanding was pro, during late Beatles era. 2nd sanding was Macca at home on the farm post Beatles, probably bored of feeding the sheep.

I googled around a little more (probably should have done that before starting this thread) but based on this account by a Rick employee who refurbished his bass in the 70's: http://www.thecanteen.com/arnquist.html I'm guessing he got sick of the shiny gloss and wanted a more natural look. It probably seemed like a good idea at the time. (And as he said in the documentary Wingspan, regarding that period after the Beatles breakup: "I started drinking Scotch and I just sort of went a little crazy for a few weeks...").

That link also says the Rickenbacker guys noticed all the varnish was stripped off but they decided not to re-seal it, because they weren't asked to. So an already dirty and sort of stinky bass went through a few more years of use, and a world tour. I'm sure it got even worse without a sealant.

Maybe that's why McCartney stopped using it?

[johnallg]

Bad back, too heavy.

I still say he was making a male statement.

[Keef]

Am I really bored to be getting so involved in the shape of Pauls bass here?

Well at least it's better than talking about the shape of his hair

[RobRick]

McCartney must have wanted his Rick that way. Surely, if he wanted to start over or just wanted one with a natural finish Rickenbacker would have accommodated him.

[gearhed289]

Bad back, too heavy.

Yeah, I think it's a long shot, but it IS possible it was to reduce the weight some. Or he was just high, high, high...

That thing tripped me up for years, along with the color of Squire's bass. When I got my first white 4001 at age 15, I wondered why it didn't look like either of theirs. I also wondered why it didn't sound anything like Squire. (Factory flatwounds and a 1x18 folded horn cab... )

[SamBailler]

The original sanding was to remove the trippy psych paint job from '67 (times had changed). I am sure that this was only the front of the body that was done. This would have left him with a 'natural' finish on the front with the original '65 Fireglo everywhere else.

He obviously decided to make the whole thing 'natural' one day on the farm. Depending on what type of sander he used (my guess is a rectangular belt style job), removing the finish from the edges inside the horns would necessitate sacrificing the pointy bits to gain access. It would be pretty impossible to do those inside edges with that kind of tool without losing some wood on the way in.

[johnallg]

Bad back, too heavy.

Yeah, I think it's a long shot, but it IS possible it was to reduce the weight some. Or he was just high, high, high...

That thing tripped me up for years, along with the color of Squire's bass. When I got my first white 4001 at age 15, I wondered why it didn't look like either of theirs. I also wondered why it didn't sound anything like Squire. (Factory flatwounds and a 1x18 folded horn cab... )

Bad back, too heavy was why he doesn't use it now. Too bad he never tried or used the 4004C walnut bass given to him. Lightweight.

[robj]

Light weight indeed. Next to my Hofner 500/1 my Cheyenne is the lightest bass I own. Which sounds better? To my ears the 4004C, definitely worth the few extra pounds imo.

[Grey]

If it was to reduce weight it could have been done more tastefully. I know Paul is Bass Jesus but i've always thought his decison was just silly, totally ruins the overall asthetic of the bass.

[RobRick]

I don't think Paul is Jesus, and I don't think most people would even notice the shaved horns, unless you are a Rick fiend like those of us here at RR.

Maybe Paul just wanted a personal touch to his Rick bass, like John drawing on his acoustic guitar. Who knows?