McCartney's Original 4001S Pick-Guard Crack

[Eddie Dupont]

Probably just another really dumb question, but gonna ask anyway. Ever since I saw my first ever picture of Paul's Rick (MMG album), I have always wondered how or why he got and kept that nasty crack on the lower side of his pick guard. I have pictures of it less than a few months old, still in beautiful fireglo and the pick guard has that awful crack that he kept right up til it was re-furbished at the factory in the early 70's. Is there anyone that may have a real answer as to how it occured? To me, it looks like an object just fell directly on the pickguard and it make the crack because there is no other visible damage to the area below the pickguard. Also, doesn't some one thaworked on the refurb have this original pickguard? Does Mark A know who it is? I could spend about $25,000 to buy it if the person who has it wants to part with it. (not really, maybe a grand!) Any stories out there that are not ridiculous?

[Wiker]

I have no answers, but here is the only photo I've come across before the pickguard was cracked.

[bassduke49]

You'll notice that the "crack" (or really the missing chunk) of the pick guard emanates from one of the mounting screws. I wonder if at some time PM or a technician overtightened that screw, causing cracks to radiate out from the screw hole and causing that chunk to separate. PM doesn't seem to me to be the type who is overly cautious with his instruments. Consider the original Höfner had its pickups taped in at one point; the dog lead (leash) clip for the strap onto the Höfner's tailpiece; the psychedelic paint splatters on the Rick; the crude sanding of the horns on the Rick; etc. While he probably thinks these instruments are important to him, I don't think he thinks of them as being fragile or that they must be in pristine condition.

[cjj]

My theory is that he cracked it fending off screaming teen-aged girls...

[JakeK]

During the Revolver sessions, April 1966. The crack appears on the guard here. Perhaps PMC or Mal Evans dropped it in the studio towards the end of the Rubber Soul sessions? The first picture posted by Geir was from October 1965.

[rickinroma]

considering the way they used to keep their guitars, mainly in precarious balance against amplifiers or wall, or even "better" on the pavement, instead of using appropriate normal guitar stands, both in studio and ridicously even on stage during touring years, what happened to the pickguard of his 4001S was only a potential example...

[Seans]

considering the way they used to keep their guitars, mainly in precarious balance against amplifiers or wall, or even "better" on the pavement, instead of using appropriate normal guitar stands, both in studio and ridicously even on stage during touring years, what happened to the pickguard of his 4001S was only a potential example...

He was lucky really, most 64's in professional hands lost their headstocks.

[MaplegloMatt]

I can't remember exactly where but I remember reading the accounts of a former RIC employee who was directly involved with the repair work carried out at the factory during the "Wings Over America" tour. He stated that a new pickguard was fitted with the old one being presumably tossed out as it was broken.

[jps]

I believe that was Mark Arnquist.

[Eddie Dupont]

Just found out that it was actually Maxwell's Silver Hammer that caused the crack. It fell off of a table and made that crack. Paul wasn't even rattled. It was a free bass and it didn't effect the sound.