The CORRECT McCartney Conversion...

[congerz83]

I have decided to dedicate a thread to the project I'm currently working on with Mark Walker.

I also chose to post it in BASS section instead of The Beatles section. I figured all the bass guys could get interested in this.

I sent my bass to mark to correct an neck twist & bow. Then I thought of someting...

I've decided turn THIS...



[*]"Photos used by permission of Peter Levett"

Into THIS...




Well to be truly authentic to ME, It'll be THIS...



Into THIS...


Yes. I'm taking the C64S to another level! This instrument will be an attempt to "carbon-copy" Paul's bass as it is today.

Darker "yellowing", more authentic body contours, thinner horn-shaping & every nick/scratch replicated...

And when I say "I'm working with Mark Walker on this" it should be "Mark does all of the great work he's known for, and I sometimes form sentences and speak to him about it.

I'm going to be proud to share this with you all...

[teeder]

Cool! I can't wait to watch the process.

[ilan]

Yep, they should have done it in Amber Mapleglo.

Cool project.

[johnallg]

Actually, isn't Paul's bass in WoodGlo? I mean, isn't it unfinished wood?

[JM82]

I received my copy of Paul's book the other day; the strings in that picture look like they have orange silks, which is the same as labella 760fx strings I have on my 4003S. McCartney is known to use labellas on his hofner and the 760fx set is the same gauge as the labella Beatle bass set he supposedly uses (39 - 96) just a longer scale. My theory is he has the 760fx set on the ric (unless anyone knows of other strings with orange silks). So if you're looking to make it a carbon copy, that's the set to get.

[ilan]

James - McCartney's '63 Höfner has dark green silks.

[bigbajo60]

(...setting microwave to "Popcorn" setting)

[johnhall]

Actually, isn't Paul's bass in WoodGlo? I mean, isn't it unfinished wood?

It is, which is to say Amber would be completely incorrect. SmudgeGlo or GrimeGlo would be more like it.

[bugman]

I had a C64S years ago and am saving to get one again but while I loved the bass, I also wished it was more correct in shape,contour, and finish. I am going to watch this thread and will be interested in how close you get it to look like the present day McCartney RIC. Did you have to send the RIC away or is he located close to you?

[paologregorio]

Actually, isn't Paul's bass in WoodGlo? I mean, isn't it unfinished wood?

It is, which is to say Amber would be completely incorrect. SmudgeGlo or GrimeGlo would be more like it.

I've encountered that; pick up a vintage instrument, and . . "Ewwww!"; it's part of the reason I don't like tobacco sunburst guitars-I've picked up too many old tobacco SB guitars that were completely gritty and filthy; now when I see one I just think, "yuck!"

[aceonbass]

One detail impossible to replicate will be the end of the fretboard's location relative to the upper and lower cutaways. RIC appears to have lengthened and moved the neck blank further forward to allow greater access to the higher frets. Since the scale length hasn't changed, this means the tailpiece is also slightly further forward. The pickguard, still resting up against the end of the fretboard, is now much closer to the cutaways. I personally don't care for the way this looks. As an aside, this would have been a good time to add a 21st fret, since the guard would have moved back closer to it's original position relative to the cutaways.

[antipodean]

One detail impossible to replicate will be the end of the fretboard's location relative to the upper and lower cutaways. RIC appears to have lengthened and moved the neck blank further forward to allow greater access to the higher frets. Since the scale length hasn't changed, this means the tailpiece is also slightly further forward. The pickguard, still resting up against the end of the fretboard, is now much closer to the cutaways. I personally don't care for the way this looks. As an aside, this would have been a good time to add a 21st fret, since the guard would have moved back closer to it's original position relative to the cutaways.

It's been that way since at least 2000. The cutaways on my '00 V63 are about 1cm "deeper" relative to the fretboard than on my two '70s 4001s. I had never noticed until you mentioned it.....

[JM82]

James - McCartney's '63 Höfner has dark green silks.

Maybe, but the 760fx set has orange silks. That set is not the Beatle bass set but it does use the same gauges and is also in the deep talkin range http://www.bassstringsonline.com/La-Bel ... _1726.html

[ilan]

Maybe,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaVcSuldAp8

Headstock closeup at 2:59.

[JM82]

Maybe,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaVcSuldAp8

Headstock closeup at 2:59.

Ok, definitely,