Is Paul McCartney's Rickenbacker bass wired backwards?

[Wiker]

Look like down to me. But yes, it’s blurry.

[jps]

Looks down to me, too.

[Wiker]

Does anyone have a picture with the switch in the up position? I can't recall seeing one.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen the switch UP, and the horseshoe still in place – until today
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PAUL-McCARTNEY- ... 1c2f76af3c

[johnallg]

DId anybody go to YouTube and watch Wings in the studio playing Juniors Farm? Paul plays the Rick and it has a more trebly sound to it. Where were the switch and pots on that? He plays through an Acoustic amp in the vid.

Good call John, certainly has more Treble and the switch is in the middle.

these?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0wTLWdzg20
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xklhv3GSLQw

Both clips are featured on the (bootleg I guess) DVD “One Hand Clapping”. For some reason the bass on Junior’s farm is more trebly on YouTube than on the DVD.
Hard to see for Junior’s farm, but in my eyes the switch is definitely down.
The clips are supposed to be from 1974. Wasn’t the horseshoe dead by then?

Yes, the Junior's Farm one, as you get to see the bass and control settings, and the amp.

[johnallg]

Not sure about the HS here, but 1.35 it seems switch is in the middle. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xklhv3GSLQw

Zoomed and paused, I believe it is the higain.

[nicodemus]

I think the simpliest way is the right way with maccartney.

He had always played with his violin bass using only the neck pickup, and he seems to like this set, with a boomy sound.
So I think when he begin to play on the 4001 (wich have naturally a more middle sound than the hofner), i think he used the same set on the 4001as on the hofner and so he use the neck pick up.
Also his sound on the beatles period is still very bass and boomy after he begin to play with the 4001, so he doesn't seems to search a completly different sound than before.

And something else, when we heard and see him playing with the wings with a more treble/fuzzy sound we can see that mostly the switch is on middle position, so if middle position gives more treble than the down position, it seems to confirm the switch on down position turn the neck pickup on.
That's my point of view.

I'm french so excuse me for my english.

[iiipopes]

For those who have to be "absolutely sure," has anybody considered contacting Macca's equipment technician to ask him?

[jps]

For those who have to be "absolutely sure," has anybody considered contacting Macca's equipment technician to ask him?

To be absolutely sure, I'd want to play the bass myself.

[teeder]

Jeff, give me a call when it arrives at your house. I'll be right over!

[deaconblues]

Mark Arnquist might have an idea.

[jps]

Jeff, give me a call when it arrives at your house. I'll be right over!

Did anybody see that flash going down I-90?

[teeder]

[rictified]

It's pretty obvious at least to me no matter how the bass was wired he was using the neck pickup, listen to Baby You're a Rich Man on a good stereo and then tell me it's the horseshoe.

[headbanger]

My old 64 4001s was wired or fitted or whatever with the switch down for toaster. Also both vol at the top which IIRC is not the normal way. Which suggests the harness went in upside down.