Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

JakeK wrote:Could the black flatwound strings have been Rotosounds?

Starless wrote:This is a great thread. The permanently perceived Beatles/Hofner McCartney association makes it hard to track down photos of the real unsung hero of the 66/67 recording era (the Ric) and makes it all the more satisfying when more come to light.

I came across a 1966 Beatles Monthly Mag 'Christmas Extra' which distinguishes itself from the monthly issues of that time by including colour photos. One of the pics I have not seen before, although there are other B&W shots from the same session in this thread already.

Here's the colour pic:

1999col.jpg

What caught my eye on that was what appears to be the use of black tapewound strings, although the previously posted picture from (most likely) the same session, would suggest otherwise:

162001.jpg

A trick of the light on the colour picture or too much light on the B&W one? I have heard elsewhere that McCartney used tapewounds on some of Abbey Road, but didn't think they were in use back in 1966. Can anyone with decent eyesight have a look and venture an opinion?

JakeK wrote:John Entwistle used LaBella's on the famous "My Generation" Jazz bass, I have a picture of him playing said Jazz Bass in late 1965 with a closeup of the strings, more or less the same LaBella's from the "Generation" session.

simer4001 wrote:Here it is. It was posted earlier in this thread. It is also visible behind Paul when the group performs Two of Us. As you can see in this picture the bass is still in it's MMT variation. When it appears in the Two of Us it has been stripped.

leftybass wrote:

simer4001 wrote:Here it is. It was posted earlier in this thread. It is also visible behind Paul when the group performs Two of Us. As you can see in this picture the bass is still in it's MMT variation. When it appears in the Two of Us it has been stripped.

leftybass wrote:Only the front side had been stripped, IIRC. It wasn't totally finish-free until round #2, when Paul applied his 'handy-work' to it.

JakeK wrote:What song were they performing when this screencap was posted?

leftybass wrote:Only the front side had been stripped, IIRC. It wasn't totally finish-free until round #2, when Paul applied his 'handy-work' to it.

simer4001 wrote:

leftybass wrote:Only the front side had been stripped, IIRC. It wasn't totally finish-free until round #2, when Paul applied his 'handy-work' to it.

I don't believe this to be correct. Paul took the bass to a guy in Soho and had it completely stripped. It was later that Paul stripped it again rounding out the horns. Here is a photo that has been floating around here for a while. The stripped bass in this picture still has the horns intact. I seriously doubt the back is still white and fireglo.