Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

That is the Donovan of whom I speak. That bass belongs to Chris Squire and in currently in the care of one of Chris's friends.

Jeff: That looks like a V63. The older basses had very messy and irregular control cavities. That one is decidedly modern.

That photo originally came from Kenny, so he would certainly know the real deal on it. Perhaps he will chime in here.

Very interesting thread...I'd always wondered if Squire was secretly hording 60's Rick basses...especially from the same batch, it just makes sense. I have a fantastic '79 4001, and I've always been similarly curious if others with the same year with serial numbers a few digits away likewise think they have a keeper-- a good batch, perhaps, maybe due to the person who was sanding necks that day? A particularly dense shipment of hard maple that arrived at that production time? Rick basses have a reputation of varying from bass to bass, and it makes me wonder if there's a more of a consistency on a smaller time frame scale.

Squire, Entwistle, Donovan, and Quaife... a supergroup that never was, alas.

"... I've always been similarly curious if others with the same year with serial numbers a few digits away likewise think they have a keeper-- a good batch, perhaps"

I had the same idea when I bought a near-mint '76 Fender P, sunburst/maple, supposedly an identical twin to my old workhorse '76 P. Even the serial numbers were very close. I meant it to be a backup, if anything ever happened to my beloved '76 P.

But it was a completely different bass. At least 1 lb. heavier, and more important, lifeless. My conclusion: it's a crapshoot.

"the guys who wear their instruments down around their knees are more interested in jumping around than musicianship ..."

But that's what inspired me!Here's my hero Glen Matlock showing how it was done a generation after The Kinks.Miming,I know,but the energy got me hooked.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bM_l443VV4

Quaife along with Entwistle were probably the first two high profile users of the RM1999 bass in mid 64. His bass, with the short surround would have been one of the first batch delivered, with DA,DB,DC,DD and DE serial numbers. I'd be surprised if they numbered more than 25 units.

The Donavon RM1999 shown above is two serial numbers away from my white bass, with a DH serial number. The cavity is similar to the RM's of the time. Here's another example, with a DE serial number...


Playing low down is a definite compromise for biomechanics. Your wrist and low back will ultimately not be happy. For punk rock lovers or under 21's only!

That is interesting Andrew. So mine must have been made at the tail-end of the carve-it-out-with-a-forstner-bit era.

It would seem so Ted.

What is the month of your 63?

Jo, I also have a great 79 4001, plays and sounds great, very clear with lots of bite and bottom. It's one of my favorites.

It is March of '63, Wints.

Just looked at 'All Day & All Of The Night ' video where Peter Q is playing a Fender P. As that was their next single after You Really Got Me, I bought them both at the time, does that mean he only used his Rick for about a year?

Pete Quaife chopped and changed a bit with his basses but he seemed to use his Ric more than most. Hes an uncomplicated player but his lines are great and a pleasure to play as I am in the UK's (there were a couple of others but I think they have ceased now) only tribute band to The Kinks. Quaife wasnt a bass player who wanted loads of limelight or to be flashy, he just played the right thing to compliment the simple but brilliant songs. I too have a sonic blue P-bass like the one that Pete used and I tend to swap between the Ric and that depending how the mood takes me. Quaife played a Gibson for a time as well, I dont know why when he had the Ric and the P-bass ?? Very underated in the same way McCartney is as a bass player in my opinion.

McCartney under-rated as a bass player? By who?

I think we've covered it before, but I believe the Rickenbacker 1999 that Roger Waters used was an early variety too, going by the shape of the surround. I'm thinking he was a relative late-comer to owning one, maybe early 1966? Andy?