Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

John Entwistle says that the Hofner Volin bass he smashed on RSW (Ready, Steady, Who!) had the neck loose when he bought it. He tapped it on the ground lightly and it broke off. He stuffed confetti in it, and for the actual show (after screwing/gluing the neck back on), he smashed it hard to the smithereens pictured. Apparently, the guy John bought it from bought from a Mr. Paul McCartney...I find this a load of rubbish, as Paulie was a lefty...looks like John (Entwistle) stuck a couple Ric toasters on it, too.

John also says that the rubbish remaining from the smash-up routine were stuff in one of Pete's guitar cases and the rubbish was later sold at auction.

If no-one believes me, get a copy of the book "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" and you'll see the quote from John when they discuss RSW. Of course, my recollection of the quote is from memory.

JakeK wrote:
John also says that the rubbish remaining from the smash-up routine were stuff in one of Pete's guitar cases and the rubbish was later sold at auction.

If no-one believes me, get a copy of the book "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" and you'll see the quote from John when they discuss RSW. Of course, my recollection of the quote is from memory.

Funny, I do have a copy of AAA, and read the RSWho show bit about the bass just a minute ago!

Here's the quote from John (about the bass) :

"The Hofner Violin bass that I broke on the show, I bought for 50 Pounds off Billy Kinsley of the Mersey's who'd bought it off Paul McCartney. I filled the body with feathers and confetti, and during rehearsals, I banged it lightly on the floor, making out I was going to smash it, and the neck broke. When I smasehd it ont he actual show, the carpenter screwed it back together, but the neck came off again. All the stuff we'd smashed uo, he swept away and put into a guitar case." (The fragments were sold in a Sotheby's auction in 1987)." (AAA pg. 92)

Anyways- the McCartney involvement is pure story....I'm sure JE didn't really think that one out, eh?

That pic must have been taken back in the day, as the guitar and it's parts ended up back on Pete's wall not long afterwards. Anyways...enough OCD anorak details for me!

Here's the 360/12 at the recording session for Pictures Of Lily:

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JakeK wrote:...looks like John (Entwistle) stuck a couple Ric toasters on it, too.

I don't know if it's been brought up in another thread on this forum, but if you ever watch the "Kids Are Alright" B&W video done by Kit Lambert (in front of a lake) check out the pickups on the Mosrite Ventures model bass John is playing...it has Ric toasters on it.

I would think whoever posed that photo of the 2 guitars below, may have well found 2 toasters lying in the case of wreckage and placed them on the bass purely for the pic. I may well be wrong. Just my 2 cents worth.

Looks like it may've had those other two pickups in the case on it at the time of "Ready, Steady, Who."



??

I think there's a few snapshots of the bass in the book Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere

ataritoobin wrote:Looks like it may've had those other two pickups in the case on it at the time of "Ready, Steady, Who."



I think there's a few snapshots of the bass in the book Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere

Those are not the same pickups, as best as I can make out; look at the Höfner style pickup rings. The toasters in that "busted" photo are not in the same positions and are a bit crooked alignment-wise.