Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2004 4:08 pm
I've seen Jeff's B+W work and a real print, simply outstanding!
A few well researched, full-colour illustrated and printed books about the Fender basses have been published over the years:
"How the Fender Bass Changed the World" By Jim Roberts (Excellent!)
"The Fender Bass : An Illustrated History" by J.W. Black and Albert Molinaro (Excellent!!)
"Fender Bass" by Klaus Blasquiz (Only OK.)
The Smith book is poorly B+W printed except 32 pages of colour photos, and is really disappointing in the Basses department, IMHO.
It's about time for a hardcovered coffee table book type "Rickenbacker Bass Book" with many pictures and detailed descriptions of all the bass models and their design/manufacture details and history of changes of parts (tuners, bridges/tailpieces, pickups, inlay styles and materials, bindings, etc.). Limited edition basses (4001 CS, 4003 Black Star, Tuxedo, Shadow, 4004 LK, etc.) were made after the Smith book was published and are not mentioned in it. They are worth a chapter or two. A chapter dedicated to influential artists who play(ed) them would be nice too. And how about a big photo-illustrated "RIC Bass Family Tree" poster to go with the book?
The more knowledgeable members of the RIC Bass Forum (the elitest RIC basses owning bunch in the world, IMHO) should participate in the writing and others can contribute lots of photos. The internet will make this collective writing technically easier than before.
It would be my honour to provide colour photography service for members whose basses are presented in such book.
We can't wait until Mr. Hall's retirement!
A few well researched, full-colour illustrated and printed books about the Fender basses have been published over the years:
"How the Fender Bass Changed the World" By Jim Roberts (Excellent!)
"The Fender Bass : An Illustrated History" by J.W. Black and Albert Molinaro (Excellent!!)
"Fender Bass" by Klaus Blasquiz (Only OK.)
The Smith book is poorly B+W printed except 32 pages of colour photos, and is really disappointing in the Basses department, IMHO.
It's about time for a hardcovered coffee table book type "Rickenbacker Bass Book" with many pictures and detailed descriptions of all the bass models and their design/manufacture details and history of changes of parts (tuners, bridges/tailpieces, pickups, inlay styles and materials, bindings, etc.). Limited edition basses (4001 CS, 4003 Black Star, Tuxedo, Shadow, 4004 LK, etc.) were made after the Smith book was published and are not mentioned in it. They are worth a chapter or two. A chapter dedicated to influential artists who play(ed) them would be nice too. And how about a big photo-illustrated "RIC Bass Family Tree" poster to go with the book?
The more knowledgeable members of the RIC Bass Forum (the elitest RIC basses owning bunch in the world, IMHO) should participate in the writing and others can contribute lots of photos. The internet will make this collective writing technically easier than before.
It would be my honour to provide colour photography service for members whose basses are presented in such book.
We can't wait until Mr. Hall's retirement!
