4001 Body Shape

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 10:47 am

I understand he was a bit of a pr*ck and not easy to work with. I don't know if that was true but it seems to be the general perception of him. He came to the US to first work for Gibson were he designed a few guitars that were never produced. According to Gibson, the were poor designs that would not have been marketable. He moved to Rickenbacker soon after starting at Gibson. I don't know how many of the modern Rick shapes are his but he did start the 4000 series and some of the guitars. A few years later he was off to work for Fender where he designed the Coronado series and perhaps others. After that, he went back to Europe or so I recall.

haw · Post by **haw** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 11:34 am

Hmmm, that would explain why he's not better known then.
I reckon we got him on a good day with his bass design though!

jps · Post by **jps** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 5:33 pm

"not sure on the middle 2"

The MG bass is my 4003FL with the two toasters.

rickfan60 · Post by **rickfan60** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 5:44 pm

Oh yes! I remember playing that bass.

ilan · Post by **ilan** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 10:32 pm

Rossmeisl is also responsible for the "German shoulders" on the 381.

http://rickresource.com/rrp/theroger.html

chefothefuture · Post by **chefothefuture** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 9:01 am

He was also the design force on the Capris.
The Bacon & Day book has some good info
as to his contributions to the guitar line from '54
to the early '60s.