Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Peter, That's a different bass for sure. Skunk-striper.

I believe Glover's main bass was a 1971. 1970 20 fretters are even rarer than 21 fretters.

Can anyone see if it has binding at the end of the fret-board?
A bass made prior to Feb 1971 will not have binding.

All of the 21-fretters were from '71

21 fretters started in late 1969 and went through Feb 1971.

Here's a couple links to some more detailed photos of Glover's basses:

http://tinyurl.com/46mrylv

http://tinyurl.com/4vy3dsw

http://tinyurl.com/4c8mwyy

http://tinyurl.com/4qoyhnh

http://tinyurl.com/4qep5fn

I scanned a couple pages from the CD booklet. I zoomed in on the right picture and believe i'm seeing binding at the end of the fret-board.

1971!

I lied. I saw them in San Bernadino in 73 (if it was 72, it was LATE 72 as I was deployed most of the year) with Fleetwood Mac and Rory Gallagher. Rory opened the show, and nobody knew who he was. He stole the show! By the time Fleetwood Mac came on we were "done"!

Met Rory once (with band) at a motorway service station. Lovely chap, as were they all.

BTW, everytime I see Rog's bass I think "I really need a Jetglo!"

"I really need a Jetglo!"

Burg looks like Jetglo under the right lights, and I happen to know where you could get one.

FretlessOnly wrote:Since Glover used the 4001 for Machine Head and had only just recently obtained it, it must be a '71.

I always wondered why the album's rear depicted a Fender bass?

coolhandjjl wrote:[I always wondered why the album's rear depicted a Fender bass?

I always figured maybe so the 4 on one side machine heads facing the viewer would make more people other than just musicians. "get it". Or maybe the maple neck looked better for the background of the picture than Roger's Jetglo 4001 neck. Be quiet Tony and CJ!

heinpete wrote: O.K. This is the Rick I was writing about:

Thanks Peter. Then Glover gave this bass (a fIreglo) to Peter Agnew of Nazareth in the mid-70s. So:

1. Was the fireglo Glover's back-up bass?
2. Did Glover really have the double jazz pickup mod done to both his main jetglo bass and this fireglo?

I've never, ever seen a picture or heard a quote from Glover indicating that he had anything but the one Rick, a jetglo. I have seen pictures/videos of Glover playing a tobacco sunburst P-bass, a white ot light-colored Fender Mustang Bass and the jetglo 4001 (before and after the PU mods). Not a hint of the fireglo 4001 (other than what you've posted).

I'm not doubting or challenging you, I just can't figure out why he would have a second Rick when he said about Machine Head that he wished he'd have had something with more bottom end and less mid sound that competed with Jon and Ritchie.

If we can believe the photo in the first link provided by John Luke (above), it appears he had three Ricks; the Fireglo with Jazz pickups right behind him, the Jetglo with Jazz pickups, and at the far left, a fretless Fireglo.

And don't forget what looks like a Gibson Thunderbird on the far right!

coolhandjjl wrote:

FretlessOnly wrote:Since Glover used the 4001 for Machine Head and had only just recently obtained it, it must be a '71.

I always wondered why the album's rear depicted a Fender bass?

"made in japan" has the fender bass with over saturated fuzz on "smoke on the water". i prefer the straight rick sound on machine head as opposed to the fuzz live.

edit...i checked my "machine head" lp to no avail. i thought there was a shot of the jackplate, but no. glover was responsible for the cover design ,it said.

teeder wrote:

"I really need a Jetglo!"

Burg looks like Jetglo under the right lights, and I happen to know where you could get one.

Now if you'd said that last week.. . Burg is great anyway to be honest. However the Azure is hopefully on its way now so sadly no more Rics for me for a very long time, unless of course that one either doesn't reach me or doesn't work out either (both quite possible).

coolhandjjl wrote:And don't forget what looks like a Gibson Thunderbird on the far right!

Yes, he did have a Thunderbird; he whacked the headstock against a mike stand and knocked the headstock right off that bass. Not sure when that happened; maybe with Rainbow?

My comment about the P-bass, Mustang and JG 4001 was directed at the '69-'73 Mark II era, but as Paul points out, he also had a 4001FL with half-inch spacing and a finger pull, so that's probably a '71 or a '72 (unless he "sprung" for an older one; I doubt he bought the FL before the 'JG). I'd seen all the photos you posted except the one with the 4001FL. And there's the FG!

It's hard to know which basses he had during Mark II, but he certainly had some nice ones.

coolhandjjl wrote:And don't forget what looks like a Gibson Thunderbird on the far right!

With a toaster by the bridge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYtdW5bD-7Q