What the heck is going on in this McCartney pic

[RobW]

This is from his "Helen Wheels" promo film circa '73:

What is that white thing under the strings on the tailpiece? To me it looks like a cloth mute (or paper towel rolled up?) but I'm looking at my 4001 reissue and there's nowhere to put something like that, at that position. The strings there are in the middle of U-shaped grooves. Anything you snake under the strings wouldn't look straight like that. What's going on there?

[sloop_john_b]

It looks to me like its just the shine from the saddles.

[jps]

What you are seeing is the bridge, that's all. Paul knows there is already a mute in the tailpiece.

Just like mine!

[RobW]

A "shine from saddles" should be bright, like that shining blob to the right of it. That mute-thing looks duller, like his shirt collar. That's why I wondered if it was some kind of mute.

As for the built-in mute, that doesn't work in my reissue (it curves upward so the strings don't mute equally -- it's not really usable).

Just wondering if he found a way to subtly mute all the strings equally without some giant towel or foam thing like other bassists have done.

[jps]

The saddles (on Paul's and mine) are just polished aluminum whereas the tailpiece is polished chrome plating, hence the difference in "shiny-ness" due to differing reflectivity.

The mute pad on yours should probably be cut thinner leaving foam closer to the saddles and possibly have the mute bar slightly reshaped to match your strings better. Given that the strings are different diameters the affect of the mute's foam will vary if the same amount of pressure is applied to all the strings.

[jps]

On reflection the saddles on Paul's bass in that photo may already be the later zinc (?) saddles (if that is the replacement tailpiece/bridge) but the concept remains, different reflectivity of the finishes.

[RobW]

This thing isn't a reflection. It's curving/warping down where the string is pressing against it. Look where it's curving. It's a physical thing under the strings.

[jps]

This thing isn't a reflection. It's curving/warping down where the string is pressing against it. Look where it's curving. It's a physical thing under the strings.

Yes, that describes the saddles.

If not, can you find a better photo of what you are looking at?

[bigbajo60]

Even in this picture (which, judging by the Red Rose Speedway sticker might be from around the same time period as the Helen Wheels video) the 'glare' from the saddles creates that impression of a separate "thing" that the OP is seeing.

[FabGearHead]

Pictures from the Ram Album recording sessions show Paul playing the Rick bass with what appears to be a guitar polishing cloth under the strings in front of the bridge. I believe it was due to the string rattle from the broken bridge. Shortly after this period, Wings started up and he sent the bass back to RIC for some well deserved tweaking, which is documented here; http://www.thecanteen.com/arnquist.html

I agree with the other guys that, in the picture in question, the glare is causing the appearance of something there.

Jim

[Colonel Sanders]

You guys are good!

All I see is blurry pictures taken by lousy photographers.

If I roll a big joint, I guess I will start to see lots of things too.

[Captain Bob]

I believe you're looking for his mute methodology. Ram sessions.....

[jps]

I believe you're looking for his mute methodology. Ram sessions.....

rsz_scan.jpg

That would be fine if the OP did not say "on the tailpiece". I still think what he is referring to is the bright reflections of the saddles.

[teeder]

I still think what he is referring to is the bright reflections of the saddles.

Yes

[Captain Bob]

There are other pics where his preferred mute is resting against the tailpiece, but not near the saddles. I think the OP is referring to that whitish glare ahead of the tailpiece. I'll have to pull the dvd out and look at that vid (if I remember) when I get home. But, I doubt he would leave his foam in place for a filming session.