Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

From what I can find, it was this BBC 1 performance in 1987 of "Listen to what the Man Said"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTmlk46OJTo





I don't believe he ever performed live with it again. Is it maybe because he sanded off all the varnish and it absorbed all that cigarette smoke and sweat from his Wings days and maybe smelled like poo?

Great pics, BTW.

Paul started writing with Elvis Costello in 87' and did some work on his album Flowers in the Dirt & EC's Spike!. EC had asked him to bring in his Hofner for the sessions, as he was a great fan of vintage gear (as well as being a Beatles fan from his youth). Paul had largely retired his Hofner and had played the 4001, Wal and Yamaha basses in the 80's. So EC worked with Paul to get the Hofner back in payable trim, and Paul rediscovered how light and playable the Hofner was. After that he largely retired the 4001 & others for live work and concentrated on his Hofner.

I think the weight was a big factor in retiring his 4001, also that audiences respond to the classic look of the Hofner.

I think I've also read here on the forums about some technical issues he had with his 4001 (dead pickup amongst other things) that were worked on by Rickenbacker. However I'm not sure if this is in the same time period, or whether I'm conflating things.

Cheers,

Andrew

I think I've also read here on the forums about some technical issues he had with his 4001 (dead pickup amongst other things) that were worked on by Rickenbacker. However I'm not sure if this is in the same time period, or whether I'm conflating things.

That was back before the Wings Over America tour (1976?)

as he was a great fan of vintage gear

A 1964, probable 1st lefty Rick, isn't vintage enough?

Ratwax wrote: Tue Nov 05, 2024 4:30 am Paul started writing with Elvis Costello in 87' and did some work on his album Flowers in the Dirt & EC's Spike!...

Paul played his 4001 in this "My Brave Face" session with Costello (15:15 timestamp): https://youtu.be/J0PmzS6AUWo?si=syenJMe5ITJNZ_4o&t=915

He has the pickup switch on bridge, but I think he's also using roundwounds. It's not his usual Rick tone.

teeder wrote: Tue Nov 05, 2024 9:06 am

I think I've also read here on the forums about some technical issues he had with his 4001 (dead pickup amongst other things) that were worked on by Rickenbacker. However I'm not sure if this is in the same time period, or whether I'm conflating things.

That was back before the Wings Over America tour (1976?)

as he was a great fan of vintage gear

A 1964, probable 1st lefty Rick, isn't vintage enough?

There's a lot of people with blinders on!

RobW wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2024 1:32 am He has the pickup switch on bridge, but I think he's also using roundwounds. It's not his usual Rick tone.

IIRC, the general consensus is that the harness is a standard RH one, therefore, the masses believe the switch positions are "reversed", meaning, switch down is the neck pickup.

jps wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2024 12:23 pm

RobW wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2024 1:32 am He has the pickup switch on bridge, but I think he's also using roundwounds. It's not his usual Rick tone.

IIRC, the general consensus is that the harness is a standard RH one, therefore, the masses believe the switch positions are "reversed", meaning, switch down is the neck pickup.

You're right, it's neck pickup, but with roundwounds I think. Not his usual tone.

I wonder if that's why Costello urged him to take out his Hoefner again, to go back to his traditional thumpy tone. A little praise can go a long way and maybe that's why McCartney went back to that bass and retired his Rick?

RobW wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2024 10:30 pm

jps wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2024 12:23 pm

RobW wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2024 1:32 am He has the pickup switch on bridge, but I think he's also using roundwounds. It's not his usual Rick tone.

IIRC, the general consensus is that the harness is a standard RH one, therefore, the masses believe the switch positions are "reversed", meaning, switch down is the neck pickup.

You're right, it's neck pickup, but with roundwounds I think. Not his usual tone.

I wonder if that's why Costello urged him to take out his Hoefner again, to go back to his traditional thumpy tone. A little praise can go a long way and maybe that's why McCartney went back to that bass and retired his Rick?

I never cared for Costello. Now I know why!

EC missed the great opportunity to mind his own business and stay silent

rickinroma wrote: Sat Nov 09, 2024 4:34 am EC missed the great opportunity to mind his own business and stay silent

+1!

McCartney was complaining about the weight of the Ric even back in the footage from the ‘60s (I guess it would have seemed very heavy after the Hofners), and I believe he commented much later about the weight being an issue in retiring it.

TBF, I’ve only played 2 sixties 4001 basses - an RM and an early ‘68 I’m currently considering - and they were/are both on the heavier side; maybe the ‘shoes have something to do with that. Both were/are noticeably heavier than my 2 x ‘72s. I guess the bigger headstock and bigger/heavier tuners will likely be a factor too.

My old '69 4001 was light as a feather, but it didn't have shoes and had the Grovers.

And is this image also worth something, that he apparently concluded after all these years, the E string is the best place to put your thumb when playing fingerstyle on a Rickenbacker? Versus awkwardly on the corner of the fretboard ("I Am the Walrus" video)?

Depends on the sound you want.