Whatever it takes to get the job done! This is common knowledge? I've never heard that story until now. Was this done after the Beatles in the Wings era..or are you pulling legs here? Wouldn't doubt it, but some documentation would be nice.
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Paul McCartney and his Basses
- Thread starter JD Supernatural
- Start date
Whatever it takes to get the job done! This is common knowledge? I've never heard that story until now. Was this done after the Beatles in the Wings era..or are you pulling legs here? Wouldn't doubt it, but some documentation would be nice.
The photo of Paul on the Wings over America tour seems to show the Rick after the instrument had been refurbished by the staff at Rickenbacker. Check out this article excerpt with Rickenbacker's Mark Arnquist who led the restoration team. According to that article the horseshoe pickup was dead when they got it, and it was replaced with a single coil pickup similar to what's in modern 4003's, eliminating the pickup cover aspect of the horseshoe.
As for the hacksaw part? After doing a little digging it turns out that might be more urban legend than truth.
As for the hacksaw part? After doing a little digging it turns out that might be more urban legend than truth.
SirMjac28
Patiently Waiting For The Next British Invasion
+100000 George was more like the Phil Jackson of the group he got the most out of absolute, undisputed genius.
^^^
And just think: George Martin has said in interviews that had he known that they already had been rejected by Decca, he likely would not have let them audition for him.
And just think: George Martin has said in interviews that had he known that they already had been rejected by Decca, he likely would not have let them audition for him.
Which just goes to show that a big break may often be just an event of pure chance and have nothing to do with talent or the instruments we play. In this case, I understand Brian Epstein was at this point grasping at straws. After Martin, there were no other options so it could very well have been a short future of sweaty cavern concerts for the Beatle Boys.
They played long gigs in Germany. If I recall, 8 hour long gigs pretty much every night.
That will whip a band into shape pretty quickly.
Plus, Lennon and McCartney were perfect compliments for each other as a song writing team. McCartney just seems to have music ooze out of him, Lennon was more of a working man's musician. McCartney whimsical and melodic, Lennon harder hitting and rhythmic. The perfect yin-yang.
Plus, luck in getting Martin and Epstein.
They definitely lucked out with Martin and Epstein. But you must remember that Parlophone was little more than a novelty imprint label, its only cache was The Goons and Martin himself. The record company wasn't busting the budget to push the boys on their first or even their second record. Those songs did it. The image didn't hurt either. It surprised everyone and then everyone came to believe they had been terribly clever afterwards. But luck is one thing, they capitalized brilliantly on that luck too.
Just imagine if Love Me Do had really tanked. Would Please Please Me have done as well?
Which Gibson? You don't mean his Epiphone? (I'm not trying to be a smart ass).
I think the Gibson in question was Lennon's J-160E. Gibson did a Lennon commemorative reissue of that guitar in three different finishes, including the paint job by The Fool.
- Feb 24, 2004
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- Endorsing Artist: Phantom Guitars, Eastwood Guitars
Again, it could just be the angle from which this photo was taken. To me it looks a lot like palm muting.
Excellent article. Thanks. The pickup changes may partly explain the differences in sound from The Beatles days to the height of Wings.
The Rickenbacker through out the years:
When Paul first got it, it was Fireglo with Horseshoe pickup
It looks like Paul was a little careless with it, the crack on the pickguard near the controls make that clear.
Then came the psychedelic years, and Paul spray-painted his Rick
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Later on, he got tired of the colorful painting and decided to sand it off. Notice that the upper horn and the body are still in the original shape; the horseshoe pickup and the crack on the pickguard are still there.
He then asked for the people at Rickenbacker to repair it. The horseshoe (dead) was replaced, the bridge upgraded for a better one, had a fret work with a 0-fret added, the nut and the pickguard were also replaced and the upper horn and the body were sanded down to a more "rounded" shape.
When Paul first got it, it was Fireglo with Horseshoe pickup
It looks like Paul was a little careless with it, the crack on the pickguard near the controls make that clear.
Then came the psychedelic years, and Paul spray-painted his Rick
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Later on, he got tired of the colorful painting and decided to sand it off. Notice that the upper horn and the body are still in the original shape; the horseshoe pickup and the crack on the pickguard are still there.
He then asked for the people at Rickenbacker to repair it. The horseshoe (dead) was replaced, the bridge upgraded for a better one, had a fret work with a 0-fret added, the nut and the pickguard were also replaced and the upper horn and the body were sanded down to a more "rounded" shape.
edmidlifecrisis
Registered mediocre bass player
Great thread. Someone posted this on another thread, I think one of the Rickenbacker threads, thought I'd repost it here if anyone missed it.
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Scroll down for the McCartney/Beatles stories....
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Scroll down for the McCartney/Beatles stories....
