Paul McCartney's Fender Jazz Bass

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It's a 66-67. Apparently, he still has it, likely under lock and key because even back then, he may have been acutely aware of how rare they were.

 

Oh wow… binding in the 60’s?

 

Looks like he is slappin' da bass too....

 

The White Album was released in 68 so there is that.

 

He had one for his backup bass in Wings too! Not sure if it's the same one. Tuners look different.

 

At least it's a proper left-handed model, not like some of his guitars.

 

I've heard it's a clone

 

I find it hilarious that amateur hacks like myself obsess over the minute, meaningless details of their basses, and a pro like Maca couldn't give a rats ass what he's playing! He owns the same couple of basses he got because they were cheap, or free(Rickenbacker). When he sent his Rick in to be refurbished, they discovered the bridge pickup wasn't even working.

 

Lollipop tuners! Sweetness

 

looks like he's running it through his Nikon effects pedal too

 

McCartney or the bass?

 

I believe for Paul McCartney "tone" is in the bass part and the song, not the gear. But some pros obsess over their gear, like Zappa.

 

McCartney could make anything sound good. With the right technicians behind him anyway.

 

Transition lollipop tuners were on 66 jazz basses

 

Actually, according to him in the series "McCartney 3, 2, 1" the Beatles were always challenging the technicians (or recording engineers) to bend the rules. He talks about pushing the preamp section of the old mixing consoles for distortion, which he says doesn't happen with modern consoles.
I recommend the HBO series.

 

Who needs it anyway?

 

Oh, you had to open the Billy Shears floodgates again?

 

I'm halfway through that series and it's better than I expected. There is one part where Macca and Rubin are playing a Beatles tune through a mixing desk and they solo his bass tone, can't remember which song, but I was shocked at how bright and driven the sound was. That particular bass had to be either the Jazz or the Ric in my mind.