Guitar Info

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Paul Weller of The Jam famously had a Rickenbacker 330 with a pop art design based on Roy Lichenstein's painting "Whaam!" from 1963 as displayed in the Tate Modern in London (which in turn adapted a comic-book panel by artist Russ Heath from a 1962 issue of DC Comics' All-American Men of War). Apparently that particular guitar had issues and wasn't very playable so Weller reserved it for TV appearances where the band was asked to mime along to their own records. Even though the guitar didn't make live appearances, it is still well remembered and will forever be associated with The Jam.

The Jam's bass player, Bruce Foxton, favoured Fender Precisions and Rickenbacker 4001 basses. Here we see a Rickenbacker 4001 bass finished with the same pop-art design by way of tribute to The Jam. It'd be perfect for a Jam covers band, being in the spirit of that band, even though Foxton never had such an instrument. This bass is apparently over 30 years old and has had the top binding removed and the top edges contoured for comfort. I've heard from several Rickenbacker bass players about how their right forearms suffer because of the sharp top edge of the instrument, so this contouring does seem a perfect reasonable customization.

Currently being auctioned on eBay UK with bidding currently at £2000 as I type this.

G L Wilson

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