Rickenbacker 4001S Bass

The Rickenbacker 4001S bass delivers a bright, cutting tone with piano-like clarity that sits forward in a mix. Its neck-through construction, stereo output (Rick-O-Sound), and distinctive toaster pickups produce a trebly, defined sound that contrasts sharply with the warmer Precision Bass. Paul McCartney adopted the 4001S in 1965, using it on Abbey Road and Let It Be, where its bright character allowed his increasingly complex bass lines to be heard clearly against dense multi-track arrangements. The stereo output allowed engineers to process the neck and bridge pickups separately.