Montclair, NJ (June 24, 12013) – Ever since the mid-1950s, Rickenbacker basses have been establishing the musical bottom for rock, jazz, and funk. Rickenbacker’s iconic 4001 bass is just one of nearly 40 distinct models produced in the last six decades. Players and collectors have longed for a reference for the different models, features, finishes, and details. The Rickenbacker Electric Bass – 50 Years As Rock’s Bottom provides hundreds of color photos and descriptions, along with the history to sort out the legend from the lore.
“I took a ‘field guide’ approach to the content, not just providing the history and photos. Each model is illustrated with an ‘identifying features’ page that uses close-up photos and callouts to point out ‘field marks’ of that particular Rickenbacker bass model,” says author and Rickenbacker aficionado Paul Boyer.
This book is for people like Boyer: bass players and collectors. But musical instrument dealers, pawn shops, and auction houses will also find the book of great help when assessing instruments. “There have been several books on Rickenbacker guitars,” Boyer explains, “and some of them include mentions of the basses. There are lots of books on electric basses, and some of them include mentions of Rickenbacker basses. But my book is the only one devoted only to Rickenbacker basses.”
The Rickenbacker Electric Bass – 50 years as Rock’s Bottom traces the history of the iconic guitar, from its prototypes through its explosion of popularity in such bands as the Beatles, Yes, Deep Purple, and Motörhead. Lavishly illustrated with archival shots, this is a must-have book not only for anyone who plays the Rick but for all bass players and those interested in the instruments played by rock heroes of the 1960s through the present.
About the author
Paul D. Boyer is a retired magazine editor and photographer and, obviously, a Rickenbacker bass enthusiast. Originally from Buffalo, New York, Paul and his wife, Dorothy, live in Wisconsin, not far from Milwaukee. He is a U.S. Air Force veteran, serving four years as a still photographer and combat cameraman. After a career as Senior Editor for FineScale Modeler magazine (Kalmbach Publishing Co.) for 24 years, Paul retired and started work on The Rickenbacker Electric Bass in 2006.
The Rickenbacker Electric Bass
$24.99 (US)
Inventory #HL 00333679
ISBN: 9781476886800 Width: 8.5″ Length: 11.0
128 pages, colorful pictures throughout
Please contact Music Marcom for print excerpts, review copies and interviews with the author:
Music Marcom
Martina McConnon
v: 610-577-4982
e: martina@musicmarcom.com
Hal Leonard Books is an imprint of Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group www.halleonardbooks.com and www.onstageandbackstage.wordpress.com
