Joey DeMaio's Rickenbacker Bass - Revision 3



This is legendary Manowar bassist Joey DeMaio's famed Enterprise, which I have worked on numerous times during the passed 25 years. The first time I worked on the Rickenbacker 4001 was just days before DeMaio was scheduled to out on the road as the bassist and musical director for the Broadway musical Godspell's touring company. He complained the bass had no balls. I recommended changing the pickups because the bass's stock pickups are notorious for their lack of output.

When DeMaio returned to collect his bass I handed him a bill for $350. He was furious. The bass only cost $500. I told him that my fee was the price for uniqueness. I told him he could pay it and be himself or I could change it back and he could be like everyone else. When he plugged in the augmented instrument, it had so much power that it almost blew up my test amp. He beamed and asked what other changes could be made.

That began a never-ending quest for excellence and the beginning of our unique friendship. We have modified this bass so many times over the years that it was recently insured for $20,000. By the way, he broke the neck on at least 3 occasions and I had to put it back on.

Since our less than auspicious introduction, Joey DeMaio and I have worked together on numerous projects of music and technology and he has become my best friend.