Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Wendy Melvoin, guitarist in Prince's band The Revolution, doesn't she count as a Rickenbacker player?

Of course.

Is that a Rickenbacker?

Yep, just greatly modified and refinished purple.

jdogric12 wrote:Is that a Rickenbacker?

Yeah, that's the question.

When I saw PURPLE RAIN all those years ago, wow, she's playing a Rickenbacker. But then you find out how modified that guitar was -- tuners, pickups, bridge, tailpiece, truss rod cover, pickguard, wiring harness, knobs, paint... -- you realize the only think Rickenbacker about the guitar is the body and neck.

That's why I raise the question, was Wendy a Rickenbacker artist?

Tommy wrote:

jdogric12 wrote:Is that a Rickenbacker?

Yeah, that's the question.

When I saw PURPLE RAIN all those years ago, wow, she's playing a Rickenbacker. But then you find out how modified that guitar was -- tuners, pickups, bridge, tailpiece, truss rod cover, pickguard, wiring harness, knobs, paint... -- you realize the only think Rickenbacker about the guitar is the body and neck.

That's why I raise the question, was Wendy a Rickenbacker artist?

Of course it is, and of course she is. It shouldn't even be in question.

What else would it be?

collin wrote:What else would it be?

Well, the guitar had absolutely nothing but body and neck from the Ric factory.

Ever see a kit car? Body of a Shelby Cobra but built on a Volkswagon chasis, crammed with a Chevy engine, interior from your local aftermarket place... Is that a Shelby Cobra?

Tommy wrote:

collin wrote:What else would it be?

Well, the guitar had absolutely nothing but body and neck from the Ric factory.

Ever see a kit car? Body of a Shelby Cobra but built on a Volkswagon chasis, crammed with a Chevy engine, interior from your local aftermarket place... Is that a Shelby Cobra?

Of course not. Kit cars are a replica. They were never the real thing to begin with. Wendy's Rickenbacker WAS all-original at one point and you could "restore" the guitar back to original spec with relative ease.


Since you've gone the car route - you'd be shocked to learn how many multi-million dollar Ferraris were "restored" from nothing but a VIN plate and an engine block, sometimes not even a body chassis. The argument is that it was an original at one point...

collin wrote:

Tommy wrote:

collin wrote:What else would it be?

Well, the guitar had absolutely nothing but body and neck from the Ric factory.

Ever see a kit car? Body of a Shelby Cobra but built on a Volkswagon chasis, crammed with a Chevy engine, interior from your local aftermarket place... Is that a Shelby Cobra?

Of course not. Kit cars are a replica. They were never the real thing to begin with. Wendy's Rickenbacker WAS all-original at one point and you could "restore" the guitar back to original spec with relative ease.


Since you've gone the car route - you'd be shocked to learn how many multi-million dollar Ferraris were "restored" from nothing but a VIN plate and an engine block, sometimes not even a body chassis. The argument is that it was an original at one point...

Very true about Ferraris, I have lots of collectible books on the Marque and have been reading Cavallino since the mid '80s and have every issue of Forza. I have read some amazing stories of restorations of them; something very cool about Ferrari is that they have all the technical drawing and documents going back to the beginning of the company and have remade many parts for clients, including engines, gearboxes,etc.

collin wrote:

Tommy wrote: Wendy's Rickenbacker WAS all-original at one point and you could "restore" the guitar back to original spec with relative ease.

The argument is that it was an original at one point...

Good point.

I wonder who did the mods?

I sent an email over - will keep you guys posted.

"it was stolen long ago"

sloop_john_b wrote:I sent an email over - will keep you guys posted.

You emailed Wendy Melvoin?

kennyhowes wrote:

sloop_john_b wrote:I sent an email over - will keep you guys posted.

You emailed Wendy Melvoin?

I did!