Are '90s and newer Rics made of old ski lodges?

mudpitjackson · Post by **mudpitjackson** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 5:22 pm

I work at a Southern California music store, and I hear a lot of random BS from customers. One day a customer comes in and starts discussing Rickenbackers. He says that he is a personal friend of John Hall's and proceeds to state that the wood that Rics are made of from the mid 90s until now are made from of ski lodges that John Hall buys in Europe, which are dismantled, shipped to Orange County and made into guitars (such as my 330).
Sounds like a cool idea, but is it true? I have searched this forum many times and have done a google search, but Haven't found anything on the subject.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 5:32 pm

That is absolutely wild, whether true or false.

cjj · Post by **cjj** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 5:33 pm

Well, according to RIC's own website, they use Eastern hardrock maple, which is a North American species, which would tend to make finding this in old European ski lodges a bit difficult as I doubt they would (or ever did) import that wood to build ski lodges.

Elsewhere on the RIC site I've seen it mentioned that they use "farm raised" wood, which also would imply that it doesn't come from old European ski lodges...

8mileshigh · Post by **8mileshigh** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 5:36 pm

I just P'd my pants. That's the funniest thing I've heard in a long time

JakeK · Post by **JakeK** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 5:38 pm

John Hall has never come across as the kind of guy to dismantle ski lodges to make his instruments...

collin · Post by **collin** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 5:38 pm

8mileshigh wrote:I just P'd my pants. That's the funniest thing I've heard in a long time

No kidding.

Greatest urban legend. Ever.

Hotzenplotz · Post by **Hotzenplotz** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 5:46 pm

cjj wrote:Well, according to RIC's own website, they use Eastern hardrock maple, which is a North American species, which would tend to make finding this in old European ski lodges a bit difficult as I doubt they would (or ever did) import that wood to build ski lodges.

Elsewhere on the RIC site I've seen it mentioned that they use "farm raised" wood, which also would imply that it doesn't come from old European ski lodges...

But he was asking about the '90s guitars!!! Even the RIC homepage is from this millennium - so too new.

Being from Europe I just can say normal wooden houses/ski lodges are made of spruce wood, normally. The old half-timbered houses are made of oak. Maple would be too expensive.
100% clarification only can be done by RIC - as usual.

Anyway, great first post so far - and for me actually the post of the year!!!

BTW: Welcome to the RRF!!! Hope to read more from You soon!

weemac · Post by **weemac** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 5:55 pm

It may have something to do with the "Ramps" on the 330/360s

Eden.

Hotzenplotz · Post by **Hotzenplotz** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 5:59 pm

Hopefully these guitars do not play the same music like that was played in the former ski lodges!!!

teb · Post by **teb** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 6:10 pm

Do these ski lodges have walnut wings?

cjj · Post by **cjj** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 6:13 pm

weemac wrote:It may have something to do with the "Ramps" on the 330/360s

Eden.

8mileshigher · Post by **8mileshigher** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 7:04 pm

Jared, welcome to the RRF.
Over on the Rickenbacker Guitars Official Facebook page there are pictures of lumber truck deliveries as well as Eastern Maple stacked up next to jointer machines in the factory. Doesn't look like old ski lodges in those pictures.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 7:10 pm

I think it's quite the opposite. Old Ricks are being recycled into ski chalets...

Want proof? Here's the door handle from one of them:

s4001 · Post by **s4001** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 7:12 pm

This story HAS to go viral! It's too awesome not to.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 7:26 pm

Yeah, it'll be Gospel Troof this time next week.

Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum