The Searchers and Their Rickenbackers:
Why Do We Like Rickenbacker Guitars?
by Frank Allen
~ The Searchers' Bass Player and "Front Man" ~
Well, the distinctive style, after seeing John Lennon's, captured everyone's
imagination without a doubt. There was no mistaking a Rickenbacker. And the
sound was neither the thickness of Gibson nor the thin tone of a Fender, it
was somewhere in between. But I suppose we first went for them because they
had the best and most workable model of a 12-string, the sound we were
experimenting with and possibly the archetypal Searchers trademark.
Mike Pender in 1966 with
Rose Morris 1993/12 Fireglo
Photo courtesy of Michael Denger
The first one we had was Mike Pender's Rose Morris Model 1993. This was
stolen from outside the Lafayette Club in Wolverhampton in the late 60s, and
for a while was replaced with a very cheap Danelectro Bellzouki 12-string,
made out of wood and hardboard. On a revival tour of the USA in 1973 we
persuaded him to cough up the cash for a decent instrument, and he bought the
Mapleglo 456/12, the model with the converter. We found it hard to keep in
tune, though,and the converter was not a huge success.
Mike Pender with 456/12 Mapleglo
Photo courtesy of Michael Denger
Eventually John McNally took over the lead guitar for most of the newer
recording sessions (virtually all the guitars on the Sire albums were John
McNally overdubs) and he acquired his 360/12 Fireglo, brought back from New
York for him by Sire's Paul McNally (no relation). This guitar is reputed to
have been previously owned by Jefferson Airplane.
The Searchers John McNally with 360/12 Fireglo
John McNally's 360/12 Fireglo
Standing Pretty in 1981
John now owns several 12-string guitars. Apart from the Rickenbacker 360/12
he has an Aria, a specially-built ESP shaped like a Telecaster, an acoustic
Ovation 12, and a black Rickenbacker 620/12 which he is still using today.
He changes from time to time depending on his whims. On the whole the Aria
is the most practical road instrument, sturdy and always in tune.
John McNally with 620/12 Jetglo (1993)
Photo courtesy of Wendy Burton
I still have my black 4001 bass with chequered binding bought at Manny's in
New York in 1973. I used it for a long while in the 80s and early 90s, but
at present am using a Precision copy made especially for me by ESP, with my
name in the 12th fret. I may go back to the Ricky but it would take a lot of
getting used to again (you always have to take the hand rest off) and besides
which I don't like to risk such a valuable instrument on the road. It really
is the best looking bass though. (Perhaps Mr Rickenbacker would consider
giving me another one for use on the road??!!) I also have a modern 320
6-string in black, but I keep this as part of my extensive guitar collection
at home.
Frank Allen with 4001 Jetglo (1995)
Photo courtesy of Wendy Burton
Frank Allen with 4001 and John McNally with 620/12
Slough, Buckinghamshire (March, 1992)
Photo courtesy of Wendy Burton
Spencer James does not use a Rickenbacker on stage at all, but he keeps a
12-string in his recording studio. It is a 620/12 Limited Edition, with all
the hardware finished in black.
The Rickenbacker instruments look great, they have class and style, and sound
good. The odd way the controls interact is a bit of a hindrance. But once
you can get the hang of it they perform beautifully, and image-wise they are
tops. They may have lagged behind the Stratocasters and the Les Pauls a bit
in the 6-string department, but when you're talking 12 strings the type is
synonymous with the name of Rickenbacker.
The Searchers' 1992-93 Promotional Photo
Left to Right: John McNally; Spencer James; Frank Allen; Billy Adamson
Frank Allen
on behalf of the Searchers in 1999
(John McNally, Frank Allen, Spencer James and Eddie Rothe)
Article Submitted on July 9, 1999
© 1999 Frank Allen. All rights reserved.
Editing and Html Design by Peter McCormack
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