How did your rickenbacker addiction start?

wim · Post by **wim** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 12:32 pm

Maybe a simlilar thread like this already exists?
Sure worth a second one then.

My rickenbacker addiction started with Paul Weller, Bruce Foxton and Ian Kilmister.
When I was about 14-15 years young I got my first records of the Jam (they had already split a long time by then)and Motörhead.
I immediately fell in love with those beautiful guitars. The design appealed more like 'art' than rather a guitar to me. A plus was that they sounded great too! The music was off course great too!

When I first heard Lemmy's bass I was very, very impressed.
I didn't play guitar yet, but Rickenbacker got me interested, so I went out to buy one.
First problem was that on none of the pictures I could clearly see the name of the guitars. And internet didn't exist back then.
So It took me about a half year to figure out that it were Rickenbackers.
tough luck for me off course since Rickies are scarce over here.
I settled for an AriaproII semi-acoustic and a Yamaha RBX250 bass with an equaliser and a promise from the salesman that with the equaliser i could make them sound like rickies.
I was young then huh..
As I discovered more and more music from the seventies and sixties there was most of the time one common thing : Rickies were used on the record..
Very strange.
So I just got to have one because the equaliser thing clearly didn't work out
None of the music shops had any in stock, although I visited them regulary always asking "have you got Rickenbackers?"
Later on one of those dealers must have thought the demand was great so he got some.. I already had one by then.. lol
to be continued..

feel free to tell your story!

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 3:20 pm

Chris Squire got me hooked on Rickenbackers ... the look and the sound ...

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 3:34 pm

I loved them in the 60s (couldn't afford one, of course!) and when I returned to playing after 30 years I thought about every make other than Rickenbacker - until I saw and played one!!

Since then, it's been "hook, line and sinker" for me - got my first on January 29th this year and my eighth last Friday!

I guess you could call that an addiction.........

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 3:55 pm

Mine is a recent addiction. Had I never started my former Motorhead tribute in '04 band I doubt I would have ever purchased one.

stubby · Post by **stubby** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 4:51 pm

I stumbled across Howard's charming sayings on this forum and, then and there, decided I wanted to be just like him. So I ordered my first Rickenbacker. Once my 360 arrives, I'm going to follow in his footsteps and acquire a new model every 6 minutes....

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:06 pm

C'mon Bill - you don't want to be anything like me! You'd have more problems than you could poke a bent stick at!!

winston · Post by **winston** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:08 pm

My story is quite lengthy and some of you may know portions of it from previous posts, so I will spare you all by not repeating the details.

Suffice it to say that I first played a 325 FG (I presume that's the model it was) in 1964 in England. It was owned by a local musician who played for Les Fleur De Lys a local band that our manager also managed.

In 1966 I purchased a 375 FG and a 360/12 FG. They were my main guitars until 1968 and at that time they shared stage duties with a Les paul.

I still only own two, but unfortunately I do not own my original Rickenbacker guitars. The strange thing is that I still have the LP. If only I knew then what they would be worth today.

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:11 pm

That LP is defintely worth as well! By far the LP is my fave axe!

winston · Post by **winston** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:40 pm

Sean,

I retired the LP. It lives in it's case now. My main guitar now is a custom built Strat. Shhhh, don't tell anyone. This is the Ric forum.

steverok · Post by **steverok** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 7:15 pm

Peter Buck's 360 JG, at the beginning of "The One I Love" video. Also, Lennon's black Ric on the cover of "Something New with The Beatles". I vow to have one Ric for each nephew and niece of mine (15 of them little runts). When I die, everyone will be happy, when they get their wonderful Ric. Oh yeah, maybe they'll miss me too.

phlemmy · Post by **phlemmy** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 1:37 am

brian, i'd love to see pics of it.

loendmaestro · Post by **loendmaestro** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 3:54 am

Two words:
DEEP PURPLE

shinynewtoy · Post by **shinynewtoy** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 5:16 am

Geddy first, then Squire. Loved the sound, loved the look, and when the bassist from one of the other hardcore bands in the area decided his '94 4003 was too heavy (he was about 5'1", kind of elven) I saw no problem with lifting the weight off of his shoulders, so to speak.

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 5:31 am

What a great topic! Got my first Ric about 4 years ago, as an anniversary present from my wonderful husband.... I was a beginning guitar player, and did not play very often--I had a pretty nice Takamine acoustic guitar, and a Danelectro electric, but never really felt I had the time to practice or play....

But then, everything changed when he brought home a mysterious-looking case and said it was for me.... I popped it open, and there in front of me was a RICKENBACKER, a used 330 FG. It was love at first sight, and I was absolutely overwhelmed, because I knew I was not worthy to even touch a Ric.... Mind you, it was not in perfect condition, it had some issues with finish checking, but it didn't matter--the sound was incredible, even played unplugged.....My first Ric was the inspiration I needed to PLAY, and play often! Last year I sat down and wrote a song about that experience, which I hope to record soon....

And now here I am, four years and 12 more Rics later....all gifts from my husband, who has made me the happiest woman in the world!

steverok · Post by **steverok** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 5:42 am

Suddenly, I wish I was woman, married to a man who gave me 12 Rickenbackers. Just kidding !! But I'd certainly take a wonderful wife who buys me guitars. I'm starting the interviewing process now. We'll see what they say ...