How did your rickenbacker addiction start?

steve_hershberger · Post by **steve_hershberger** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 8:02 am

For me, at the age of 9, it was the records and pics of the Beatles, starting in Feb. '64. To me, there was *nothing* cooler looking than Lennon's 325. Then came George's 360/12.

I had a bunch of their singles (wasn't "allowed" to buy their albums) at that time, but I did buy the Byrds "Mr. Tambourine Man" when it was brand new, so there was that sound again.

Of course, I didn't play at that time, but that sound was in my head then (as it still is). Guess I started playing around '66-'67 and finally got my first Ric (320JG with an f-hole, used) in '81 or so. I forget exactly why I sold it off in the late '80's - probably to pay a bill.

But a couple months ago I got my dream Ric (360/12v64) and it's not going anywhere until I'm dead and gone. Then my wife and daughter can fight over it.

joeyr · Post by **joeyr** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 8:49 am

I went to see "A Hard Day's Night."

...nuff said

henny · Post by **henny** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 8:57 am

saab95 · Post by **saab95** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:57 am

My crash with ricks started in the late 70's. As a kid I had a Beatles lyrics book with pictures, and there I saw John lennon with that strange looking guitar which was not a fender nor a gibson...What is that?? I thought...didn't know until the mid 80's. I remember I was at the bus station and had a few minutes, so I entered a records shop and... BANG! there I saw a poster of JL with that guitar again, only this time I could read "Rickenbacker" on the headstock. That was the "lightning stroke". Somehow I thought these guitars probably don't exist any more, so it took me another 10 years until the dream came true, that's when I bought my first, the jetglo 325v59.

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 3:00 pm

I suppose it was them, but Squire actually MADE me buy my first

radiognome3 · Post by **radiognome3** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 3:27 pm

It was "Hard Day's Night" for me, too.

Brian - Les Fleur De Lys is a band I am quite fond of, what band were you in that shared a manager with them?

winston · Post by **winston** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 3:39 pm

John,

The band was called Traces originally and changed to Meddy's People in 1966 when most of the band arrived in Canada.

Our common manager was Dave Jay a local disc jockey. Traces was formed around Dave's girlfriend Nikki who could hardly sing a note.

Frank (Smith?)was the name of the guitarist in Les Fleur De Lys, he lived near the New Forest just outside of Southampton

nattiep · Post by **nattiep** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 3:42 pm

'Nuff said.

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 3:58 pm

My "addiction" started with Macca.

Gotta love that shirt....

lowendbob · Post by **lowendbob** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 4:10 pm

Me too!

Now That's a shirt, or is that a cape?

brian_l · Post by **brian_l** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 4:23 pm

The Beatles also started me on my love of Rickenbackers, as well as The Byrds, Jefferson Airplane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Rolling Stones and various other 60s bands.
Even though I just turned 34, it was the music of the 60s that really grabbed me. It hasn't broken its hold on me yet.
I played my first Rick (a ruby red 330) back in 1990 and it just fit like a glove. If I weren't a poor high school kid, I would have snapped it up in a heartbeat. That guitar left a lasting impression on me and I have played Ricks ever since. There truly is no other guitar in the world like a Rickenbacker.

mgauction · Post by **mgauction** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 5:02 pm

Mine also stared with Chris Squire in the very early 1970s. Traded my near mint 1957 Fender Precision in for it and still had to come up with another $250 to make it even.

ratso · Post by **ratso** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 5:44 pm

The March 21, 1964 cover of POST magazine!

Mike, What did you get in return for the 57 P Bass???????

mgauction · Post by **mgauction** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 6:39 pm

Ron, in 1974 I resold it to the guy I bought it from for $500. It was mint. Apparantly it went to the bass player for Steeley Dan. I took a photo of it the day I sold it. Here it was in 1974.

marc61 · Post by **marc61** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 1:45 am

Nice bass Mike, if you had it today, I'd give you double what that guy paid;>).

My Rickenbacker thing started with Geddy Lee and the fact that the better bass players in my Brooklyn neighborhood seemed to use them.

I was caught up in the artistic quality of the bass as much as the sound. Still feel that way.