When I was a teen in the mid-sixties most of the big names in rock either played Gretsch,or Rics, but it seems that ever since the late 70's all thats changed, 80to90% of what the biggies are playing is Fenders and Gibsons!! Why? What happened to make guys like Pete Townsend, John Lennon George Harrison, just to name a few change from the Gretsches and Rics to other brands, namely Fender and Gibson??? It can't be price, and American Standard Strat or Tele will set you back a grand, and a nice one like the Delux Ash Strat, or the 52 re-issue Tele will set you back $1150.00!! I own an American Standard Strat and two American Telies, while nice guitars they don't compair in fit, finish, or workmanship with a Ric. The QC at Fender can't even begin to compair with Ric, I was at GC and played 3 Mexican Telies and all three were HORABLE, fit and finish were almost non-existant! And Gibson well the new guitars coming out of the Memphis plant leave much to be desiered, last year I bought a new ES-333 and kept it 2 weeks the workmanship on it was terrible, the Les Paul's are nice but you'll pay a grand more for a Les Paul Standard than you will for a Ric 330, and a Ric 330 will hold it's own against just about anything out there as far as fit, finish,QC, playability, and sound!! Im not knocking Fender, or Gibson, but when you sit down and do the math, Ric is about the best buy in a quality guitar today. So what happened, why were the rics abandoned by not all, but so many of the big names in show biz??
Paul
Why is it?
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Why is it?
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jingle_jangle
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It's mainly becauseyoung musicians exhaust their creativity in writing and producing music and don't really care to think outside the box when it comes to guitars. They play what they've seen everyone else play, and what they grew up with, and that's 85% Gibson Les Pauls and Fender Strats and Teles, and the other 10% Ibanezes and BC Riches and knockoffs for our Hair Boyz out there thrashing out their death metal power chords when they're not busy blow dryin' their lucky lox.
But just let somebody try something unusual and the prices go through the roof. I bought a Jazzmaster real cheap in the late '70s; Ocasek started playin' them and prices tripled overnight; same with Kurt and his Mustangs and Jaguars. Now the head guy from Queens of the Stoneage is playing some offbrand strange thing and they are all over eBay...Then you've got Jack White with his Supros.
Then there's the rock superstar who shall remain nameless (Tyler, I think?) who's got around 300 Strats, and nothing else...I equate that with the new married man's edition of Playboy magazine--the centerfold is the same every month!!!
It's a herd mentality. Remember--you herd it here. LOL.
But just let somebody try something unusual and the prices go through the roof. I bought a Jazzmaster real cheap in the late '70s; Ocasek started playin' them and prices tripled overnight; same with Kurt and his Mustangs and Jaguars. Now the head guy from Queens of the Stoneage is playing some offbrand strange thing and they are all over eBay...Then you've got Jack White with his Supros.
Then there's the rock superstar who shall remain nameless (Tyler, I think?) who's got around 300 Strats, and nothing else...I equate that with the new married man's edition of Playboy magazine--the centerfold is the same every month!!!
It's a herd mentality. Remember--you herd it here. LOL.
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
The truth is actually stranger than fiction in this case.
I believe that after the Beatles and a few others popularized Rickenbackers around the globe they quickly became associated with the sound that groups from the 60's produced. In the 70's it became uncool to sound like a 60's group. Along came Jimi Hendrix and he showed the world what a Strat under certain circumstances could sound like and lets face it it no longer sounded like the sound produced by Buddy Holly or the Beachboys.
Meanwhile Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and a few others were producing sound from Gibsons that Chuck Berry could only dream of. The "woman tone" of a Les Paul was a much sought after sound.
Back in the 60s and early 70s effects were expensive and awkward to use so it fell on recording artists to make certain guitar effects popular. The wah wah was a central effect for early Hendrix and early Cream as was the fuzz tone. What do effects have to do with Rickenbackers you ask? Well, again in those early formative years there were very few things that you could do to overdrive an amplifier or to produce signature sounds that were new and "hip". Rickenbacker pickups produced a very clean jangly sound even at high volume. Most professional quality amps back then did not have a master volume feature which would allow you to overdrive the tubes at low volumes. Before effects (fell into the hands of the masses), high gains pickups and amps with master volumes Rickenbacker guitars just did not seem to produce anything but a 60s sound. Remember, that jangly 60s sound went out of style very quickly and musicians quickly realized that in order to stay in the game they had to emulate those who had taken over the music scene.
Of course we all know that Ric did not sit on it haunches and do nothing. But here's the rub. If you have been playing a Strat for 30 years it's awful hard to switch to a guitar that you only remember as being able to produce a 60s jangly sound. New musicians emulate old musicians and so the consequence is that Fender and Gibson still fill the closets of tour buses of professional musicians. Slowly but surely people will look for something different as Kurt Cobain did and Rickenbacker may once again be the next "cool" guitar to play. I submit however that Ric basses have always been "cool" and will always be "cool". IMO of course.
I believe that after the Beatles and a few others popularized Rickenbackers around the globe they quickly became associated with the sound that groups from the 60's produced. In the 70's it became uncool to sound like a 60's group. Along came Jimi Hendrix and he showed the world what a Strat under certain circumstances could sound like and lets face it it no longer sounded like the sound produced by Buddy Holly or the Beachboys.
Meanwhile Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and a few others were producing sound from Gibsons that Chuck Berry could only dream of. The "woman tone" of a Les Paul was a much sought after sound.
Back in the 60s and early 70s effects were expensive and awkward to use so it fell on recording artists to make certain guitar effects popular. The wah wah was a central effect for early Hendrix and early Cream as was the fuzz tone. What do effects have to do with Rickenbackers you ask? Well, again in those early formative years there were very few things that you could do to overdrive an amplifier or to produce signature sounds that were new and "hip". Rickenbacker pickups produced a very clean jangly sound even at high volume. Most professional quality amps back then did not have a master volume feature which would allow you to overdrive the tubes at low volumes. Before effects (fell into the hands of the masses), high gains pickups and amps with master volumes Rickenbacker guitars just did not seem to produce anything but a 60s sound. Remember, that jangly 60s sound went out of style very quickly and musicians quickly realized that in order to stay in the game they had to emulate those who had taken over the music scene.
Of course we all know that Ric did not sit on it haunches and do nothing. But here's the rub. If you have been playing a Strat for 30 years it's awful hard to switch to a guitar that you only remember as being able to produce a 60s jangly sound. New musicians emulate old musicians and so the consequence is that Fender and Gibson still fill the closets of tour buses of professional musicians. Slowly but surely people will look for something different as Kurt Cobain did and Rickenbacker may once again be the next "cool" guitar to play. I submit however that Ric basses have always been "cool" and will always be "cool". IMO of course.
“We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” - Albert Einstein
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
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ken_swearingen
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I can say me personally, I always loved the look of a Les Paul.
Ric guitars are an acquired taste ,sort of cool sort of dorky, the 350 or 620 about the coolest the 330 about the dorkiest.
You just cant picture Jimmy Page playing a 330 leaning back playing the solo to Stairway To Heaven with a cigarette in his mouth can you?a 350 or a 620 maybe or more likely.
Ric guitars are an acquired taste ,sort of cool sort of dorky, the 350 or 620 about the coolest the 330 about the dorkiest.
You just cant picture Jimmy Page playing a 330 leaning back playing the solo to Stairway To Heaven with a cigarette in his mouth can you?a 350 or a 620 maybe or more likely.
Well, in Europe you can't find a Rickenbacker while music shops are crowded with LP's, Tele's and *that other popular fender guitar* I never even saw a 650 series in France, Germany, Netherlands or Belgium (at least not in music shops), sometimes you can find a 360 and a 4003, but that's pretty much it.
While Les Pauls are no more versatile than a Ric, any salesman will tell you LP's are the thing to have and Rics only do '60s sounds. Never mind they even ever heard or played one.
Ric has a real image issue here, and somehow it is seems to be fed by all the Beatles etc reissues and associations, when I talk about my ric addiction to other local musicians.
While Les Pauls are no more versatile than a Ric, any salesman will tell you LP's are the thing to have and Rics only do '60s sounds. Never mind they even ever heard or played one.
Ric has a real image issue here, and somehow it is seems to be fed by all the Beatles etc reissues and associations, when I talk about my ric addiction to other local musicians.
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atomic_punk
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I'll tell you my story, when I wanted to learn to play, I picked what my favorite players were playing, and at the time it was Ace Frehley and Jimmy Page. Saw them both on TV in the same week and realized I NEEDED to have THAT guitar.
I saved up my money from my 5 jobs (how many 12-13 year olds have 5 jobs now!?) and bought a used one, I think it was a '73-74 in Sunburst because Page and Ace played one.
People growing up in other generations might have had Hendrix as their "guy" and went with a Strat. Or in the 80's, if Eddie VH was their inspiration, they built a Frankenstrat or bought a Kramer because he endorsed them.
This would all change if the guitar player from Green Day or Fall Out Boy or Good Charlotte was blasting away on a 330, 360, or 620. Not to mention the young player can't usually afford (or find) a Ric to try out. There's another obstacle right there.
I saved up my money from my 5 jobs (how many 12-13 year olds have 5 jobs now!?) and bought a used one, I think it was a '73-74 in Sunburst because Page and Ace played one.
People growing up in other generations might have had Hendrix as their "guy" and went with a Strat. Or in the 80's, if Eddie VH was their inspiration, they built a Frankenstrat or bought a Kramer because he endorsed them.
This would all change if the guitar player from Green Day or Fall Out Boy or Good Charlotte was blasting away on a 330, 360, or 620. Not to mention the young player can't usually afford (or find) a Ric to try out. There's another obstacle right there.
"They make great f***'n basses". - Lemmy, NAMM 2009
This is an interesting topic, and I know alot of forum members own alot of guitars, including LPs, Strat's, Tele's, etc. If I were to try and pidgeon-hole my own axes, I would say "Ric's are good clean, SG for shredding, Tele for hard stuff, Strat's for clean". But then, I try the Ric distorted, and it is fun, and very capable, then I try the SG clean, and I'm blown away by how sweet that sounds. The SG and Strat can produce clean tones that are equally as beautiful as the Ric chime, just very different. So, I think my point is that good guitars, like the ones we are discussing, are flexible, and capable of more than one type of sound. I agree that Ric needs and artist to bring them back into popularity. Peter Buck was the last guy I remember to come out and play primarily Ric's, and that was 25 years ago.
"Say what you like about the tenets of national socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos." - Walter Sobchak.
That's probably most of right there: image. People have the image of Beatle guitars stuck in their narrow little minds. Add to that the fact that it is hard to find a Rick to try out in a store & you have quite a hurdle to overcome. There are plenty of stories where an experienced player shows a young guy just how versatile a Rick guitar is, but people as a group are very hide-bound in their thinking. You can't blame RIC for this, since they want to retain the quality they can't just pump out mass produced trash & hope to regain the market. I have to believe it's mainly availability that keeps new players from getting into Ricks until they get the chance to try one. They are actually cheaper in price tha Gibson & a lot of Fenders.
Also, why is it that Fender became the big amp maker when from all reports I've seen Rick amps were made to the same high standards as their guitars? Every other major maker had a hand in the amplifier pie at one time, but they never caught on. I like Fenders and Gibsons as much as the next guy, but they are not (and probably never were) made as well as a Rick, excepting possibly 50's & early 60's Gibby's.
Gretsch seems to be well made, I'm not an expert by any means, but they, like Rick, never caught the mass market's eye after the 60's. The same problem for them, perhaps?
Also, why is it that Fender became the big amp maker when from all reports I've seen Rick amps were made to the same high standards as their guitars? Every other major maker had a hand in the amplifier pie at one time, but they never caught on. I like Fenders and Gibsons as much as the next guy, but they are not (and probably never were) made as well as a Rick, excepting possibly 50's & early 60's Gibby's.
Gretsch seems to be well made, I'm not an expert by any means, but they, like Rick, never caught the mass market's eye after the 60's. The same problem for them, perhaps?
Plus five minus five!
Absolutely, Rob! I was alluding to the possibilty of me being a dork. 
My 330, 1997 and 360V64 are anything but 'dorky'! Some may call them 'quaint' because of their 60s styling and the FG colour may seem somewhat dated to some but I consider the design, body shape and colour 'classic'.
Let's not forget the fact that nearly all the 'classic' designs are from the 50s and 60s - Strat, LP, Tele, etc.
My 330, 1997 and 360V64 are anything but 'dorky'! Some may call them 'quaint' because of their 60s styling and the FG colour may seem somewhat dated to some but I consider the design, body shape and colour 'classic'.
Let's not forget the fact that nearly all the 'classic' designs are from the 50s and 60s - Strat, LP, Tele, etc.
"Never eat more than you can lift." - Mr. Moon
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chronictown
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'hair farmer' - excellent.
patrick is bang on there. if rics were the most used guitar - we'd all be gutted that our wonderful, cool, awesome secret was no more. in fact, let's celebrate the fact that the world and his long haired dog play countless identical fenders, while we rickenbrothers have something sacred.
amen!
patrick is bang on there. if rics were the most used guitar - we'd all be gutted that our wonderful, cool, awesome secret was no more. in fact, let's celebrate the fact that the world and his long haired dog play countless identical fenders, while we rickenbrothers have something sacred.
amen!