Robert,
Thank you so very much for your kind and warm words. I'm truly blessed to be one of the members here.
Happy New Year to you, Robert, and to each and everyone of my brothers and sisters on this forum, wherever you are. May you score your next dream RIC very soon.
Paul
Why Don't Famous Lead Guitarists Use Rickenbackers?
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
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ricnvolved
Paul-- Happy New Year to you also. All of us welcome you here and are glad to have your participation. A genuine love for Ric instruments is the only real requirement for being a member, no matter where you happen to be from. I'm not sure that our occasional fanaticism could be equated with elitism, though some on the outside might see it that way.
Most of all, thanks very much for your words of support. The fact that Ric instruments are just about impossible to acquire in your country is pretty humbling when one thinks about it. Ric lovers here in North America are definitely spoiled; we take for granted our relatively easy access to Rickenbackers. Those in Europe and Asia have a more difficult time of it. Your situation is bleaker still yet. Those who are blase about the future of Rickenbacker would do well to keep your circumstances in mind.
"Rickenbackers forever." Let's not cavalierly assume that it will be so.
Most of all, thanks very much for your words of support. The fact that Ric instruments are just about impossible to acquire in your country is pretty humbling when one thinks about it. Ric lovers here in North America are definitely spoiled; we take for granted our relatively easy access to Rickenbackers. Those in Europe and Asia have a more difficult time of it. Your situation is bleaker still yet. Those who are blase about the future of Rickenbacker would do well to keep your circumstances in mind.
"Rickenbackers forever." Let's not cavalierly assume that it will be so.
Jeffery, let me make it clear that I never felt that you or Paul Franklin want to completely revamp Rickenbacker.
But I see absolutely no evidence that Rickenbacker is anything other than EXACTLY the company that John Hall wants it to be...and it's his company to run as he sees fit. I see every evidence that Rickenbacker is doing very well in its chosen market and is not in need of any rescuing, either now or in the future. I think your presumption that they need to make changes to survive is not only completely wrong, it's arrogant.
BTW, Fender does not give away instruments either. What F. C. Hall or Leo Fender did 40 years ago obviously does not bind either company today.
But I see absolutely no evidence that Rickenbacker is anything other than EXACTLY the company that John Hall wants it to be...and it's his company to run as he sees fit. I see every evidence that Rickenbacker is doing very well in its chosen market and is not in need of any rescuing, either now or in the future. I think your presumption that they need to make changes to survive is not only completely wrong, it's arrogant.
BTW, Fender does not give away instruments either. What F. C. Hall or Leo Fender did 40 years ago obviously does not bind either company today.
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wileyibex
Paul Yan,
I'd like to extend to you my warmest welcome to the Ric Forum. I hope that you never have cause to believe that I regard you as any less than my brother. And if you ever have the occasion to be in the US, I would welcome the opportunity to show you what we humbly refer to as "Southern Hospitality."
We look forward to your views and insights, and please feel free to speak freely, as you are always among friends here.
I'd like to extend to you my warmest welcome to the Ric Forum. I hope that you never have cause to believe that I regard you as any less than my brother. And if you ever have the occasion to be in the US, I would welcome the opportunity to show you what we humbly refer to as "Southern Hospitality."
We look forward to your views and insights, and please feel free to speak freely, as you are always among friends here.
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wileyibex
Guys, I'm going to jump back into this fray; but first, please pause and look at the heading of this thread: the question is: "Why Don't Famous Lead Guitarists Use Rickenbackers?" If you disagree with my points, that is OK. Let's exchange ideas.
Some of us have attempted to look at the issue: what has transpired since the 1960's to remove RIC from among those guitar brands frequently seen in the hands of top-name guitarists? We've mused as to why Ric's are becoming "collector's instruments" rather than "performer's instruments."
If we expect to see famous guitarists playing Rickenbackers, it would require some new efforts in that direction. Make sure that the dealer network is deep, wide, strong, informed, and enthused about RIC products. Identify and work with artists and producers and promote your product by all means available.
As I've said before, I love the guitars; I own one at present and want several more. I'm very fond of the company. I want nothing for RIC other than continued success. And if I can ever do anything to be of any help to get the good word out about these great instruments, I'm there.
So what would you do to change the situation? How would you get more "FAMOUS LEAD GUITARISTS" to use Rickebackers? Is the situation hopeless?
Some of us have attempted to look at the issue: what has transpired since the 1960's to remove RIC from among those guitar brands frequently seen in the hands of top-name guitarists? We've mused as to why Ric's are becoming "collector's instruments" rather than "performer's instruments."
If we expect to see famous guitarists playing Rickenbackers, it would require some new efforts in that direction. Make sure that the dealer network is deep, wide, strong, informed, and enthused about RIC products. Identify and work with artists and producers and promote your product by all means available.
As I've said before, I love the guitars; I own one at present and want several more. I'm very fond of the company. I want nothing for RIC other than continued success. And if I can ever do anything to be of any help to get the good word out about these great instruments, I'm there.
So what would you do to change the situation? How would you get more "FAMOUS LEAD GUITARISTS" to use Rickebackers? Is the situation hopeless?
Paul,
The reason for this website is to not to aim negative critisizm. It is here to learn about our favotrie instruments, and sometimes a certain topic goes off the point, for a little bit. It should NOT be taken as an offense when someone does this. So what if someone does? Life goes on.
As for famous lead guitarists are concerned, aren't we fogetting John Lennon, or John Kay? Carl Wilson? Pete Townsend? They all have used Ricks, and have done a very good job at using them. As far as today's music, the "sound" that is going for this "new" type of music is active pickups, with "space-aged" looks. Rickenbackers have more of the vintage look, more than anything else. Plus, Rickenbackers take up to 6 months or more to order, making dealers hard to stock their shelves. Therefore, people who stop in see more of the "mass-produced" guitars that are easier to get. I think that is what makes less famous guitarists using Rickies. BUT, I do agree with Rickenbacker, that perfection is not built in only one day. As to quote an advertisement I saw for G&L Guitars, "Mass Production Is For Cars And Soda-Pop." Quite true.
The reason for this website is to not to aim negative critisizm. It is here to learn about our favotrie instruments, and sometimes a certain topic goes off the point, for a little bit. It should NOT be taken as an offense when someone does this. So what if someone does? Life goes on.
As for famous lead guitarists are concerned, aren't we fogetting John Lennon, or John Kay? Carl Wilson? Pete Townsend? They all have used Ricks, and have done a very good job at using them. As far as today's music, the "sound" that is going for this "new" type of music is active pickups, with "space-aged" looks. Rickenbackers have more of the vintage look, more than anything else. Plus, Rickenbackers take up to 6 months or more to order, making dealers hard to stock their shelves. Therefore, people who stop in see more of the "mass-produced" guitars that are easier to get. I think that is what makes less famous guitarists using Rickies. BUT, I do agree with Rickenbacker, that perfection is not built in only one day. As to quote an advertisement I saw for G&L Guitars, "Mass Production Is For Cars And Soda-Pop." Quite true.
My view point on this subject:
I'm glad that Rickenbackers are not as popular or as easy to find as Fenders/Gibsons. I'm happy that Eric Clpton, Eddie Van Halen and SRV played other brands. Three out of the four of THE BEATLES played Rickenbackers. (If only RIC had built drumkits......). Anyway, Paul you do present a solid plan to make Rickenbacker instruments more popular. It's a plan that would probably work. However, as you well know, RIC is not run like Fender/Gibson and the like. They are a privately owned (YEA!) corp. Basically a family owned and operated corp. that is not judged by how many many "units" are built or if shareholders are "happy". John and Cindalee are probably "giddy with delight" with the numbers their company produces. So, the origianl question was " Why Don't Famous Lead Guitarists Use Rickenbackers? " Because, hate it as we may...Rickenbackers aren't generally considered "lead instruments" (!) I do consider them to be as I'm sure that the rest of you do too. To that I say "hurrah!" Let's not let the rest of the population know what we know. I hope that RIC makes under 10,000 instruments per year. Exclusivity has its rewards.
I'm glad that Rickenbackers are not as popular or as easy to find as Fenders/Gibsons. I'm happy that Eric Clpton, Eddie Van Halen and SRV played other brands. Three out of the four of THE BEATLES played Rickenbackers. (If only RIC had built drumkits......). Anyway, Paul you do present a solid plan to make Rickenbacker instruments more popular. It's a plan that would probably work. However, as you well know, RIC is not run like Fender/Gibson and the like. They are a privately owned (YEA!) corp. Basically a family owned and operated corp. that is not judged by how many many "units" are built or if shareholders are "happy". John and Cindalee are probably "giddy with delight" with the numbers their company produces. So, the origianl question was " Why Don't Famous Lead Guitarists Use Rickenbackers? " Because, hate it as we may...Rickenbackers aren't generally considered "lead instruments" (!) I do consider them to be as I'm sure that the rest of you do too. To that I say "hurrah!" Let's not let the rest of the population know what we know. I hope that RIC makes under 10,000 instruments per year. Exclusivity has its rewards.
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wileyibex
You mention four Famous Lead Guitarists whoses names are associated with Ric's. 2 are dead; John Lennon didn't use a Ric after 1965, and Carl Wilson was last heard from on the pop charts with a novelty song (Kokomo) in 1984 -- 19 years ago. John Kay left the charts in the late 1960's, and Pete Townsend has seldom used Ric's in recordings or concerts over the last 30+ years. So we're "Talking 'Bout My Generation."
There was a bright lady who said, "Our accomplishments were meant to be landmarks, not campsites." It's time to move on. Cherish the past, and embrace the future.
To date, I've only seen brief recognition that there may be more than one genre of music out there. Let's assume that Rock is, if not dead, then near it, and that Rappers don't play anything anyway. Perhaps RIC would be better advised to look to Country, Gospel, Contemporary folk, Alt-country, Jazz, or maybe even New Age for up-and-coming artists to cultivate.
There was a bright lady who said, "Our accomplishments were meant to be landmarks, not campsites." It's time to move on. Cherish the past, and embrace the future.
To date, I've only seen brief recognition that there may be more than one genre of music out there. Let's assume that Rock is, if not dead, then near it, and that Rappers don't play anything anyway. Perhaps RIC would be better advised to look to Country, Gospel, Contemporary folk, Alt-country, Jazz, or maybe even New Age for up-and-coming artists to cultivate.