RICKENBACKER?

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:30 pm

I've not seen the Laine 1998. Could you describe it?

chingnchime · Post by **chingnchime** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 10:43 pm

Earlier the Lovin'Spoonful was mentioned as perhaps having a Rick 12 on YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BE SO NICE. Nah.There was nothing 'jangly' in that song except for the upward strums in the intro and outro and end of the chorus. I always assumed it was Zal Yanovsky's Guild, though at the time John played a Les Paul. The part could have been doubled, which gave it a quasi- Rick sound.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 5:02 am

Not Rick 12, but autoharp. I recall seeing John Sebastian performing on one with TLS (Sullivan? Bandstand?). First time I ever saw one, dazed and confused. Can't recall the song, though.

randyz · Post by **randyz** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 12:22 pm

Paul: I've seen the same video of John Sabastian on Ed Sullivan or Hullabaloo playing the autoharp. I think the song was 'Do You Believe In Magic'. I recall reading that his Les Paul was originally owned by Rick Derringer (of The McCoys). After Sebastion got rid of it, Eric Clapton bought it in a NYC guitar shop (Manny's?). Then Eric gave it to George Harrison. I think that's how the story went. That's the red one George played in the 'Revolution' video. It was a gold top when Sebastion owned it.

Back to Denny Laine's 1998. It was a standard looking 1998 FG with Accent vibrato when he was with The Moody Blues. He can be seen playing it on numerous TV appearances for 'Go Now'. Later when he went solo ('66 or '67), he had it refinished. I've never seen a color photo, but it looks very dark (black?). It is decorated with four or five comma-shaped markings with swirling spiral lines in white sweeping across the guitar. Almost like elements taken from a paisley pattern. The only picture I've seen is on page 116 of 'Then, Now And Rare British Beat 1960-1969' by Terry Rawlings on Omnibus Press (2002). It's a full page portrait photo of Laine resting his chin on the butt of the 1998. Most of the guitar body is visible and the quality of the shot is good enough to see the tarnish on the Accent, the rollers on the bridge, and the damaged head on the vibrato arm screw (arm missing). Now if I'd take the time to learn how my scanner works...

chingnchime · Post by **chingnchime** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 2:46 pm

Paul- No, NOT an autoharp on YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO BE SO NICE. The part I'm talking about is an upward strum on an electric guitar. Geez- do you think just because you saw him play one on 'Sullivan', that there's one on every song? Hardly...

brammy · Post by **brammy** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 2:54 pm

this has probably been asked but... where did the Rickenbacker company get it's name?
Did it have anything to do with this guy?

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 5:25 pm

Steve, I thought I was pretty clear about my foggy memory. Nowhere did I make a claim about him playing autoharp on EVERY song.

Don't get yer knickers in a twist here...

winston · Post by **winston** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 9:09 pm

Kent,

The answer is no.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 10:16 pm

He was well known back then for playing the autoharp though, it was hardly a household name. I remember it and I was 12 in 1965.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 5:47 am

Help!!! It's raining s**t!!!

chingnchime · Post by **chingnchime** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 7:03 am

Better wear a hat...no twisted knickers here...

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 10:01 am

Check, chief...

rick32559 · Post by **rick32559** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 5:37 pm

Adolph Rickenbacker was a distant cousin of Eddie Rickenbacker from what I`ve read

britye · Post by **britye** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 6:06 pm

Thanks Paul, I now know the subtitle to the song Help! Har!!

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 10:10 am

My aunt used to live in suburban New Jersey where her next door neighbor was Paul Rothchild (Producer of the Doors and others.) I asked her about it recently and she told me that John Sebastian of the Spoonful used to sit out in Paul's backyard and was the nicest person, as was Paul himself. One of my cousin's told me they remember the Doors playing frisbee in Paul's front yard.