Lead guitarists playing a rickenbacker 6 string?

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 7:21 pm

Care to name names, Brian?

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 4:49 am

Elvis?

winston · Post by **winston** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:11 am

John Mayall? That would be great if he did own one, but has anyone got a pic of him playing one?

How about Madonna? She has a Rick? Hmmm! Can she even play guitar? I am not a fan of her "act". so I would be surprised if she has exhibited any sort of behaviour that approximates good taste.

Elvis liked to have a Gibson hanging around his neck. Anyone have a pic of him with a Rickenbacker?

Like I said perhaps Ed knows something I don't. But these individuals in particular seem like unusual additions to a list of Rickenbacker players.

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:56 am

Interesting list, but Mark Knopfler isn't there...
John Fogerty is "Fogerty", not "Fogarty", BTW.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 8:20 am

She does indeed play. Brian. A Rick though? Who knows?

winston · Post by **winston** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 8:27 am

Well I just got turned off my dinner. Yep that does look real. Maybe Ed sold her ...er...gave her a Rick

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 8:34 am

I've seen her play a coupla times. Somewhere on TV. Way back when i watched it.

woodsgirl · Post by **woodsgirl** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 1:18 pm

She was horrible. I saw her play on tv and sing some gawd awful song about her dad or something..........

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 10:46 pm

Is she a lead player, anyway?

marctrain57 · Post by **marctrain57** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 3:21 am

Actually I've seen a photo of John Mayall playing a Rick. It is from more recent years and it is the shape of a 620, 650, 660 with a real weird *** paint job. If I come accross it I will try to scan it in and post it. It was in a magazine on the blues.

telebob · Post by **telebob** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 7:21 am

Lets face it guys, there have been some solos played on Rics, but the legendary, monster guitar solos of all time have historically been played on "other" brands. That's not a bad thing. It simply reinforces the fact that Rics are different and do things differently than other brands. It's all a matter of perspective. I gig regularly with my 360, but it's purely for strumming, and nothing else in my guitar arsenal gets the job done like my Ric. For solos? I have other options available that are better suited to the task.

westtexasrickenbacker · Mon Aug 07, 2006 6:19 am

Hi Again,

Bob hit the information I was looking for. It seems like the RIC guitars are fantastic for rhythm playing, but not used much for lead work.

I was looking for someone in the know to say "J. Beck used a rickenbacker on most of 'Blow by Blow' or Gilmour used it on this classic solo, or Page used it on blank and blank, etc."

I knew of Harrison's FEW solos w/a Ricky, the Byrds work and CCR, but I was looking for bigger hitters.

A question that always pops up then, is WHY DON'T MORE LEAD GREATS USE ONE? Are the electronics weak? No disrespect intended. I'm just simply curious why such a gorgeous and well-made instrument isn't used as a lead instrument.

ted_williams · Post by **ted_williams** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 9:57 am

Townshend used a Rick 12 string for the solo on "Can't Explain".

sharkboy · Post by **sharkboy** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:18 am

I'm sure Townshend used them more than occasionally for solos, though he has been a more brilliant rhythm player. Marr is a great guitarist, who has usually played great fills more than leads. Gang, I guess it is mostly up to us to go out there and spread (or shred) the word.

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 1:17 pm

I've been using mine lately for leads, but I feel I seriously need to raise the strings if I am to do it comfortably.