How come not too many Rickenbackers On Stage?

country_gene · Post by **country_gene** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 4:25 am

As a new Ric owner, I'm surprised to hear that. I play all types of music on my 350 - lead, rhythm, fingerpicking, flatpicking, etc.

johnashfield · Post by **johnashfield** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 2:59 pm

IMO, many perceive RICS to be quirky, fragile, and hard to take care of instruments. This could be because rics are slightly different than your typical Gibson/Fender what have you. We all have stories of luthiers talking about how weird rics are!

As far as the fragile thing, I have put my 360 thru all sorts of things and it not only is fine, but usually stayed in tune even after throwing it at a drummer across the stage! My 360/12 has been super sturdy as well, as anyone who has seen the repair Paul W (jingle jangle) did for me.

Having a strat/tele/les paul with you onstage doesn't really make musch of a statement about what kind of music you play, where as versatile as rics are, people kind of imagine you playing a certain type of music when they see you with a ric. Perhaps this puts off some players?

Of course, which one of us doesn't love being the only ric player at a show? Of course seeing a fellow ric player is cool too, but you know what I mean!

wj350 · Post by **wj350** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 4:04 pm

I think a lot of it is the "herd" syndrome...Strats and LPs tend to rule the airwaves on videos, etc. Not arguing with their quality or sound--I'm a fan (and owner) of both--but it's what's in the mainstream, and so the market feeds itself.

JMO.

Bill

country_gene · Post by **country_gene** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 2:44 pm

Here's an interesting observation......
PBS has been airing "The 60's Experience" during their pledge drive. Mostly this special is all music with a little history/social commentary thrown in. Anyway - when they showed the archival footage of the 60's bands and performers I noticed that most of the players had Ric's!

Ironocally, they were all six and 12 strings. Didn't see a RIC bass anywhere. Go figure......

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 2:51 pm

Gene, i'd say Rick basses came into favor more with the hard rock/prog rock of the 70's.

fatcat · Post by **fatcat** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 6:54 pm

In this dirty old part of the ...country, I never see any Rics on a stage,lessen it's mine, and it stays home now anyway.
The Mars had a 12V64,a 325 and near the end, a CW 12 but they never moved out.Wagstaff's had some in too, but they seemed to live on the racks a long time.All of this probably 'splains why no dealer here nowadays.

qmoder · Post by **qmoder** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 3:46 pm

I've only seen one Ric on a rack in this entire state. Due to the limited production you just can't one like you can get a Fender or Gibson. I'm not saying it as a right or wrong statement its just the facts. If you can'get one you can't play it one.
I had to order mine sight unseen. Most people are just not willing to do that. I did a lot of research before I got my model.

expomick · Post by **expomick** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 4:50 pm

During the produced opening for Monday Night Football this evening (still only 3-zip as I type this), one of the guitarists in Hanks Williams Jrs' band was sporting a fireglo Rick. It happened so quick I couldn't get a good look at it.

country_gene · Post by **country_gene** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 7:37 am

Last night Leno had a band on the show, but I didn,t catch the name. One of the guitar players had what appeared to be a six-string guitar with two humbuckers, but.......the body and headstock were the same as a 4001 bass. Very unusual.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 7:59 am

Probably Kasabian, with a model 481. They're the only band in recent memory that I remember playing one.

Edit: Yup, it was them.

ted_williams · Post by **ted_williams** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 8:19 am

Camper Van Beethoven's Jonathan Segal played one (when he wasn't playing violin) until it was stolen a few years ago.

notviceversa · Post by **notviceversa** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 8:21 am

I play one. Well, I play a 480.

beefandbones · Post by **beefandbones** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 9:56 am

Also, Fender and Gibson are both SHAMELESS about getting their instruments 'seen'. Seems like any ol' schmuck with a marketing idea will find an open ear at Fender or Gibson - they're always 'partnering' with somebody to give away cheap instruments, and signing endorsement deals with the next no-name whoevers. But it pays off for them (see subject of thread).

Rickenbacker can't hope to compete with the sheer output capacity of the Fender/Squier and Gibson/Epiphone machines and stay true to what makes the Rickenbacker brand special.

I like that Rickenbacker remains a connoisseur's instrument.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 12:03 pm

Filet mignon & a fine Bordeaux VS cheeseburger & cola.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 2:17 pm

"Rickenbacker can't hope to compete with the sheer output capacity of the Fender/Squier and Gibson/Epiphone machines and stay true to what makes the Rickenbacker brand special."

Thank god!