HOW DO YOU SPELL "Rickenbacker"?

General Rickenbacker discussion

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sowhat
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Post by sowhat »

I agree with Will. As long as it's clear from the context what people are talking about, i wouldn't really mind if it's "Ric" or "Rick" (both could be regarded as short for "Rickenbacker", imho, while RIC is an abbreviation for "Rickenbacker International Corporation" and it's all caps) - like, when somebody says, "i play my Ric every day", it's clear that they mean a guitar/bass, not the corporation; or "i own a Ric" means, i guess, that they're talking about a guitar as well, not the corporation; moreover, there's only one RIC, and IIRC (i may be mistaken, of course) an indefinite article cannot be used together with the word that means something one of a kind. Moreover, variations leave more space for "play upon words", like, say, "Rickee the 650th" (just kiddin').
All imho, of course.
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sloop_john_b
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Post by sloop_john_b »

"Ricky" bugs me, "RIC" is worse.
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ajish4
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Post by ajish4 »

Ricky don't lose that number.....
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longhouse
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Post by longhouse »

I just hate it when people say RickenBOCKER.

You should hear my Ric through the new Fender Super Sonic. Image
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ram
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Post by ram »

Ric, Rick, Rickenbacker, etc.... all depends on the amount of time I have, my mood and how well my fingers are interfacing the keyboard.
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Post by uffe »

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jingle_jangle
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Post by jingle_jangle »

Absolutely spot on, Gene!!!
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4003
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Post by 4003 »

As far as the "bocker" pronunciation....

In my part of the world (Southern Indiana USA), the last name "Rickenbacker" is quite common. It is always pronounced as "bocker." After a lifetime of "bocker" it is strange to say "backer." I just have to be careful not to to say it the RIC way referring to a local family. I'd get the "you ain't from around here, are you boy?" comments!
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jingle_jangle
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Post by jingle_jangle »

I seem to remember on the old alt.guitar.rickenbacker site--a place of nastiness that led me to this sunshine-and-light group--something about it being pronounced that way, Bob.

You know that big CNC that RIC uses? It's a "Reichenbacher", if memory serves me on the spelling.

Pronounced "rike-en-bahr".

So where does that leave us?
“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
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winston
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Post by winston »

"So where does that leave us?" Lost in Rickenbacker heaven. Image
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robbo63
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Post by robbo63 »

Well, excuse my ignorance (and I've read John Hall's comments on proper pronunciation), but as long as I've known about Rickenbacker guitars, I and my friends have said "Rickenbocker". I realize the error of my ways, and am trying to repent. I blame it on the word's Germanic roots, and the influence of Orville Redenbacher popcorn commercials.
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86kubicki
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Post by 86kubicki »

I never use "Ricky". It makes me think of this guy...
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jingle_jangle
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Post by jingle_jangle »

Wow. Him and Desi Arnaz have the very same haircut...
“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
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brammy
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Post by brammy »

I just cant picture this guy
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playing one of these
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johnallg
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Post by johnallg »

I'm with Tom (Ram). Paul, 2 AM post - must have been a creative night with no place to focus.....

I've seen Ricky used, and am not offended, but I don't use it.

For me it is too long typing out Rickenbacker all the time, so I use Rick for my basses and RIC for the corporation. And there you have it - my 2 pence.
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