Anecdote from National Guitar Workshop

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 9:09 am

I forgot to mention one little story from my week at NGW.
I was getting a little bored sometimes in my Blues guitar class so occasionally I wandered over to the Beatles workshop (which just so happen to be next-door) and would play bass to whichever songs the class happen to be going over at the time.

The workshop instructor was about my age and we both liked a lot of the same 60s music (Airplane, Dead, Beatles, Byrds, etc.). I mentioned to him that I had an (autographed) 360/12 and the instructor asked if he could see it. (I live only a few miles away from the school location so I was commuting each day instead of boarding in a dorm room.)

During a break the next day, I took out the guitar, plugged it into my bass amp and even through the bass amp (with the treble turned all the way up and the bass down) the sound was as sweet as could be. And in my very limited ability I started to go through a few segments of selected songs (Turn, American Girl, The Other Side of This Life, Volunteers, Rock n’ Roll Star, etc.).

And it was like moths to a flame. All of the instructors (and a few of the students) within earshot came walking into the classroom to see the source of that “unmistakable Rickenbacker sound” (as one instructor put it).
It was a pretty cool feeling that I and my RIC 360/12 were able to produce (even in my limited way) an identifiable sound of any kind. It was kind of like I had been validated and joined the club.

What a sweet, sweet sound those guitars can make. Thank you Santa Ana.

lyle_from_minneapolis · Tue Jul 24, 2007 9:18 am

Fun story.

Who autographed it?

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 10:01 am

Sorry, Mark, every time I mention that I always assume that everyone here remembers from previous posts.

Top horn - Roger McGuinn.

Below pickguard - Paul Kantner.

(My two favorite Ric 12-string guitarists.)

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 2:21 pm

Wonderful!

dustymurphy · Post by **dustymurphy** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 1:33 pm

Did you put any kind of clear coat or anything over Roger's autograph? I have an autographed guitar, and I worry about the signature rubbing off.

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 4:58 am

Ya know, Dusty, that gets asked every time I post a photo of my 360/12 MG. I should just always post a little disclaimer every time the topic comes up.

If you search way back you will find previous posts but here it is in a nutshell.

When I first knew I was going to get Kantner (first) and then McGuinn to autograph my guitar, I posted a question to Paul W asking for his expert advice on how best to protect the (Sharpie) signatures. Paul listed all the materials and the required steps. (Which basically involved using an adhesive film.)
And to be honest, I chickened out. I figured that if I screwed anything up, the guitar is toast.

I intentionally had the two sign in places that don’t get any friction wear. So, if I remain careful, the autographs should last on this Earth as least as long as I do.

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:05 am

Here is a close-up, by the way:

beatlefreak · Post by **beatlefreak** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:12 am

That's a cool story. It's always great when people recognize the Rickenbacker sound.

peewee · Post by **peewee** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 5:12 pm

Cool! Where in VA are you Mark? I'm a native Alexandrian and lived there nearly 43 years until last July. I'm now 30 miles to the south.....feels more like 300 miles most of the time.

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 3:30 am

peewee · Post by **peewee** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 3:48 am

Practically neighbors. Grew up in FFX Co just across the City of Alexandria line...we called it L.A.; Lower Alexandria.

You could see the GW Masonic Temple from my house as a kid.

elysrand · Post by **elysrand** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 4:01 am

Hey Mike, know where historic Christ Church is in downtown Alexandria? The church that George Washington attended in the latter half of the 1700s? That's where my wife and I were married. Her parents were off their diplomatic assignment at some embassy in the middle east and were living in Alexandria when I met her, lo these many years ago...

peewee · Post by **peewee** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 4:16 am

Know where it is?? Are you kidding me? I know Old Town like the back of my hand! Christ Church; corner of N. Columbus and Cameron Streets with the rear facing N. Washington St. My wife and I were married in the garden of the Lee-Fendall House - corner of Oronoco and N. Washington - three years ago 9/3.

The city certainly has changed over the last 25 years.......sorry for the drift, folks.

robbo63 · Post by **robbo63** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 2:28 pm

Interesting... a good friend of mine, who happened to play a Rick bass, also was married in Christ Church. And had the reception at the Lee-Fendall house.

elysrand · Post by **elysrand** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 2:50 pm

I have heard of, but have never been to the Lee-Fendall House. Our reception was in the Officer's Club Ballroom at Fort Belvoir.