Wow, this is a Rickenbacker...?

[jingle_jangle]

Ummm...it's my workhorse Fender Jaguar. But I am planning a vintage Rick with Jag pickups so I can get "that sound" and still have "that look"!

[ric330]

I love to see that when you're done. Would you use a 450 one of the solid bodies as the platform for the jagenbacker

[jingle_jangle]

Actually, you're close. It's a 425S, with vibrato. I've got 3 of these, so one can be modded slightly.

Gotta have a vibrato with a surf guitar. In case anybody gets the heeby-jeebies, the only part that will be changed (besides the pickups) will be the guard, which on this guitar was shot when I got it.

[ric330]

That will be really great. Please post a picture if it pans out. I'd love to see that when finished.

[JakeK]

Similar thing happened to me twice this month...

December 1:
My friend from school, Michael, came over to hear my friend and lead guitarist Chris and I play together. I took out a load of equipment from my mom's car trunk at my grandma's house (which is also my studio), and he saw the silver case to my 660/12TP, and said, "I know you told me you had a Rickenbacker, but I didn't think the CASE would be that cool!" I said, "You've seen nothing yet!" and after we set up the equipment, I opened the case, and he said, "WHOA!!!" I said, "I know!" and he said, "May I?" and I said, "Go ahead." He tried to play some blues stuff on it (he plays a lot of blues), and said, "This is nice, but I don't think it fits in well with what I play." I laughed and said, "You want to hear a good Ric sound?" and played The Who's "I Can't Explain" and he was lost for words!

December 15:
Another friend from school, Mark, rides in with Chris to hear us, and he said, "A RICKENBACKER!?" when he saw the 660/12. I said, "Yep" and he put it on, and tried to play a song on it. He liked it, but found a Rickenbacker 12-string more complicated than Roger McGuinn made it out to be.

[eggman]

Howdy,

I'm a Little Kids Rock guitar teacher here in Shreveport, La. My elementary school is some 90% African American, btw. Last year two of my 5th grade girls wanted to record a home-written song in our music room. (FYI: I've listened to the radio stations that our kids listen to, and I just don't hear guitars or hardly any stringed instruments, so I'm glad they want to learn guitar.)
Anyway, standard issue last year were cheap Classical guitars. I decided to offer my light weight MG 360 for them to record with; thinking that they'd be thrilled with the opportunity to play such a COOL looking guitar. Both girls tried my Ricky, but said that it's too heavy and that they liked the weight and looks of thier Classical guitar!! I laughed it off, but couldn't help but think what my reaction would'be been in 1974, had a teacher let my play a Rickenbacker! He'd have needed an army to get that guitar away from me. Still, the girls liked thier guitars, and that's the most important thing.

Eggman

[jimk]

So many knock Ricks without having given them a sympathetic tryout. ...at times I'm led to believe that more gossip than truth permeates the airwaves regarding them.

Alas!
Hey, that reminds me ...what's that line in that Gary Louris song"...Stumblin' through the dark/Everybody's stumblin' through the dark..." Seems somehow apropos.

Rick owners, spread the word!

Yup.

JimK

[doctorwho]

All great stories ... thanks for sharing!

[alanz]

Every one of my guitar buds who has played my 620-12 is instantly sold on how awesomely great and easy it is to play (for a 12 string anyway). There is no hesitation - instant karma from everyone who picks it up.

The 330 is a harder sell; they like it (and in fact my main guitar guy just 15 minutes ago came by to borrow it to work on a slide guitar part we are doing) but for lead work they want to use their standard go-to players, which I completely understand. The 330 makes a great rhythm and "fiddly bits" guitar, though.

[rickenmetal]

The first story makes a lot of sense (to me, anyways), except for the part about the Hi-gains not making noise. Is there differences between the recent versions and the '90s Hi-gains?

[wmthor]

Saturday, I was at a family get-together over in Mississippi and met one of my cousins' husband for the first time. We got to talking about music, guitars, etc. He stated that he was also a player and had been in a country band or two. Since I had my 1997 out in the truck, I brought it inside.

Billy Ray (yes, that's his name) picks it up, strums a few chords and then asks, "When it's plugged in, does it sound as good as a Fender or a Gibson?"

Although I wanted to slap him along side the head, I instead proceeded to go back out to the truck, grabbed my little Fender Champion 600 amp and let him hear for himself. Started out with a little Hank Sr., followed by a little Johnny Cash, Johnny Rivers, and The Beach Boys. By then, everyone else wanted to join in on the fun.

[jimk]

I sure do enjoy reading these stories. Keep 'em coming, please. Rickenbackers are a rare breed in my neck of the woods.

JimK