Rickenbacker Luthier in San Francisco Area ?

[modrock]

Hi Everyone,
I'm new to the forum though I've been lurking for a long some time. I've known Peter through the internet for quite some time, and I knew it was time to re-register. I'm not really a stranger to Rickenbacker guitars, having owned two, a 36012/V64 and 325JL for almost 18 years, and I've decided now that I'm retiring, it's time to start plugging in and cranking up again.
Is there anyone on the forum here who lives in the north San Francisco Bay area and knows of any good luthiers in the Santa Rosa or San Rafael area? I need to get my 360/12V64 set up and ready for action again. I need several things done, mainly a set up, but I've also got a 12 string bridge that I bought from the RIC Botique quite a while ago. I'm still debating whether to install it or not, as I've heard pros and cons on intonation concerns with the 6 string bridge. I've also found a newer ( and what seems to be a wider ) nut that I may want to install. As many of you have said, it's that pesky arthritis that seems to set in around the age of 60 causing me a lot of grief ! I suspect I need a luthier to look at my playing style to set up a newer wide nut, but at this point, it's only one of the things I'm looking at. I keep my John Lennon 325 Limited Edition in the case mostly, but I really want to get it out and start playing it more often. It was a Christmas gift in 1990 from my wife ( yes, she's a keeper ! )
Everyone seems so friendly and helpful here, I'm looking forward to reading ( and hopefully contributing ) more! Thanks for any help you can provide,
Gary from Santa Rosa.

[goofyfoot]

Uuuhhh-eerrrr, Paul (Jingle_Jangle), care to chime in? (He's your guy, Gary.)

Play on, pick often, and prosper. Best regards....Goofyfoot

[wmthor]

Welcome aboard Gary. Like Goofyfoot said, Paul W. is the person you're looking for.

[modrock]

Thanks, I appreciate your replies guys, can you get me a phone number or address?
I have the feeling this forum is going to be a lot of fun !!!
( I may be getting wrinkled, but I can still Jingle-jangle )
Cheers,
Gary in Santa Rosa

[jingle_jangle]

Just got back from practice in Santa Rosa, and...

Wait!!! Oops...

Gary, write me off-list and we can work out a pickup/delivery thing, unless you're up for a trip to the City.

[modrock]

Thanks Paul, I'll be in touch.........Gary

[admin]

Welcome back, Gary.

[modrock]

Thanks Peter, I hope all is well up in NB...
All the best from the Bay Area,
Gary

[tennis_nick]

Thanks Peter, I hope all is well up in NB...
All the best from the Bay Area,
Gary

Of course all is well in NB! Moncton (NB) gets another music fest this year! The Eagles, with Sam Roberts and John Fogerty as opening numbers!

[jingle_jangle]

Gary and I both live in NB, too. The North Bay.

[modrock]

Yeah, I suppose you could say that Paul..
And I seem to remember John Fogerty is playing this area ( NB ) North Bay sometime soon at Konocti in Lake County. Sadly, the old Rickenbacker with the Bigsby is gone and he's playing a Les Paul now, but he still puts on a great show. The whole CCR saga is a sad one with John on his own, and with Stu and Doug playing as 'Creedence Clearwater Revisited,' but I still enjoy them both. I met Stu Cook this summer in Lake Tahoe, while he was getting ready for a move to New Mexico.

Hey, and for our own 'NB' premier, stoked, groovy surf band, 'North Of Malibu,' ...did you know that The Beach Boys are playing here soon? ( prefer Dick Dale )... Of course it's only Bruce Johnston and Mike Love, and if you can put up with Mike Love, it should be OK, but their backing band is great. I prefer Brian Wilson's gig these days, but he hasn't been to the 'North Bay' area in a long time. I remember The Beach Boys played here when Carl was still alive back in the early 80s...And his Rickenbacker 360/12 was long gone by then, he was playing a Gibson 12 when I saw him...



Gary

[jingle_jangle]

Mike Love and Bruce Johnston are not the Beach Boys....They're "Mike the Gas Station Attendant and his Wealthy Friend Who Writes the Songs". Talk about sad sagas.

Mike Love is one of the most irritating "stars" in the oldies firmament. He's about one thing, and that's money. Without his cousins (two of whom have passed on, and with them much talent and real love), he's zilch IMO. I'll get off this topic now before I rant.

Last time I saw Brian, it was for the world premiere of Pet Sounds live at the Hollywood Bowl on September 26, 2000. It was a stellar, wonderful night; tix were a birthday gift from my Mom and we had a glorious time.

I, too, saw the BBs in the early '80s (minus Brian) and Carl was playing an Epi 12 then; this was in Inglewood, I believe.

I have a signed tour jacket from their '82 tour; last one with Denny before he died; although Brian was not present much it's signed by him, and Bruce, too.

[modrock]

Spot on Paul,

After Mike ranted on about Paul McCartney at the R & R Hall of Fame inductions, I just finally got fed up with him. When he played here at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in 1986, he was making racist comments that were totally uncalled for. So, lets hear it for the real 'surfers,' the Wilson brothers, without whom, Mike Love would be nothing and Bruce Johnston would be smiling in the mixing booth with Terry Melcher doing songs about GTOs and Cobras.
My only close encounter to the original B B's was that I was in the audience on the 1964 'Live Concert' recorded at the Sacramento Civic on August 1, 1964. My very first concert. All Fenders, but I'm sure it was shortly after that when Carl started playing the 330/12. I have a video of him playing it on Surfin' USA, and while the Rickenbacker doesn't lend itself well to the SoCal 'Surf Sound,' Carl does a blistering lead on the Rickenbacker.
I'd rather see Dick Dale than Mikie and Brucie anyway

See you soon,
From a 'North of Malibu' fan......
Gary
360/12V64, 325JL

[jingle_jangle]

Thanks, Gary...yeah, Mike has been a sore spot with me for decades. He bought a hilltop area of Santa Barbara, really choice view real estate, and divvied it up into lots. The 'hood is called "Love Ranch"...it's really "Love of Money Ranch". God only knows what he would be like without TM to prop him up, but still it's obvious that he's got some junk to work out, as I've heard nasty (anti-Mex, anti-Asian) comments from him in concerts, too.

Brian suffered a lot for that clan, with only his mother and Carl to hear him and keep him psychic company. Mike, on the other hand, ever-vigilant for spare dollars to hoover up, had Brian in court repeatedly, at one time even attempting to get him declared mentally incompetent. Mike talked Gene Landy into hiring his brother, Steve, as Brian's keeper and disciplinarian. Thankfully, Landy and Steven Love are long gone. Brian continues to carry the wounds that began with his father and only deepened with the deaths of his siblings. It seems, too that Brian has been agreeable and forgiving where Mike is concerned. Mike, on the other hand, sees Brian as the Goose who goes on laying...

There's lots more, but it's (as I said) irritating to contemplate.

It's been months since I checked into a BB fansite to catch up...

These days I'm playing the same rig that Carl did back then, except my Jag is Candy Apple Red. But it goes through a vintage Blonde Dual Showman and a Blonde Fender Reverb unit. And, yeah, it can take the paint off yer car. Question: if Ricks "jangle", what do Jags do? And that Sacto concert album got lots of play when I was 17...which scream were you?

[modrock]

I had just turned 16, it was my 16 year old girlfriend who was screaming ! I was entirely in awe of all that eye candy Fender stuff on stage, and Brian riding across the stage on a Honda 50. I paid $3.00 to get into that concert. I grew up in Lodi ( where the hell????) so I went to the Sac Civic often in those days between 1964-67. The first time I saw a real live, in-person Rickenbacker 360/12 in FG was in the summer of 1965 when the Vejtables played there as a support act. Wow ! I had been hooked since 'Hard Day's Night,' but when I saw the real thing in FG, I knew I had to have one. Too bad it took me almost 20 years !

It's fairly obvious that we see eye to eye on Mike 'the weenie' Love, so I shall digress. I can only say that after I heard his racist comments here in SR and his litigation involving Al Jardine, I have no use for the guy. 'TM in the AM and the PM' as he laughs all the way to the bank....Sad, isn't it !

Looking forward to a North Of Malibu gig !
George said the light show Rick is fab !

Gary