Keep your Karma bank full...a Ric story

[Memphis Blue]

I'm new around these parts.

I'm a 53 year old left handed Beatle freak and local musician and songwriter. I'm the kind of guy who treats people like I want to be treated and I go out of my way to perform "random acts of kindness".

I FINALLY got my first Ric in 1993 while I was playing in a Beatle band called DAYTRIPPER. It's a 330 JetGlo and I'll never part with it.

While in that band I got a nice surprise from my wife...for my 40th birthday/20th wedding anniversary in 1994 we went to Nashville and bought a 360/12...oh man,that was a day I'll never forget.

Fast forward a few years...still playing but not in the Beatle band...not playing the 12 all that much. My daughter is about to start her first year in college and I needed money...fast. So I put a ad in the paper and it was answered by a really nice guy in Jackson Mississippi...he paid me a thousand dollars for it which is exactly what I paid for it...a really sad day for me but I'll do anything for my daughter. I met the buyer halfway between Memphis and Jackson in a little town called Grenada. We met at the McDonalds and he brought a leftie J-180 and I brought my J-160E...I made a new friend and lost one all in the same day. I get the 1000 dollars and drive home.

Now it's October 2007...my British Invasion band is starting to play around Memphis. My Mom, who I loved dearly, had passed away and when we sold her little house, we all got a little money...not much but enough to pay off some bills and keep about a thousand dollars in the bank.

One Sunday night I was watching that 4 hour Tom Petty documentary which as you know, is akin to Rickenbacker porn.
I got a wild thought...why not call my pal and see if he still had the 12 string.
We hadn't talked much since the mid 90's but i thought it was worth a shot.
He said he still had it and hadn't really played it all that much...I asked if he would sell it back and he said "Sure!".
My heart almost beat out of my chest.
Now...the big question was coming..."How much?"
...long pause....
"You sold it to me for a thousand dollars so I'll sell it back for a thousand dollars"
I literally almost passed out.
We met the next weekend at the same McDonald's...I cannot begin to tell you what I felt when I opened that case and saw it after all of those years...I'm not ashamed to say I teared up.

Times are tough in our household...but I pray to God that I never have to sell it again...I cashed a BIG Karma check to get it...but I believe my Mom had something to do with it too.

I named my guitar Melba...after my Mom.
Thanks Mom.

[winston]

What a cool story Jeff. I almost teared up too, whilst reading it. Thanks for sharing that with us.

[firstbassman]

Cool story, thanks.

[scotty]

Jeff,welcome to the forum and welcome back your guitar.great story Ahhh every cloud has a silver lining....

[Darkhollow]

Great story Jeff, thanks for sharing it. It is always nice to hear good things happening to good people.

I hope you are enjoying the company of your old friend again.

[beatlefreak]

Welcome to the forum, Jeff. Great story!

[jch]

I love to hear stories like this

Welcome aboard Jeff!

[rick_ovic]

Jeff, what a fabulous story! It was the first thing I read on the Forum this morning. It's 6.45am and I can just tell it's gonna be a good day today!

Welcome to the Forum.

[ozover50]

What a great story, Jeff! It's really nice how sometimes people and things that you love come back to you..... rather that haunt you!!

[LeftyRickBass]

WOW!!!! What a GREAT story!!!! I'm glad to hear you are re-united with the guitar you love so much!!!!
From one Lefty to another----Welcome to the Forum.


LeftyRickBass






"The White Zone Is For The Loading And Unloading Of Passengers Only"

[jps]

Welcome, Jeff! And wonderful to hear you got your old love back!

[collin]

Nice story Jeff!

It's kinda funny how sometimes finding your "holy grail" of guitars was simply a guitar you owned before.

A friend of mine and me have a pretty cool deal (well, he actually used to be my boss, which is even cooler), and we're both into the same stuff, guitars cars, motorcycles etc (and especially Rics). We've probably bought and sold countless things between ourselves, covering when the other guy needs money, and often selling the item back to them when they have the cash and really want it back. It's pretty cool, and has worked out well for both of us before.

Nothing like getting your old guitar back!


Cheers,
-Collin

[TheWonders]

Awesome story, Jeff. I could almost picture you standing in that McDonald's, opening a case you haven't seen years. Cool.

[johneek]

Jeff...That's a very nice story. Its' full of many of the elements that make tales classic...and the best part is it's true!

[kiramdear]

Just wonderful! How many of life's journeys take us right back where we started? You are obviously a rich man at the Karma Bank.