My first 'REAL' Rickenbacker sighting live

[modrock]

I saw this SF Bay Area group when they played my high school in the Spring of 1965. It wasn't the first time I saw a Rickenbacker of course, after lusting after George Harrison's 360/12 in 'Hard Days Night,' but it was the first time I saw a group live use one on stage. I stared at those two 360/12s in wonder when they took their break and knew that one day I would have one just like George's. It took me almost 30 years, but now the 360/12v64 keeps me company.
The drummer, Jan Errico (Ashton) went on to record Steve Stills' 'Sit Down I Think I Love You' with the Mojo Men, produced by Sly Stone here in the Bay Area. Several of the other members formed The Syndicate of Sound and their one hit wonder, 'Little Girl' in 1966. Of course the 'oh yeah's' are exaggerated for the British Invasion effect, but it is pure mid 60's pop with two 360/12 Rickenbackers.
See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nq79xfw ... es=related

Gary ( modrock )

360/12v64 and 325JL

[stringsncords]

My first "real" Ric sighting was on September 2, 1964 at the now-gone Convention Hall in Philadelphia, at the age of 14. An English quartet called The Beatles. Two guys named John and George were playing them...John was playing a JetGlo 325, and George was playing a FireGlo 360/12. And I've been hooked on Ricks ever since!

[jimk]

I actually saw one right here in Lawrence KS a year and a half ago at a Bob Dylan retrospective put on by a local promoter at a watering hole called The Gaslight. It was an amberglo 360/12 string with hi-gains. Alas, its owner left with the guitar before I could visit with him about it. And I think that sighting was what gave me the final nudge to order a Rick.

JimK

[jps]

My first live sighting was when I saw Genesis on their first US tour April '72 in a small college gym, with around 500 other lucky folks!

[rkbsound]

Sometime around 1984, Minneapolis. Ed Ackerson's band "The Dig" was playing at someone's house in their living room. A friend got Ed to let me look at the guitar before the show - but no touching!. "The Blue Up?" also played, and the lead singer played a White on White 330. I've wanted one ever since, but now in a 12.

[bassduke49]

I'm pretty sure the first Rick bass I ever saw in person is the one that I still own. My first wife (girlfriend then, e-mail pal now) and I used to go to a dance hall in the southwest burbs of Boston back in 1975 to see a band called "Northeast Expressway." These guys were amazing. They did mostly danceable music, but then would do stuff you couldn't dance to, only listen and watch in awe. They had a Melotron, which few bands had back then, but would do note-perfect renditions of Yes' "I've Seen All Good People," "Roundabout," ELP's "Karn Evil 9 Impression 1" ("see the show . . . "), Steely Dan's "Don't Take Me Alive," and several Moody Blues tunes (gotta use that Melotron!) including one of my faves, "You and Me."

Anyway, the bassist played (and sang, too, I'm so envious . . . ) a blonde Rick bass. As always, I talk to the band members during breaks, and we started talking instruments. He mentioned he wanted to sell the Rick and get a Gibson Ripper (following Greg Lake, it seems). So we came to an agreement on price (my recollection is $300), and I met him at his next gig there and bought the bass.

This is the now refinished "mink" bass, a Mapleglo '72 with all the collectible features.

[johnallg]

My first sighting was around 1971 - the bass player (still remember his name!) for another local group had a JG 4001. I was impressed enough to find out about them and see I couldn't afford one....

[ken_j]

My first sighting was in a freind/neighbors basement in the summer of '69. He had just bought a new 4001JG but had also ordered a 4000 JG. He wasn't sure which one he wanted when he put in the order so he ordered both. The 4001 was a '69 with a toaster and the new high gain. The 4000 was a '68 with an HS pickup. He hauled me down to the music store the next day with my '62 fender P bass. I traded in the P bass and left with the 4000 in my P bass case. Here's the 4000:

[johnallg]

What a friend! Do you still have that 4000? Great story Ken.

[ken_j]

The bass is long gone but I still see my friend quite regularly. He still has a few Ricks.

[AQuickOne]

I saw The MIghty Lemon Drops in SF (about '89 or so) at the Warfield with The Ocean Blue, The Rave-Ups, and John Wesley Harding. It was a Rick Extravaganza! The singer/rhythm guitarist for my band at the time was so taken.....he saved up and bought an FG 330 with hi-gains at Black Market in L.A.

[fatcat]

My first Ric sighting was at a battle of the bands at my high school, the Ric was a 620 or whatever was in that shape in 1967. It was worn by my classmate Clint Call in his band Moods End.Sounded better than most of the other guitars in the battle.

[collin]

Several of the other members formed The Syndicate of Sound and their one hit wonder, 'Little Girl' in 1966.

I LOVE that band (and song) my old group used to cover it, great tune. They had DUAL Rics in action too!


Here they are, playing on a battleship (?) : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgLy3ArIVRE

[nattiep]

I've only seen two live.. Chris Squire and Geddy Lee.

[jps]

Unfortunately, when I saw Rush there were no Ricks in sight!