Which Celebrity Bassist Influenced You To Buy A Ric?

[spongebob]

I must add the importance of -

Barry Adamson (Magazine) - in my top 4 Ric owners
Peter Hook (Hondo copy, but he had the look...!)
Lou Barlow (Dinosaur Jr)
Kim Gordon (Played a MG at times)

....and any two-bit unknown band's video I've chanced upon where there's Ric. They immediately go up in my estimations!

[peewee]

Hmm...the only Hungarian band that I know of is Locomotive GT.

[just_bassics]

Anyone who knows me knows what my answer is - Chris Squire! BUT!....

The first thing that ever caught my ear bass-wise was the absolutely sinister sounding bass solo break by Roger Glover in Pictures of Home from Machine Head, and that was also a Ric. I also Think that Geddy Lee has recorded some of the best sounding Ric tones out there.

[seyesbass]

Its funny really but watching Top Of The Pops in the 60s I noticed a few players with Rickenbackers.
I only recognised the make because Lennon and Harrison were so high profile you couldnt help but know all about them and their look including the look of their instruments.
I always remember watching The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour programme on Boxing Day 67 because my brother was recording the show (sound) on his new
Philips reel to reel tape recorder and we tried not to speak during the show.We both noticed the Rick bass that we had very fleetingly seen on the "Our World"
show in late summer when they played "All you Need Is Love" and we liked the new look of the bass even in black and white TV!
I think that stayed with me and some time after that the Bee Gees were on TV and maybe after seeing Pauls bass Maurice had his re-painted all white and again even in black and white television it looked great.
Little did I know that one day that bass would be pounding out Punk and New Wave tunes in my hands!
But it was seeing Yes at Manchester Free Trade Hall playing the Yes Album tour that finally made me want one of those hard to find (and pay for) Rickenbackers.
Chris played a Fender Telecaster Bass (again white) also but it was the Rickenbacker that had THE look.
Three years later I persuaded my mum and dad to let me get a Rickenbacker on Hire Purchase (credit...the never never as we called it...sounds just like today)
because I now had a steady decent wage coming in.
When I visited Barratts in Manchester they had a black 4001 and a white maple neck Fender Jazz Bass. I wanted a Rick just like Paul, Maurice and Chris had but the salesman ( who had a bit more knowledge than me) told me about the way the Rick bass had changed over the years since the 60s and I might want to look for a second hand 60s Rick bass because they dont make them like that anymore.
I said I would think about it and left a deposit on the black bass.
When I made my mind up over the weekend I decided that the best course of action was to buy the White Jazz which actually looked way better than the one Chris had on Topographic Tour and wait for a second hand 60s Rick.
When I returned to Barratts to check if my credit had gone through so I could collect the Jazz 10CC were there and Graham Gouldman was buying the black Rick!
However,I was well and truly bitten by the (I didnt know about Rose Morris special order basses yet) 60s Rick with horse shoe pick up style bass and nothing else would suffice!
I got my wish a few years later when I unknowingly bought Maurice Gibbs actual bass thinking that loads of players re-paint guitars and until I did some reading up I was sceptical but then it became self evident that due to the serial number and rarity of the guitar it was the actual one.
When I sold the bass to pay my mortgage believe it or not there were always a few 60s Ricks cropping up in the Melody Maker and I simply intended to get another once I got a bit more cash!
I did buy another RM and then another one after that! But as we got into the mid 80s the investors in Japan started speculating on vintage guitars and rock memorabilia and everyone followed suit and here we are today with many guitars locked up never to be played in anger again.
Coming full circle I now have the very special 4001CS that Chris poses with in various pictures,a 4001V63 FG that looks a bit like Maccas with a thick neck,and very shortly I shall be collecting my re-finished all white 4001CS #2 complete with vintage style pickguard and ebony nut which I will re-Christen the 4001MG (Maurice Gibb) Limited Edition number one! If that gets mixed up with Maple Glo I could opt for Keppel Road (where the Gibbs Lived in Manchester) Ltd Edition and call it 400KR any preference guys?. Strangely,my daughters friend lives in the Gibbs old house on Keppel Road Chorlton and strangely again,I lived in a flat next door on Keppel Road which was where my first bass was stolen from (a Hofner solid body) so lots of coincidences there.
Good thread by the way ....lets have more stories guys!

[frtlsbss]

Don't forget Bachman Turner Overdrive (if I didn't miss it above!)
And then there was Star Stowe!!!!

Frtlsbss

[berth]

The sole reason/person for me buying my first Rick was Lemmy and some 20 years ago I could play any Motorhead song and people told me my Bass sound was more like Motorhead than Lemmy's sound was. I later discovered there was a lot more music made with Rickenbacker basses and in most if not all cases I liked the sound (not necesarilly the music). Lemmy's Hawkwind period was also quite influential for me.

[flying junk]

No question - Graham Gouldman and his Jetglow 4001 with 10cc between 1972 and 1978. Not only did I fall in love with 10cc and the black Ric, but he inspired me to buy my first ever bass, a dreadful Satellite P-Bass. I love(d) his melodic playing, especially live. For some reason he deserted the Ric after 'Bloody Tourists' and switched to a Jazz Bass, but I'd lost interest in the band by then.

[rickenbrother]

Welcome to the forum, Steve!

[flying junk]

Sorry, forgot to say Hi!

[bassduke49]

Welcome, James and Steve!

[rickenbrother]

Oops, I missed welcoming you James, welcome to the forum!

[jps]

There is no option for any other influence. My first influence was Jon Camp, then Chris Squire.

[pacealot]

There is no option for any other influence. My first influence was Jon Camp, then Chris Squire.

Jeffrey, reading your espoused enthusiasm for Jon Camp is what helped me finally get Renaissance. I watched the YouTube video of "Black Flame," picked up Turn Of The Cards, and it was all over. I can't believe it took me that long to get into them. So, thank you!

[jps]

I am glad to be able to make you find a true missing gem! What else have you picked up of theirs?

[henry5]

I later discovered there was a lot more music made with Rickenbacker basses and in most if not all cases I liked the sound (not necesarilly the music). Lemmy's Hawkwind period was also quite influential for me.

Me too Bert. I basically pretty much learned to play by playing along with Space Ritual.