Guitarist Magazine June 09

[indianation65]

I'm sure many of you cats read the British guitar magazines as well...current issue and a couple of features.

Roger McGuinn interview--interesting text...
1. He recommends Pyramid Strings for his 12 string
2. He hates to change the strings and uses a capo
3. Says Rickenbacker is cheap and never gave him a guitar. He got one half price; no harm, I guess Rickenbacker is in the business to make money, not give things away.
4. Loves old Roland JC 120s for Rickenbackers...mine's a June, '84

Second feature on 12 strings--
1. Burns 12
2. Hutchings Memphis 12
3. Fender 12
4. Duesenberg Double Cat 12--Strange that is this the one Guitarist magazine chose to compare to a Rickenbacker. It doesn't look like it except in coloring.
* Note--the competition to these 4 besides Rickenbacker 12s, A British Vintage 12, an Eastwood Nashville 12 and the Italia Rimini 12

Good Reading...wisdom

[seyesbass]

Chris Squire used to say Rick never gave him any free guitars.
I dont know if that changed with the signature models though.
I dont think thats a stingy company.
These musicians are very well off and its right they should buy the guitars even at a discount.
What do you think Joe?

I wish Roland would re-introduce the old JC as its almost as iconic as old Fender and Marshall amps.
Rick 12 string + JC120 is a big sound.

[indianation65]

Mr. Bass,
I don't see Rickenbacker as stingy...just passing on info I read about. I felt an annoyance in the text by Mr. McGuinn, but another reader could get something else out of it. Successful musicians are fortunate to be able to buy what pleases them. I had to buy all 3 of my Rickenbackers; of course, I'm not famous...yet. When that day comes, I don't expect freebies! Laughs! It's only a matter of time...

...wisdom

[kiramdear]

I think if he expected a freebie he should have written it into his deal with RIC. No good in complaining about it afterward, as it just makes him appear somewhat ungracious.

[egosheep]

3. Says Rickenbacker is cheap and never gave him a guitar. He got one half price; no harm, I guess Rickenbacker is in the business to make money, not give things away.

John Hall covered this a while ago. His quote:

No, that's one thing wrong with this story. I e-mailed Roger with the rather extensive list of instruments we've provided him and his friends, as a refresher to his memory.

He responded "If my name has any value, I paid for those guitars. " In other words, he feels he bought them by our use of his celebrity. Fair enough, and that would have been a more honest answer to the interviewer's question.

Oddly enough, I've never given instruments away on a ***** for tat promotional basis; it's always been to my personal friends as personal gifts. Most have understood and appreciated that.

At the same time, I'm made many "celebrities" pay for instruments they've wanted, if they're not long recognized friends of the company or if I know they intend to give them as gifts- it's only fair.

[JakeK]

Anything that Tom Petty wanted from Rickenbacker, he asked them to make it (sometimes a custom order) and they make it. He PAYS for it, though.

Still, very interesting read. It makes me wonder that's probably why Roger has been using the 370/12 more infrequently as tours go by.

[kiramdear]

It's not as if it's all one sided - Mr. McGuinn has profited by RIC's endorsement of him as well as the other way around, IMHO.

[soundmasterg]

Chris Squire used to say Rick never gave him any free guitars.
I dont know if that changed with the signature models though.
I dont think thats a stingy company.
These musicians are very well off and its right they should buy the guitars even at a discount.
What do you think Joe?

I wish Roland would re-introduce the old JC as its almost as iconic as old Fender and Marshall amps.
Rick 12 string + JC120 is a big sound.

Roland still makes the JC-120 the same way they always have.

http://www.roland.com/products/en/JC-120/index.html

Until late January I worked for a subsidiary of Roland and could have got one just above cost if I had any spare money.

Greg

[whojamfan]

I would venture to say that something you earn has more value and importance to you then something you are given. Paying for a quality instrument gives one the feeling of ownership far more than being given one, except as a gift from someone close to you. The things that mean the most, you have to work for.

As a former salesman behind the counter of a top notch music store, I can honestly say, the biggest pains in the butt are the "stars" that come in. They have more money than manners, and want everything for free. They are the biggest grinders on price, biggest wasters of time, and want you to tell them how cool they are. You are absolutely right in saying these people should pay a fair price for their gear, just like everyone else.

[YukonCor55]

It's true that some companies get more "bang for their buck" by comping gear to "famous" folks. It's the same for just about any product..say Bob Villa using a Craftsman tool, or Sidney Crosby using an Easton Hockey stick. If a company gets $100,000 worth of increased sales beacuse "Johnny Bravo was seen on TV playing the Trickster 2000 8 string dulcimer" then the $2000 freebie they gave him was a good deal for the company. As long as "Johnny Bravo" is on top, it will continue to benefit the company. However, it's a fair bet that not too many Ric 12s are sold these days because someone saw Roger McGuinn at the Vermont Arts Festival with one, and thus, not worth Mr Hall's investment to keep giving them away. I love my Ric 12 but I bought it because it pleases me and sounds fantastic, not because I saw anybody in particular playing one.

[JakeK]

I would venture to say that something you earn has more value and importance to you then something you are given. Paying for a quality instrument gives one the feeling of ownership far more than being given one, except as a gift from someone close to you. The things that mean the most, you have to work for.

I couldn't agree more, Mike. I have been told this. I got the feeling when I bought (and even more of it when I opened the box to) my 360/12V64. I earned that money (even though it was graduation money)

As a former salesman behind the counter of a top notch music store, I can honestly say, the biggest pains in the butt are the "stars" that come in. They have more money than manners, and want everything for free. They are the biggest grinders on price, biggest wasters of time, and want you to tell them how cool they are. You are absolutely right in saying these people should pay a fair price for their gear, just like everyone else.

Tom Petty and Mike Campbell (and probably the rest of the Heartbreakers), along with George Harrison, were the exact opposite of that. They are (TP and MC)/were (George) good friends of Norm Harris.

[miltric]

I would venture to say that something you earn has more value and importance to you then something you are given.

Not sure this is always true. What about the famous, very public gift from Mr. Rickenbacker to George Harrison? That probably made that guitar pretty special to George.

While I love all things Rickenbacker, as far as the corporation is concerned, I try to maintain (what I consider to be) a healthfully critical attitude. In other words, no Kool-Aid drinking for me, at least most of the time. I'm an academic, and like most academics, I try to keep my enthusiasm and skepticism safely in separate compartments.

Having said that, regarding this particular exchange, I find Mr. Hall's comments generally reasonable and Mr. McGuinn's a little peevish and ungracious.

[JakeK]

Not sure this is always true. What about the famous, very public gift from Mr. Rickenbacker to George Harrison? That probably made that guitar pretty special to George.

George said that he was lucky it was the New Style that was stolen and not the OS. He said, "It's very special to me"...'nuff said.

[whojamfan]

Didn't a radio station buy that 12 to give to George on the air? I don't have my book handy at the moment, but I seem to remember the guitar being brought to him in his room due to illness. He commented on how he dug the guitar and the radio station bought it for him as some kind of promo deal. I'm not exactly sure, but in no time, a few Beatle historians will chime in and probably tell me I'm nuts. Oh well, won't be the first time, but that's what I seem to remember.

[Scastles]

Didn't a radio station buy that 12 to give to George on the air? I don't have my book handy at the moment, but I seem to remember the guitar being brought to him in his room due to illness. He commented on how he dug the guitar and the radio station bought it for him as some kind of promo deal. I'm not exactly sure, but in no time, a few Beatle historians will chime in and probably tell me I'm nuts. Oh well, won't be the first time, but that's what I seem to remember.

Story goes, that's what happened. Supposedly WDGY, Minneapolis was talking on the phone to George while Mr. Hall was in the room with him. Mr. Hall was showing the guitar to George and the DJ at WDGY asked, if they bought it for him would he play it. He said, yes, and the rest is history.