Most Famous Rickenbacker 12-String Song Poll

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu Nov 23, 2000 11:59 am

There are many terrific recordings that feature the Rickenbacker 12-String guitar. I am wondering which of these is number one on your list. For me "A Hard Day's Night" still goes to the top of the list because of its crashing chord at the beginning of the song, the instrumental in the middle and the chiming and ticktocking pattern that fades at the ending. The fact that The Beatles recorded it doesn't hurt either. I would be interested in your favourite 12 string song and why you have chosen it.

Daddyo · Post by **Daddyo** » Fri Nov 24, 2000 2:01 pm

When I got my 12 (sorry, a Dano)the first riff I had to learn was the opening to The Byrd's "Mr. Tamborine Man". This song certainly ranks up there in defining the Rick 12 string sound.

jaybyrd · Post by **jaybyrd** » Thu May 03, 2001 5:30 pm

Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin. Needles and Pins by The Searchers.

rick12dr · Post by **rick12dr** » Fri May 04, 2001 4:46 pm

"Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin. Needles and Pins by The Searchers."
Stairway; 12, yes, Rick 12 , NO.Gibson 12
Needles and Pins; 2 6s, NO 12, no Ricks

jaybyrd · Post by **jaybyrd** » Sat May 05, 2001 5:17 am

I stand, not corrected, but informed. I had heard from other people that these 2 songs were Ric 12's. Is there a list of Ric 12 songs somewhere or do you just know of some I could choose from?

admin · Post by **admin** » Sat May 05, 2001 7:18 am

Jaybyrd: It is easy to get fooled and Rickenbackers have such a legend that some of us have simply assumed that a Rickenbacker 12 was used. What is important is that you are thinking about this music and making comment. The Searchers use a Rickenbacker 620/12 in performing "Needles and Pins" today and MIKE PENDER's SEARCHERS also have used a Rickenbacker 12 on this song depending on the venue or tour. So The Searchers, who have made this song famous, have finally come around to using the Rickenbacker 12 for that jangly sound.

jaybyrd · Post by **jaybyrd** » Sun May 06, 2001 2:35 pm

OK. Now freshly armed with what I believe to be reliable info (John F. Crowley's: Fab Guitars of The Beatles) I now know several recordings that contain at least some Rick 12 work:

"Ticket to Ride," "Every Little Thing"
"I Should Have Known Better," "I Call Your Name" "If I Needed Someone," and "A Hard Day´s Night"

Of these Beatle songs, "Ticket to Ride" is my favorite with "If I Needed Someone" a very close second.

Does anyone know of any other tunes with the Rick 12 sound?

Mike_D. · Post by **Mike_D.** » Sun May 06, 2001 5:08 pm

Jaybyrd: Listen to Jefferson Airplane. 'Somebody To Love' and 'White Rabbit' were the big top 40 hits, but in their heyday, '67-'70 they were very popular on what was then known as underground radio. The songs on the albums 'Surrealistic Pillow', 'After Bathing At Baxters', 'Crown Of Creation' and 'Volunteers' got a goodly amount of airplay, and form the crux of their arguably considerable contribution to rock music. Anyways, Rick 12 sound is all over those records. Not only on a few tunes here and there, but as an integral part of their sound. Paul Kantner played the same mapleglow guitar for years. I don't recall if it's a 360 or a 370. In my estimation and humble opinion, Jefferson Airplane is sadly overlooked and underrated these days. Even in this forum, which I enjoy very much, The Searchers, (who to all but the most devout fans, had but one hit that anyone can remember, that being 'Needles and Pins', and to the best of my recollection the original record doesn't even have a 12 string guitar on it!) have their own listing and attract quite alot of discourse. No offense intended here (I like Needles and Pins), but since it is The Rickenbacker Forum, one might think that the amount of Rick 12 sound in the Jefferson Airlpane recordings would warrant more discussion than The Searchers. Oh well...just two cents more. Go ride the music!

grsnovi · Post by **grsnovi** » Sun May 06, 2001 6:36 pm

Not to be a party-pooper, but I never hear 12 string on Ticket to Ride. Recorded on Feb. 15 1965, Ticket alledgedly features Paul playing the lead parts according to Lewisohn (probably on his Casino).

My current favorite 12 string (Ric) part is YOU CAN'T DO THAT, but I agree that the Byrds TAMBOURINE MAN is the definative Ricky sound in probably everyone's mind.

I also really like IF I NEEDED SOMEONE and I'LL FEEL A WHOLE LOT BETTER, CHESTNUT MARE and Tom Petty's AMERICAN GIRL

rick12dr · Post by **rick12dr** » Sun May 06, 2001 8:08 pm

for Mike D.; Kantner started out with a Fireglow
360-12, then, by Woodstock time, had the blonde
360-12 w/ the black electrical tape stripes, which
covered the holes left by the 6/12 string converter[it was actually a 366-12, undone].By the mid 70s, he had 6 Rick 12s, including those 1st 2, and one modified by Alembic,as well as a 370-12 I sold him in '75[dumb move on my part, but went to a good home, and I got a good price for it at a time when No music store would give you more than a couple hundred bucks for a Rick 12, if that..]

axel · Post by **axel** » Mon May 07, 2001 2:46 am

The Airplane is overlooked and underrated everywhere ! and RCA sadly doesn't do much either.
axel

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Mon May 07, 2001 3:52 am

Well, as far as the most famous songs---I M O, A Hard Day's Night---being the one that started it all--but Mr.Tambourine Man, Turn,Turn,Turn and Eight Miles High......all very prevelent as far as airplay through the years; they are the ones that I think of first when people ask about the sound and the history of it all....

markthemd · Post by **markthemd** » Mon May 07, 2001 4:10 am

Well here is some trivia for you guys...the 12string on Stairway to Heaven-Led Zep is in fact a Fender 12string.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Mon May 07, 2001 6:53 am

Really?? I was gonna say the Gibson EDS-1275---just seemed convenient, since he used it live on that song...

sornord · Post by **sornord** » Fri Jun 08, 2001 8:36 pm

Hard Day's Night - for the "how-the-hell'd-they-do-that-factor" at the time! Other than that distinctive opener, there are too many to pick from! I'm having a blast just running through every song I've ever learned on my new 660/12! Adds a whole new sound, like hearing them for the first time all over again!