What drew you to Rickenbacker?

[JakeK]

The 660 was first prototyped in 1989 or 1990, depending on when Tom said "yes" to JH making him a signature model. The 620/12 featured on the cover belongs to Mike Campbell and was made in December of 1963, according to Campbell, it was one serial number behind George Harrison's famous 360/12OS. DTT was released in October of 1979, the 660 (again) was not prototyped until 1989 or 1990. They took the '63 620/12 and made some custom modifications to Petty's (and maybe's Campbell's) satisfaction, the big one being a wider neck.

Also, there are a few members who saw the 620/12 when it was on display at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame who can confirm it did not have checked binding. Close-ups of it in the Classic Albums documentary of DTT can confirm this as well.

[Ivan3000]

The 660 was first prototyped in 1989 or 1990, depending on when Tom said "yes" to JH making him a signature model. The 620/12 featured on the cover belongs to Mike Campbell and was made in December of 1963, according to Campbell, it was one serial number behind George Harrison's famous 360/12OS. DTT was released in October of 1979, the 660 (again) was not prototyped until 1989 or 1990. They took the '63 620/12 and made some custom modifications to Petty's (and maybe's Campbell's) satisfaction, the big one being a wider neck.

Also, there are a few members who saw the 620/12 when it was on display at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame who can confirm it did not have checked binding. Close-ups of it in the Classic Albums documentary of DTT can confirm this as well.

Oh okay...thats really cool

[iamthebassman]

1972: Heard "Roundabout" constantly on the radio.
1974: Bought "Fragile" for $4.77 @K-Mart on South Padre Island Drive in Corpus Christi,Texas.

That's all it took. Bought first Ric bass in 1977.

[still]

This sound. It's in my head forever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqiMfPe6U7g

[ccollette]

A few things:

1) the look - certain models (like the 4003) have such a great character to them. It's hard to explain without ranting, but they just look great & unique.

2) Paul McCartney

3) I played in a group with admin for a while, and exposure to his enthusiasm about the brand played a part.

[Chris82]

My number one reason: John with 325 in "A Hard Day's Night"

My number two reason: George with his 360/12 in "A Hard Day's Night"

My number three reason: Paul with his 4001 on the inside cover of "Magical Mystery Tour"

Because of this, my opinion is that six string Ricks have to be JG, Twelves and basses must be FG. It's just the way I feel!

[wmthor]

My story is a little different as my brother-in-law was the indirect influence that drew me to Rickenbackers. He has played since he was in jr high and in the mid '90s, he asked for my help in locating a Rickenbacker 12 string for him to use with his cover band. Mind you, this long before the internet took off.

As I scoured the shops in South California on his behalf, I realized that besides sounding great, Rickenbacker's quality was far beyond the standard Fenders and Gibsons. Since one of my mottos is Dare to be Different, when I started playing again in '96 after a 30 year plus hiatus I decided to get myself a lefty RIC. I ordered a 360 LH MG in Apr, 98 from Norman's Rare Guitars in Reseda and it was delivered in five months later. I can only guess that they didn't have such a backlog in 98.

[Folkie]

A multitude of things drew me to Rickenbacker. The first music I ever listened to (when I was six years old) was the Beatles and, for a while, that was all I was interested in. My brothers and I collected all their albums and lots of memorabilia, including photos of John and George playing Rickenbackers. When I was nine or ten, I heard The Byrds' version of "Turn! Turn! Turn!" on the radio, and it made a great impression on me. The bell-like chime of McGuinn's 360/12 was like nothing I had ever heard before, so haunting and so pretty. Years later, when I started acoustic guitar lessons at a local folk music shop, my teacher was a Byrds fanatic, and he turned me on to gems I didn't know, like "Why?" and "Chestnut Mare." Once I had mastered the standard open chord voicings, I started taking cassettes of early R.E.M. songs to my lessons, and my teacher would show me the chords. That was the year (1988) when I played my first 12-string: a Taylor acoustic from off the wall at Goose Acres Folk Music Shop. And it was then that I decided that my dream guitar was a Fireglo Rick 360/12. I'd seen them in pictures, but it wasn't until 1990 that I played my first Rick 12 (one of the John Lennon models) at Cambridge Music in Boston. I loved the sound and the look, but the guitar was still way out of my price range. I couldn't even afford the Fender XII that Cambridge Music was selling for $700.

I got myself an inexpensive Yamaha acoustic 12, but for many years what I really wanted was a 360/12. In 1997 I made a fortuitous discovery: I walked in to Heights Guitar on Lee Rd. in Cleveland, and on the wall was a used red 330/12 with black hardware and a black truss rod cover, selling for the unbelievable price of $600. When I asked the store owner why the price was so low, he told me it was because the color was unpopular. I immediately pulled out my credit card and added the first Rick to my guitar family. I took it home, and suddenly I was getting all of those sounds from the early Beatles and Byrds records. I loved that guitar for many, many years, but I still dreamed of owning a Fireglo 360/12. My prayers were answered last December, when Chris Clayton at Pick of the Ricks offered me a great price on a 2010 Fireglo 360/12.

So it took me almost 23 years to finally fulfill my dream. Now I have two Ricks: the 330/12 with hi gains, and the 360/12 with scatterwounds. And every time I pick one of them up, it takes me back to that halcyon time when I first discovered the Beatles and the Byrds.

Robert

[tnelson]

John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Roger McGuinn, Mitch Easter, REM, Long Ryders...
then I found Jams All Mod Cons in an import bend that sealed the deal

[Folkie]

Tim,

That's the first reference to the Long Ryders I've seen in years, online or otherwise. They're one of the great forgotten roots-rock bands of the 1980's. "State of Our Union" was a wonderful record, with electric 12-string all over it (my personal favorite is "Capturing the Flag"). I didn't know they played Ricks, though. I'll have to do a You Tube search and see what's out there. Did you ever attend any of their concerts? Is "State of Our Union" available on cd, or has it slipped through the cracks?

Robert

[Hotzenplotz]

Several things:

1. When started to be interested on these guitars the look and the beatles.

2. The "different" style: Pickguards, TRC and painted nice coloured fretboard.

3. Sound!

4. The neck is perfect: thick but small neck width. Double truss rod for unique playability (dead straight!)!

5. The 5th knob.

6. More and more: the brand itself. Interesting company. In a friendly way odd. And where else can I post with the CEO directly if necessary? Perfect service!

7. The resilience of the instruments market value.


And a few things more...

[s4001]

Pretty simple answer:

[Matt Clark]

Back in the late 70s high school days a friend of mine was into the Beatles and wanted to start a garage band. He was left handed, looked a bit like Sir Paul, so he went and got himself a Hofner bass.

I started looking for a Rickenbacker (and anther buddy started looking for a Gretch) but they were just to dang expensive for me at that stage of life, and used ones were not easy to find—no internet and lived in the middle of nowhere--man!

I bought a brand new, first year Peavey T-60. Heck of an underrated instrument looking back. Here’s the one I just bought for the nostalgic reason of replacing my first guitar, more than anything.


Anyhow, eventually I came across a 1964 Fireglo 310 with an “F“ sound hole and picked it up for $250 as the second owner! I believe that’s what I sold it for when I was stupid and didn’t know any better! Doo-doo occurs. Problem was, I hated it! It looked great, but it played and sounded awful. That experience actually put me off of investing big money in a RIC for a long while.

I also bought, very cheaply, a burgundy 480. Same exact problems, it looked great but played like poo and I didn’t like the sound. Another guitar I wish I had never sold! I think if it had been worked on, it may have been a great guitar.

Then, in 82 or so I bought, straight from the factory, a Fireglo 360/12 WB (non-vintage). I finally found a RIC that looked awesome, played amazingly well and sounded like no other guitar! I had to sell this one off, but I’ve replaced it with exactly the same guitar only an 87. And, truthfully, this one is even better!

Eventually, later in the 80s, I picked up a ’75 Jetglo 320 for about the same money as the 310. This was close enough to John’s guitar I was happy that I had my ”Beatles” RIC, but I had the same problem as the 64. As far as I was concerned, it was (and still is) a great piece of art to hang on my wall. It is better than the 310 but only marginally.

My 2004 330 is just alright IMHO so I am going to have it worked on, turn it into a 340 with a new wire up and hope I can make it into something outstanding, but my 1991 620… best 6 string guitar I’ve ever owned by far!

[Islandboy]

The Sound ! The Look ! Geddy !!

[Remo]

Chris Squire playing Roundabout and Close to the Edge.
Mike Rutherford: The Battle of Epping Forest.