What drew you to Rickenbacker?

[grygrx]

FireGlo!

[BobHyde]

For me, it was Geddy Lee. My first bass was a 3000 (because I couldn't yet find a 4001), but the short scale was too small. I eventually found a '73 4001 that I obtained by trading my motorcycle!

[ampleglow]

Watching all those cool Pete Townsend promo clips and looking at the pics as a young Mod in the early 80s. Seeing Paul Weller with his really sealed the deal for me, I had to have one.

So here is a classic case of the looks being the most important thing. I didn't know or caqre how they played or whatnot, just had to have one and be in the right. Thankfully, Rickenbacker made and makes a quality instrument that I still appreciate and own.

I still love looking at them though, just like a proper SX200 Lambretta!

Hi, I'm a new member and thought this would be a good place to post my first comment, to me the looks and the sound are unlike any other guitar make, they're works of art. The fact that a lot of my favourite musicians and bands over the years have used them helps too.

Oh yeah and for whojamfan, a picture of a proper SX200, my other addiction, with my 1978 4001

[Ivan3000]

Watching all those cool Pete Townsend promo clips and looking at the pics as a young Mod in the early 80s. Seeing Paul Weller with his really sealed the deal for me, I had to have one.

So here is a classic case of the looks being the most important thing. I didn't know or caqre how they played or whatnot, just had to have one and be in the right. Thankfully, Rickenbacker made and makes a quality instrument that I still appreciate and own.

I still love looking at them though, just like a proper SX200 Lambretta!

Hi, I'm a new member and thought this would be a good place to post my first comment, to me the looks and the sound are unlike any other guitar make, they're works of art. The fact that a lot of my favourite musicians and bands over the years have used them helps too.

Oh yeah and for whojamfan, a picture of a proper SX200, my other addiction, with my 1978 4001

Welcome to the forum! Were you the one with the blueboy 330 on ebay? I recognize the scooter.

[ampleglow]

HI and thanks for the welcome, no not me with the blueboy, I wish it was, I'm from the U.K so you may have either seen my Sx200 on a few scooter sites or you've been to a few rallies over here.

[trosse]

40% John, 60% George, and 100% The Beatles

[Steve Gunderson]

Mr Tamborine Man and the Byrds, plus being poor. I loved the Byrds sound and wanted a RIC so bad in the 60s, but no way could I afford one. Move on to 1997 in London England. Walked by Chandler Guitars in Richmond and went in out of curiosity. Two 360s were there and my love affair was rekindled. Have had four 370-12s (including my RM 370-12) and one 360 and now a 370 VP with inlays done by Paul W. The magic is still there to this day!

[davidj4]

The stunning aesthetic beauty, quality and versatility

[r-gordon-7]

Simple... The sound of George's 360/12 and the look of John's 325...

[woodyng]

The Hook for me was the sound of Mr Christopher Squire's bass on "every little thing". I had never heard anything quite like it,including already being an Entwhistle fan. The fact that a Lot of my favorite bands used RIC guitars didn't hurt either. After I got my first 4000,(an early 70's neck through), That was all she wrote. It was the 3rd bass I had ever purchased,and it made my Hofner and Fender p basses seem quaint. (they were doomed after i got that 4000) I've managed to own 8 different RIC basses over a 30 plus year span, (3 now),and they are just the best as far as I'm concerned.

[timberic]

Watching Pete Townsend bashing away on a Ric on the BBC did it for me!

[somebodyelseuk]

Hiya.
I kinda feel like an intruder. I've never owned a Ric.
My main guitars are two ESPs - no, not pointy headed, Christmas Cracker shred machines, they're essentially Str*ts.
Rickenbacker sound wouldn't suit the type of music I play - too jangly - and their necks are too thin - I like a baseball bat, personally. I love 330/360s with a passion, but I can't justify spending that amount of money on a guitar that stays at home. However, it was Rickenbacker that inspired my most recent guitar purchase - an Italia Rimini 12. It's a guitar that's, let's say, 'inspired by' a Ric 360/12, though not an out and out copy.
I really couldn't explain why I lust after a Ric... I think it goes back to when I first started playing in the early 80s. Let's face it, we all gravitate towards the instrument our hero plays - all mine played Yamaha SGs. My first good guitar was a Yamaha SG2000S, and as everyone in my area played Strats, I tended to stand out from the crowd a little, and I think maybe that's why I wanted a Ric, though I don't think they were even importing them to the UK at the time. I didn't actually touch a Ric until the mid 90s when a local music shop started stocking them and tried a stunning fireglo 360/12. It was everything I dreamed it would be, but for the reasons above, I handed it back.
The Italia is, in my opinion, the next best thing to the real thing. It has a vibe about it, it actually is very well made even though it's about a quarter the price and I wanted an electric 12 string semi. It is close enough to make me smile, but far enough away to keep me wanting the real thing... and who knows, maybe my music will go off in a direction where I can justify the outlay?
So, not an owner, but if someone offered one to me, they wouldn't need to ask twice.

[freebyrd]

have been a huge beatles fan ever since my mama bought me the red album when i was 10 and always associated rickenbackers with them, but as i got older and REALLY REALLY into 60s music, that chiming and gleaming ubiquitous sound just seemed absolutely necessary to invoke an era i wasn't lucky enough to live through. i started REALLY listening to the byrds a lot and still, every time i listen to them, feel absolutely moved by what roger mcguinn brought to the songs. i think i've always had a really strong love for baroque/harpsichord sounds and rics seem to scratch that itch.

luckily, through the internet and otherwise, i have been able to befriend quite a few musicians who are/were in iconic (to me) bands and always would ask them about their ricks and beg them to donate any spares my way i also realized i honestly can't think of a band who i dislike that uses them! in fact, i often see pics of bands i already loved holding them and think "a-ha!"

i thought i would NEVER own one due to the price. however, as guitar playing has come back to the forefront of my life, i realized that owning a rick is always going to be a motivation to do it justice and work hard to improve so i can both play the songs and i love and hopefully, bring that sound into something new in my own music as i think my generation isn't quite keeping up.

also, i love the small feel to the company. they do a few things and do them well. considering the quality of the product, i think they are more than fairly priced compared to better known names. i love that you don't see them in guitar center. the world of fenders and gibsons (and hey, there are a couple of gibsons i am lusting after and have been in some of my favorite music of all time) are so damn diluted. you can have a fancy les paul at a crazy cost but you're still part of the crowd. having a rickenbacker really just seems like a WOW. they just say "hi, put me in the hands of someone who loves music" plain and simple.

and now that i own one, i have to say that slim neck is a dream for my girly baby hands!!! open chords sound great on the 12 strings and of course, the individual notes are heaven too. i feel like a cornball, but i really can't remember the last time i felt such an emotional connection to a purchase. dork.

[johnallg]

Then we're all dorks here. Great story.

[electrofaro]

Then we're all dorks here

Indeed, but we love it