Sure Wish There Was Something New

[deaconblues]

Music HAS become disposable, because it's all been done before, and better.

I know I sound like my father, but....... The Beatles, Stones, and the other British Invasion groups blazed the trail for other guitar-based bands, to the point where there were high-school aged garage bands everywhere, and young boys and girls aspired to be guitar (and bass) heroes. There was memorable music being written and recorded back then that's still viable today - in my opinion, much more so that is being produced by current artists. Classic Rock acts still rule the concert industry; Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones have much more drawing power than Lady Gaga (lots of unsold tickets on her last tour), Rhianna, Beyoncé, Pitbull, and pretty much any of the DJ-based rap and hip-hop "artists" that are currently ruling the pop music scene. There's no staying power to todays music - again, my opinion.

DJ's don't sell guitars - the music industry sorely needs a great young, guitar-based band, and it sure would be nice if they played Ricks.

It does seem like the impact of guitar groups in the 60s was much more powerful than it is today. I suspect that this is because the music they were playing, which was driven by a technological innovation (the electric guitar) was fresh and new sounding and the baby boom generation was young and receptive to new styles.

Key point: this music was not well received by the older generation of the time.

Paul McCartney, the Stones, etc. were/are megastars, and obviously still popular, predominately among the very large baby boomer segment of the population. But to say that "there is no staying power to today's music" is to enjoy the benefit of hindsight without giving credit to some of the great music being made right now.

I would ask, what other music could possibly be made with the electric guitar? After rockabilly, the British invasion, blues rock, arena rock, prog, metal, etc.

If it's even possible to have a musical revolution with the impact of what happened in the '60s during one of the greatest teenage population booms of all time, it will arrive because of a new (and controversial) technology like computer and digital music, not because someone founded yet another guitar group. Pop music, aside from some throwback groups working from older styles, moved on a long time ago.

I love the oldies as much as you guys, but I don't hop in my car for a night out and turn up the Beethoven.

[jps]

Music HAS become disposable, because it's all been done before, and better.

Some newer bands do it as good or better, case in point:

viewtopic.php?f=47&t=408572

Great band!

[Grey]

I find the idea that new music is disposable bordering on offensive. Now, i'm not reading too deeply into that statement since the poster made it clear it was their opinion, and it's really not uncommon for us to favor the music from our own generation. I remember my father once telling me that bands which are held in such regard today, Rush, Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, etc. were considered "trash" by his parents.

Making any sort of generalized claim about a particular time period of music is a simplification of one of the greatest art forms on this earth. I could "name drop" bands that I guarentee you'd never even heard of which may end up surprising you. That's not me being snoody with an "oh too cool for you" attitude, it's just the truth. I'd wager that you've listened to a fraction of what the modern music industry has to offer.

[bassduke49]

When it comes to understanding the last or next generations music, this says it all:

http://zitscomics.com/comics/june-16-2013/

[ken_j]

For a number of years I was stuck in the rut of mostly listening to classic rock and oldies, although I do like other genres. The last few years I have been listening to CBC-R2 and have found a number of artists and music that I like. Much of it is new music. There are a number of Canadian artists I was unaware of that I find enjoyable. That being said I still like much of the music I grew up with along with many of the "standards" of yesteryear. I guess I am all over the map.

[electrofaro]

I find the idea that new music is disposable bordering on offensive.

Of course it wasn't meant ALL music that is new is disposable, but most of it... like some people don't agree with anything, not that everybody doesn't agree with anything, eh

[blue330]

Stringsncords is so right, though! I totally love the fact that Rickenbacker is its own thing in a very big way, but that doesn't mean they have to be frozen in time and boring. The quality is awesome but I don't think a bit of razzmatazz would go amiss. They certainly don't have to have a hundred mysterious and pointless variations on the same thing, as Fender and Gibson do, and I am always heartened to think they will never produce anything with the word "Texas" in it!
But, I am bored, too. You know it's bad when looking at very old ones makes you drool. And if you go to the Rickenbacker web site, that is the most washed-out, unattractive thing ever, it looks like something from 20 years ago. Graphics in general are great these days for so many things, and that Rickenbacker site does a grave disservice to how great the guitars actually look. If you want to really see a Rickenbacker online, you will do much better looking at specialty guitar shop sites, etc., which is ridiculous. No doubt somebody thinks this all helps keep the Rickenbacker a very special brand, but, come on.
Personally, I don't want to see super butch bridges or pull phase knobs, etc., but give me some colors. The DCM was a truly exciting color! Do something like that again, please. I'm not remotely interested in the famous "backlog". Who cares, just put some colors on the production schedule and they can appear whenever.

[Ric5150]

I love my bluebursts, but the fact of the matter is that Fireglo, Mapleglo, and Jetglo have always been the big sellers and probably always will be. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few....

[fluffy]

I think too many of us would rather see the return of some OLD models before RIC unveiled NEW ones. 4005....4002.... Combo 800 .... "Tulip"

[blue330]

I'm certainly not bored because Rickenbacker doesn't have a new 7-string model with a USB output or whatever! But they really could mine the old models and get orders out of me, anyway. It seems a little weird that the current company "can't" make some of the fabulous models they used to. They surely have more cash now, don't they? I will definitely buy the first new (full-tulip) Combo 450 off the production line! I'll take a 610, please. I know of several 4005 orders right now. If they produced F models they could charge a fortune and get it. I like the current models and the current colors are nice. But, you know, the re-introduction of Ruby is a pretty slight piece of news and I find it hard to believe that a few new colors are really that much of a big deal. It seems kind of pointless to say "oh, it would take a lot of tooling up" about everything anybody ever wishes for! I mean, if you are a manufacturer, that's kind of what you do. I really appreciate Rickenbacker's style and they really could make the offerings a bit more interesting without compromising anything.

[doctorwho]

... but I don't hop in my car for a night out and turn up the Beethoven.

Well, when I'm in my car (for whatever reason) that is when I listen to classical music like Beethoven. Oddly enough, those tunes don't get people signing up for them at the local jams ...

[jps]

... but I don't hop in my car for a night out and turn up the Beethoven.

Well, when I'm in my car (for whatever reason) that is when I listen to classical music like Beethoven. Oddly enough, those tunes don't get people signing up for them at the local jams ...

You could jam on this!

[jdawe]

I will definitely buy the first new (full-tulip) Combo 450 off the production line!

This! I admire you too much to resort to violence, so I guess I'll have to settle for the second one off the line.

I understand the economics of retooling, the backlog issue, etc., and JH certainly knows his business better than us, but it still strikes me as a real shame that Rickenbacker is sitting on such a great-looking and classic guitar design without making it available for sale. I guess the market might be limited by the lack of association with big-name players, but they've got me and Mitch in line, at least. Too bad there aren't more Toots Theilemans fans out there.

[david/wales/u.k]

I agree about Rics website, that is very stagnant, uninspiring and lifeless. It's only a small gripe but I didn't understand why Ruby became a standard color either. I know nothing about business but with the backlog, why can't they invest in a new factory with some new workers? I know it's probably not as simple as that but it's a thought now one seems to have mentioned before. ( I love Rickenbacker and Rics so don't shoot me down in flames!)

[fluffy]

... but I don't hop in my car for a night out and turn up the Beethoven.

Well, when I'm in my car (for whatever reason) that is when I listen to classical music like Beethoven. Oddly enough, those tunes don't get people signing up for them at the local jams ...

would be an entirely different story had Ludwig Van written "Mustang Sally" or "Stormy Monday"