Forrest White and Rickenbacker
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
Let's also clear up one other point once and for all: my dad did not give me this company. My wife and I used our life savings to purchase it from him in 1984.
With all sincerity! Thank you Mr. Hall for your dedication and sacrifice! God only knows where we would be today if that transaction didn’t take place!
Cheers!
Andy
-
roadrunners
- Member
- Posts: 492
- Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2004 1:15 pm
- Contact:
Here's a quote from an Amazon user's review of Mr. White's book, which might give some perspective. I haven't read the book.
While White certainly has many impressive accomplishments to his credit but, as he writes this book, he often seems to overreach to repeat numerous compliments that were paid to him during his career, some of which aren't relevant to the Fender story. The book also includes some venomous barbs for industry people who White felt treated him unfairly or whose work he did not respect. At some points in the book, White is painfully petty, such as when he blames Fender's second wife and others for the fact that Fender did not invite to join with George Fullerton in creating the new G&L guitar company. White writes: "Do you suppose it had anything to with Leo's second marriage?.... Was it because of old resentments from the early Fender years, when I was George [Fullerton]'s boss and struggled with him over manufacturing problems?" That kind of stuff detracts from the book.
While White certainly has many impressive accomplishments to his credit but, as he writes this book, he often seems to overreach to repeat numerous compliments that were paid to him during his career, some of which aren't relevant to the Fender story. The book also includes some venomous barbs for industry people who White felt treated him unfairly or whose work he did not respect. At some points in the book, White is painfully petty, such as when he blames Fender's second wife and others for the fact that Fender did not invite to join with George Fullerton in creating the new G&L guitar company. White writes: "Do you suppose it had anything to with Leo's second marriage?.... Was it because of old resentments from the early Fender years, when I was George [Fullerton]'s boss and struggled with him over manufacturing problems?" That kind of stuff detracts from the book.
Sections of this topic have been edited.
As has been mentioned before, the price of admission here is a respect for others. While there are countless forums out there where people can say anything they wish, this is not one of them.
I feel no joy in having to pull posts and would ask that we all think of the impact of our comments on others before pushing the final Post this Message button.
As has been mentioned before, the price of admission here is a respect for others. While there are countless forums out there where people can say anything they wish, this is not one of them.
I feel no joy in having to pull posts and would ask that we all think of the impact of our comments on others before pushing the final Post this Message button.
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm
Please join the Official RickResource Forum Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/379271585440277
Please join the Official RickResource Forum Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/379271585440277
Someone sent me a copy of a post related to this topic that I guess was deleted here. Essentially Mr. Stahl called me a liar on a number of points and suggested I had some kind of vendetta against Forrest. I have Forrest's book, and even read it prior to publication, and have no problem with it knowing it's his own personal interpretation of events.
With regard to the dismissal, many people still alive were witness to the incident which led up to it, not the least of which are Dick Burke and Brian Carman. In fact, I wasn't and it was only after a significant number of people corroborated it that I took regretfully took action.
As far as whether I bought the company or it was given to me, that's a matter of public record, since bills of sale and bulk transfer statements were filed with the county recorder, and state documents also show that I created the corporation from the purchased assets.
Finally, as far as being prejudiced against Forrest, nothing could be further from the truth. My wife and I always considered him a friend and a man of great talent. During the time "the deal" was being negotiated, I called for the retirement of the previous factory manager and as V.P. personally hired Forrest into the position trying to put together the best team I could even before I actually took over. Oddly enough, many people did not understand why Forrest was my first choice given the Music Man bankruptcy, and all of the bad blood spreading between his previous friends and employers. Actually, one of the people that told me I was nuts was Leo Fender himself- George Fullerton was there and can vouch for that if anyone cares to ask him.
In his time, Forrest WAS an icon, a brilliant man, and a dedicated employee. Unfortunately, an illness and a resultant supposed religious experience had a profound effect on him that made him very difficult to deal with. It was heartbreaking to see.
With regard to the dismissal, many people still alive were witness to the incident which led up to it, not the least of which are Dick Burke and Brian Carman. In fact, I wasn't and it was only after a significant number of people corroborated it that I took regretfully took action.
As far as whether I bought the company or it was given to me, that's a matter of public record, since bills of sale and bulk transfer statements were filed with the county recorder, and state documents also show that I created the corporation from the purchased assets.
Finally, as far as being prejudiced against Forrest, nothing could be further from the truth. My wife and I always considered him a friend and a man of great talent. During the time "the deal" was being negotiated, I called for the retirement of the previous factory manager and as V.P. personally hired Forrest into the position trying to put together the best team I could even before I actually took over. Oddly enough, many people did not understand why Forrest was my first choice given the Music Man bankruptcy, and all of the bad blood spreading between his previous friends and employers. Actually, one of the people that told me I was nuts was Leo Fender himself- George Fullerton was there and can vouch for that if anyone cares to ask him.
In his time, Forrest WAS an icon, a brilliant man, and a dedicated employee. Unfortunately, an illness and a resultant supposed religious experience had a profound effect on him that made him very difficult to deal with. It was heartbreaking to see.
-
dale_fortune
- Intermediate Member
- Posts: 1241
- Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2004 6:00 am
I personally knew F.C. Hall and his son John. And I can say for a fact that F.C. did not give the business to John. F.C. was a great man of principal and business and he knew in his heart that if he handed over the Company to his son, lock, stock, and barrel as a gift, it would be the wrong thing to do. As a company with such a legacy and heritage, F.C. did the only thing he could that was right. When someone earns something, that's where respect takes over. If you give the farm away it will go down in ruin.
-
jingle_jangle
- RRF Moderator
- Posts: 22679
- Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 6:00 am
- Contact:
I read the post before it was pulled, and it sounded to me like the poster had gotten himself all fired up after reading the White book. Then he decided to post an immoderate, one-sided viewpoint (White's side) on this site, failing to perceive that the proof of the pudding in any situation is in the tasting.
Truly, White WAS a legend in his own time, but old age brings with it its own set of adjustments, sometimes extreme. People deal with these to the best of their abilities, and are occasionally overwhelmed. It seems from everything I have heard and read on this topic, and my own impression of White's mental state when he wrote the book, that JH's is the more credible version.
I wasn't there, of course, but the flourishing of Rick under JH, his willingness to sacrifice and struggle to make it viable once more, and his continued shepherding of the legend, merits all our respect.
JH's side of the White dismissal can be corroborated by at least two men who are still alive, whereas White's "recollection" is tainted, as are many of his "recollections", by personal vitriol and a feeling of having been disrespected and shut out in his latter years. To go off and post this in a belligerent fashion serves no one well.
Truly, White WAS a legend in his own time, but old age brings with it its own set of adjustments, sometimes extreme. People deal with these to the best of their abilities, and are occasionally overwhelmed. It seems from everything I have heard and read on this topic, and my own impression of White's mental state when he wrote the book, that JH's is the more credible version.
I wasn't there, of course, but the flourishing of Rick under JH, his willingness to sacrifice and struggle to make it viable once more, and his continued shepherding of the legend, merits all our respect.
JH's side of the White dismissal can be corroborated by at least two men who are still alive, whereas White's "recollection" is tainted, as are many of his "recollections", by personal vitriol and a feeling of having been disrespected and shut out in his latter years. To go off and post this in a belligerent fashion serves no one well.
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
-
larry_mondello
- New member
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Fri Dec 10, 2004 11:33 am
-
dale_fortune
- Intermediate Member
- Posts: 1241
- Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2004 6:00 am
I haven't kept in touch with Brian but as Dale says, his band, The Chantays, seems to be quite active. Brian lost several years of his life battling a very serious illness but fortunately beat that and I believe fully recovered. He looked good the last time I saw him backstage at a Beach Boys concert.
I saw John Quarterman at the NAMM show and had a nice chat, as we seem to do each year. He moved out of the area not long after getting married and is a supplier of resonators for Dobro type guitars to instrument makers.
John did mention that Brian had lost his lovely wife to cancer several years back which shocked and saddened us greatly.
I saw John Quarterman at the NAMM show and had a nice chat, as we seem to do each year. He moved out of the area not long after getting married and is a supplier of resonators for Dobro type guitars to instrument makers.
John did mention that Brian had lost his lovely wife to cancer several years back which shocked and saddened us greatly.