Carla Olson posted on facebook looking for her Stolen 620...

[jdogric12]

I doubt a serial number would be needed to help locate a stolen blue 620 with checkered binding. Spare me your straw man argument. I stated my opinion in a frank manner. I dont think I deserved to be called a jerk. Isnt that against forum rules?

[jps]

Yeah, calling someone a jerk is pretty harsh. We were just commenting on respecting a person's privacy, is that wrong (apparently, it is around here) to do so and how is discussing that in a civil manner being a jerk?

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

I'm sorry to resurrect such a painful thread, but someone just posted some pictures of an Azure glow 620 with checkered binding on Facebook. Serial number is UE May of 1981.

With checkered binding.

It's unmistakable. It's currently in Japan just like Randy backman's missing Gretsch. I doubt the owner knows anything about its origin, so it's not meant to blame him.

But it would be nice to see the guitar reunited with Carla.

[Ratwax]

Well spotted, Brian. The first time I heard of Carla Olsen was a short profile in Guitar Player June '85, and although the pic is B&W it's that 620 she's playing in the article. I just pulled the mag from my shelf to remind myself. The June '85 edition has the RIckenbacker History Pt2 by Richard R Smith.

Seeing Randy got his '57 orange Gretsch back, maybe Carla will be lucky. Mind you, Randy had to swap it for a nearly identical guitar of the same vintage. Even then, he was really depending on the goodwill of the fellow in Japan who bought it.

Complicated.

Cheers,

[doctorwho]

I used the Contact portal at Carla's website to send her a message about this sighting.

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

The current owner in Japan has shared the serial number. Which is UE1650. So May of 1981.

I am hopeful that he will be willing to either sell it, or swap it for something that he desires more.

Perhaps Rickenbacker might get involved, by selling some one-off Rickenbacker that he desired.

The alternative would be to get someone like Larry Davis, or Dale Fortune, to take a vintage 620 guitar and make a replica of Carla's. Which would likely mean a refinish into Azure glow, adding checkered binding, and finding some hot toasters to add to it.

The biggest obstacle, for a working musician who is not Paul McCartney, is likely the cost involved. I suggested perhaps starting a GoFundMe campaign, for all the Rickenbacker community is very small the one thing we all hate is when a guitar gets stolen.

Again all I did was spot a guitar, and I see by this thread that we've been looking for it now for 10 years. I've always said that the biggest value to the register is in helping people recover their lost guitars.

But Carla is very happy to know that her guitar still exists, that it has survived intact.

John Fogerty got his acme 325 back. and Paul McCartney just recovered his original Hofner bass, all we can do is hope that she gets it back.