Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I often wondered if Alembic and Rickenbacker ever had any interaction between each other over the years. They are the only two great Californian guitar builders left. I would think that they must have a lot in common.

I know in my field of business, I have lent my competition materials, if they were in a pickle.

I don’t imagine that they play each other in softball however.

Hi!

I'll gladly pay you Tuesday if I can have a piece of figured maple today!

There is absolutely nothing in common between Rickenbacker and Alembic. Different premise, philosophy, mentality, personalities, and business technique.

One was born in conservative So. Calif. during the depression, the other in the love, sex, and drugs hippie days of Haight-Ashbury.

Each has it's own place in history, although one has about 40 more years of it.

Or, I could be totally wrong..

They both build with dual truss rods. Conservative California?

Joe - thanks for the tip on pics of my bass during production! Based on the carving, it's definitely mine. I'd still like to know how it ended up with the non-standard carving pattern, (not that I'm complaining!). There pictures are from forumite Eric Kutzler, who I hope doesn't mind me re-posting these here.

They both have "E-A-B-C" in the names, that's about it for me.

Given a choice of a 12k Alembic, or a new Rickenbacker, long as it was Fireglo I'd be a happy camper !!! I've never had the urge to use anything else.

I love the dual topics in this thread!

Ted, RIC is in Orange "Reagan Country" County.

It is hard for a midwesterner to fathom any notion of California conservativism. Remember that Reagan was born here in Illinois (Dixon).

How cool are those pics...???

That is pretty awesome. Fetal Lemmys!

For a second I thought you wrote "lemmings" and I was like, "WHOA! . . . what did I miss?"

The similarities between Alembic and Rickenbacker are that they both make guitars and basses which are exceedingly good (and beautiful) instruments, both have made several innovative and iconic advances in instrument design and electronics, and um . . . they're both in California . . .

Yeah. I would consider them similar because they're both awesome. And for *very* similar reasons.

ah yes-the good ole days...