Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I read quite a few of the comments in this thread and it was the very first one which got me thinking. Why are there not MORE Ric's out there on the "Big Stages"? Having been an artist relations guy for a number of companies and a Fender rep (former) for quite a few years, I'd offer this. The companies mentioned in the immediate responses have "divisions" to take care of artists. With Fame comes Ego in most cases and I often heard that a "couple of companies" don't "play the game"........or "they're not easy to get along with".

Having said that, there are only two American "manufacturers" that I have any respect for.........Ric and Music Man. It's also no coincidence that both those companies have small production numbers and you'd best be patient as finding inventory is difficult at best. I can't buy a Ric at Dunkin' Donuts or Bob's Bait Shop....but I CAN buy many instruments at any building with a roof and a sign outside........just as an example. The MI business eats it's own young......without giving it a thought.

Lastly.......Tom Petty has long been my favorite player.......not JUST for his music......but also for his attitude. It's MY belief that "attitude" has MUCH to do with being a Ric player.

Bass-ically Yours,
Rich

What attracted me to Ricks? I think it was the trousers. Seriously, George, John, Paul, Roger, Pete, heck, anyone I admired seemed to play a Rickenbacker. I wanted to be John Lennon Jr., so had to have one. Once I started playing it, I found out that they are fast-actioned, versatile, WONDERFUL sounding guitars!

Ian Frasier Kilmister............. well ok actually LEMMY.
I first heard Motorhead in 1983 and they blew me away. I saw them and Lemmy's bass blew me away.I saw his signature bass and nearly had a conniption fit,it was soo beautiful.
there are lots of artists that use them, and I'm in the minority of people that didn't get one to be like the Beatles, in fact it wasn't until very recently that I actually began to appreciate them. Anyhow, what I love about Rickenbackers is they remind me a bit of Kung Fu.... they are beautiful, sleek , graceful, artistic, and when used properly will totally annihilate anything they are put up against!!!!
I currently have 3. a 4003 a 360/12 and a 650 C and the 650 is undeniably THE most versatile guitar I have ever laid hands on.it can sound like an SG, it can sound like a Tele but it NEVER loses it's own sound.

Add me to the list of Peter Buck fanboys.

I got into popular music in the mid-1990s, just as grunge was peaking, "alternative" bands were hot, and nu-metal/rap-metal was on the rise. And don't get me wrong, there was a lot of great music, and they helped clear out the swaggering macho heroic **** of the 1980s. (Did I step on anyone's toes with that? )

But at the same time, much of it didn't speak to me: I'm not a particularly angry or depressed person. So when I started buying R.E.M. records, the impressionistic atmosphere on them was like a breath of fresh air. And those CLEAN guitar sounds! These guys were making whole records without very much distortion at all, even on the choruses! So I cottoned to them and like-minded bands right away. I saw from very early pics that PB played a 330JG and various Telecasters, so I knew I'd need those guitars. For better or worse, I learned how to play guitar by trying to figure out R.E.M. songs.

But I do like the Beatles and the Who and Let's Active and U2 and Tom Petty and all those groups as well.

- Scott