Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Lessee. . . .

I recently reorganized me CD collection in one of the folding book things with the sleeves. With no particular thought to organization beyond putting the groups I like the most first, the order ended up being:
1) Rem
2) Beatles
3) Rush
4) Sleater-Kinney
5) Lush
6) XTC
7) Ride

then a bunch of single CDs. . .

In the back of my mind the Beatles, and especially Lennon loom extremely large. .. but in the end it was Peter Buck of REM who really got me turned on to Ricks in a serious way. At least during their IRS period.

Geddy Lee!

My very good friend and an extremely talented musician...Dennis Taylor. He posts here now and again, so hello Dennis!

Here's the thing: Have any of you ever influenced someone to try or buy a Ric? (Not with coercion, but by simply playing one.)

I heard Chris Squire with yes and the round wound strings and fret buzz and distortion and treble bite ... And I just had to have that sound ... and I liked the look as well ... my old hofner and gibson basses didn't get that sound ...

Cliff Burton & Rick James.

Lemmy and Cliff Burton.....someone played Rics before them?

I'd say, from my own youth, that Johnny Marr and Dave Gregory are two people that influenced me the most in that regard. But I was born in the early 70s and my first experience of Rickenbackers - and music - was through my parents record collection. So I wouldn't hesitate to say...

John, Paul, and George primarily, because they really set the sound and the image for Rickenbackers in my mind. Whether it was their stylish and sophisticated early period or the homey, funky later stuff, they illustrated to me the immense possibilities contained within Rickebacker instruments.

Jim/Roger as well, as much for his sound as his playing style. He plays some amazing stuff on that 12 string! The solo in Everybody's Been Burned, for instance. And of course Eight Miles High. And Why. And that Bach solo in She Don't Care About Time. And so on.

Pete Townshend for showing that Ricks aren't just 'folk-rock' instruments. He never looked as cool, to me, holding a Strat or a Les Paul or whatever. SG, almost! He just looks right with a Rickenbacker. The prefect blend of attitude and style. And the SOUND on those early singles is simply amazing. But he's always been an inspiration no matter what guitar he plays.

John Fogerty for creating a unique and thrilling sound, in spite of all that humbucker and acme stuff.

Roger McGuinn & The Byrds made me fall in love with the sound of a 12 string Ric.
The Beatles, The Who, John Fogerty and Jefferson Airplane have inspired me to save up for a 6 string Ric. Not sure what model, I'm open for suggestions. (Something in a nice Blueburst, perhaps?)
If I ever decide buy a Ric bass, it's because of Geddy Lee. But Chris Squire is definitely a strong influence.

The Beatles

Kenny, funny you should ask. Friday my original band played a gig with a band from Malta. They had arranged to use our backline(their bassist played his Fender Jazz thru my Ampeg combo). After the show their bassist, their manager, and I were talking. The bassist said he needed to get an Ampeg bass amp like mine, and the manager said "And a Rickenbacker bass". To which the bassist replied "And a Rickenbacker bass".

Ronn, It sounds like when those Maltese talk equipment, they're not just Falcon' Around!

I tried not to cross them.

The Beatles, though George Harrison specifically. While I've recently warmed to John's 325, the first time I saw George with his 360/12, I was floored, I thought it the most beautiful guitar I'd ever seen. As well, he's my favorite guitarist, so I can't say that didn't have an influence.

There are a few others that helped along my decision in buying a Ric, namely Johnny Marr, Thom Yorke (if only Jonny Greenwood would play one too), and Pete Townshend.