Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Yep! She was a remarkable lady.... and I know she's watching.

During her last 6 months or so I would 'babysit' her while her partner went to various meetings. I'd take my Squier Strat and Roland amp with me and after we'd had dinner I would sit and play for her and she loved it - even though it was pretty bad!

Years ago, my Mom used to drive me and my buddies clear across to the west side of Phoenix (I lived by Scottsdale on the east side) to go to Arizona Music Center. It was the only place we knew of where we could see Gretsches, Rics, Fender amps, etc. (This was 1965 and I was 13.)

She'd drive us over on Saturday morning and then we'd play and annoy the store staff all day, then she'd drive all the way back at 3 PM to pick us up. That went on for several Saturdays.

Then on the day before Christmas, 1965, she gave me the guitar I kept going back to play on those trips -- an orange Gretsch 6120 double cutaway. Man, that was -- and probably still is -- the greatest present I ever got. I still don't know how she knew that was the one I wanted. But, that's what Moms do.

So, Paul, maybe that's what your Mom has in mind -- A nifty Christmas present? Whatever... very cool... and you guys' postings all made me remember my own very special Mom.

My Mom was in her 50s when I started playing in the late '70s...she bought a cheap starter guitar & amp for my 17th b-day. She LOVED watching me play & a year later when I forked over the bucks for my first nice guitar (a '76 Gibson Explorer...man I wish I still had it) she was as excited as I was. She really liked when I played "Brown Sugar" by the Stones or Van Halen's "Ice Cream Man". She evidently had a bit of the blues in her. Good memories. She died in '89 & was a GREAT mom.

Paul, I think that there was a mention in another thread about a possible Chicago area Confluence next April.

It was right about this time six years when my Mom was out with me while I was shopping for an amp. We saw a left-handed 1997 hanging up on the wall at one store. I played it for a little while, but never really considered buying as I wanted a tube amp.



On Christmas morning that 1997 was sitting under the tree. My Mom had called the store, gave them her credit card number and had the guitar delivered (she doesn't drive) while I was out of town.

Wow!! Now that's a mum/guitar tale with a really happy ending!! What a great Chrissie pressie, RCB.....

Mothers are indeed special!! I still miss mine as well Aitch. To me she was Irish royalty. A very special person who loved me and my music.

She bought my first guitar (a Hofner Gold Top LP copy) and my first amp, (a Vox AC30) so I could follow my dream and become a professional musician. I could go on but you probably get the picture. She was no saint, but she was the sweetest and most perfect mother any son could ever hope for.

My mum was a Belfast war bride. Boy am I glad she agreed to marry dad and come over here!! She told me once that they had thought of going to live in Vancouver but dad had to come back here and finish his architectural degree so they ended up staying.

It's really great reading all these wounderful stories especially today, Thanksgiving. Im gonna see my mom in a few hour and Im gonna give her a BIG hug!