George's 2nd RIC 12 String

webhead · Post by **webhead** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 4:08 pm

I think that was his Country Gent with the screw down mutes.

kog · Post by **kog** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 7:13 pm

His 1st Country Gent fell off the van. His second one he gave away to Brian O'Hara, lead guitarist of Liverpool band The Fourmost. He doesn't know what he did with it -- probably traded it for another guitar.

I shake my head at this. Even if it WAS 40 years ago, and you could say, "Who knew how it would turn out?", why in the WORLD would you let go of a guitar that George Harrison gave you????

simer4001 · Post by **simer4001** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 8:21 pm

Falling off the back of a lorry would mean the guitar had somehow made it to George without him having obtained it legally.

I hadn't heard that George's 2nd RIC 12 string had been returned to the Harrison's. I would love to see how that happened.

webhead · Post by **webhead** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 1:18 am

I read it really did fall off the truck while they were driving. It became a salad.

I thought I read somewhere Gretsch made him a Country Gent 12 string, but I'm not sure if I read George gave that away too.

Scastles · Post by **Scastles** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 6:23 am

George did have a Gretsch 12, given to him in '64, and he supposedly gave it away to John St. John of Sounds Incorporated.

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 7:10 am

I thought he gave the Tenessean away, and then it was traded for something at a store and thus vanished, but I may be confusing that with the Gretsch 12.

Second Ric 12 I believe was tracked down, and obtained by those wanting to return it thus I assume it was, and if so, all done quietly.

randyz · Post by **randyz** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 10:59 am

The Babiuk book says that George's chauffeur Alf Bicknell was transporting his first Country Gent and a Rick (his first 12-string?) strapped on the back of a car, when the Gretsch fell off and was smashed to bits by other vehicles. Luckily, they didn't lose the Rick! The Babiuk book also says that George gave his second Country Gent to Brian O'Hara of The Fourmost. Check out the story about the smashed Gretsch on page 163-165. It's very funny. Hey, you lost one of your banjos...

craviola990 · Post by **craviola990** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 1:15 pm

For me the ultimate Gretsch 12 string would be the White Falcon 12. Weren't there only 3 made originally? One for Mike Nesmith, one for Stephen Stills, and the other I don't know. I seem to recall a Country Gent 12 or similar, on the cover of Chet Atkin's Beatles covers album. Thanks, Christian

simer4001 · Post by **simer4001** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 1:48 pm

Hamish Stuart used a White Falcon when he was with McCartney in the late 80's/early 90's. I don't remember if it was a 12 string.

BobKat · Post by **BobKat** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 3:46 pm

It is my impression that the second 12 was never found. There are famous pics taken at Abbey Road in '69 that sho wit as still being in possession of the Fabs.

glass_onion · Post by **glass_onion** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 2:12 pm

does anyone have those pics of the ric at abbey road in 69?

simer4001 · Post by **simer4001** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:34 pm

I also heard it disappeared in 1969 Bob. I would still like to see something showing the guitar was returned if that is in fact the case.

larrywassgren · Post by **larrywassgren** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:42 pm

The guitar was not returned to the Harrisons as the original has yet to turn up. How would anyone know it for sure as what is the serial number? I've been to B Sharp Music many times over the years and asked several times if they knew the serial number and the answer was always no. I know the guy who worked there for 25+ years pretty well. The owner is retired but I asked his son the question and he said no. I bought guitars there in the 60's and you handed over cash and got a guitar, they didn't keep records. They sold a lot of new style fire-glo Rickenbacker 12-strings there in '65. It was stolen out of Abbey Road Studios in 1969 and I'm sure the Tennessean and Cavern bass were stolen at the same time.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 8:26 am

How would anyone know it for sure as what is the serial number?

Alright Larry, I'll play the devil's advocate here; just because they didn't reveal it doesn't mean they didn't know. Any store worth their salt HAS to keep records and B-Sharp I'm sure was no exception, it's just a sound buisness practice. It's been said that maybe B-Sharp ordered that guitar for George and didn't just pull it out of store stock. I don't deny that they sold a slew of Rickenbackers in the 60s, but I'll bet someone knows the scoop.

If they were giving a guitar to a Beatle, especially at a news conference/ceremony, someone knew....somewhere. I think it'll all be out in the open someday.

larrywassgren · Post by **larrywassgren** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 5:04 pm

B Sharp was a great place. It burned to the ground recently and all those cool old photos and letters are gone. You had to be there in the 60's. They did a great business but were not totally on the 'sound' side if you know what I mean. Back in 1965 nobody was worried about a serial number(especially B Sharp Music). Why would B Sharp order a standard fire-glo Rickenbacker 360/12 when they had plenty hanging in their store? I believe the only souvenir they had of that day was a picture on the wall and an article from a local music paper which discussed the day B Sharp met with The Beatles and gave George the guitar. Those are now gone too.