Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Geez I can't remember the first one because starting around 1972 I was going to as many concerts as I could. I do remember one show a little later, Starcastle opened for Montrose and both bassists were using Ricks. I saw Starcastle later when they opened for Rush (2 Ricks again) and Gary Strater was playing through a Marshall stack that was made out of aluminum, remember those ? It had a pretty unique tone about it. When I saw Trapeze, Glenn Hughes was using a Ric for that tour. I saw a lot of them and I can't remember which one was first. Then a friend of mine acquired an older 4001, checker binding, HS etc.. and after playing that I knew I had to have one. Bought my first one in 1975.

The first one I came across was around 1970, Jenkins Music in Oklahoma City, a MG 4001. I remember thinking that some day I'd have to have one. Then I saw Rush on the Fly By Night Tour, went out soon after and bought my first 4001.

Bob: That is Garry Patterson. Place your cursor over the photo for the details.

What color is that 4001C64? Those are nice looking basses. And I can assume that is stock, stock knobs etc?

The first Rick I ever saw was I believe a 4001 blue bass in a Playboy centerfold from the 70's, I think her name was STAR...

Bob: Garry's bass is mapleglo or natural. It is a beautiful looking bass. The flash bleaches out the grain in this photo. I hope you don't mind me posting it Garry.

Webhead,
Did you see STAR in the flesh or full of halftones? We are speaking of the real thing here as opposed to adolescent pantings:-)

At the local music store would be the first one I saw in the flesh. The first I ever saw was on TV and was being played by Ricky Nelson's bass player. The first I ever saw live on stage was played by Jon Camp of Renaissance.

Robj,
When did you see Renaissance? I saw them in '79 on the Azur D'Or tour, at a theatre "in the round" with a rotating stage.

I saw them for the first time in '73 or '74 in Detroit (they were the opening act of a three band bill, the next act was Molly Hatchet if you can believe it), I saw them two more times after that while I was living in the area. I also saw them once in Az in '78.

They were great live and on record. One of my all time fav bands and Camp had a huge influence on my playing.

August 1972. It was a 4001FG owned by a friend's friend. I really had to pick it up and play it, and I vividly remember thinking that the typical 4001 clanking tone (which I knew all too well from listening to records by Yes and others) was produced by the bridge saddles which I took for piezo pickups!
I bought my first Rick bass, a 2nd-hand December 1972 4001FG, in late 1979.

First time I saw a RIC in the flesh, was in 1976, at school. Students were on strike, and some of them came with their instruments and amps. A bass player, who then became a good friend of mine, had a gorgeous '75 FireGlo 4001. One year later, I became the happy owner of my first 4001 (a JetGlo one).

1967 at another local bands garage practice. The bass player had borrowed his brother's '67 4001 Fireglo. Strung up with Ric flats (the Red Box was in the case)played through a 1x15 Gibson Atlas Bass Amp. Got my first one, 4001 Mapleglo in '69 and my 4005 Fireglo in '71, 4005 Mapleglo in '72 (sold it), 4003 Azure Blue in '75 (sold it). 1999 4001V63 Firleglo. 2003? 4001C64S (on order since 01.23.02), patiently waiting its completion. There were others but the above have the fondest memories attached.

Azureglos were nice looking and you don't see that many anymore, I wonder what happened to all of them? Those were the days huh? playing in garages, cellars and back yards.