Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Check this out...
http://www.beatlesource.com/savage/1963/63.zz.zz/63.xx.xxConcerts.html
The pix below is supposedly The Beatles on August 14 1963, Odeon Cinema, Landudno. It looks like them but the guitars are not like any I've seen The Fabs play during that period. Also it appears that the drumbead says something other than the classic drop T "Beatles". Any guesses as to whats going on here? It appears that John and Paul are playing 335-shaped guitars while George may be holding a Fender-style guitar or bass of some sort.

In fact, this is actually a photo of the earliest known Beatles' Tribute Band: "The Casino's"...

On another Beatles chat site, someone talked about the same thing: "My guess is that the photograph was taken during the lighting/dress rehearsal for the show and, for whatever reason, the Beatles didn't have their own instruments to hand, meaning they had to borrow those of the support act."

I think that makes a lot of sense, and since Billy J Kramer and the Dakotas were on the bill I think it's their gear that we see. It looks like The Dakotas used some similar instruments in those days:

I bet Ludwig was happy to have Ringo playing that brand:

I'm sure they sold a ton of pearloid kits over the years because of Ringo, although as far back as the 1920's Ludwig was the world's largest drum dealer.

I once met Art Blakey at a dentist office after having seen him a couple of nights earlier at the Village Gate in NYC.... but thats another story.

Ludwig and Slingerland were both old Chicago brands, with Slingerland having more success for years, mostly with jazz players (Buddy Rich played Slingerland, at least in the '60s). The Beatles really put Ludwig on the map...our drummer back in '64 in Chicago, had a set of Ludwigs exactly like Ringo's. Don't know what kind of strings his father had to pull to score them, but it must've been serious business. Virtually overnight, Ludwig (who were in my old neighborhood) went from a fairly successful and stodgy smaller company to working two shifts and selling like crazy.

I like the teardrop shape, myself; and I have 2 of 'em to show for it.

But, yeah... the shape looks more like a lute than a guitar.

>>>Virtually overnight, Ludwig ... went from a fairly successful and stodgy smaller company to working two shifts and selling like crazy.

Great example of the effect The Fabs had on a muscial instrument company.

Paul, since you probably know more about RIC than any of us regular posters, what is your take on where the company would be without the advent of The Beatles? Keep in mind that without seeing Rickenbackers in 'A Hard Day's Night' is very possible that Roger McGuinn would never have played a Rick either. George and John really set the ball rolling.

Sir Andrew... anyone who owns TWO VOX teardrop guitars must have quite a collection, eh?

I think the Teardrop is a stone classic. Saw The English Beat in town with one not long ago, and it sounded great, too.

Speaking of Gretsch, I had always thought that George switched to the 6119 Tennessean because his Country Gent fell out of the travel van and was broken. While this may have been part of the reason, George clearly owned more than one Gent and apparently the Tennessean gave George "the perfect country-rock twang he'd been looking for". The Tennessean was first used by George at the '63 Christmas shows, later at Carnegie Hall and of course in HELP!

Actually, only one is a Vox, Brammy. The other is a hollow-body from Phantom Guitar Works with 3 humbuckers... nice little "jazz box" sound to it.

http://www.phantomguitars.com/

I didn't know they came in such a variety.

You've gotta love that pic of George holding the two Country Gents! It's as if he's saying "How cool is this? I've got TWO of them!"

As the British invaded, sales for Rickenbacker guitars and Vox amps multiplied many times as did Ludwig drums. Much of this due to The Beatles. Brian Jones played a Vox among others and Keith a series of cheapo and not so cheapo guitars in the early years. George Harrison gear hound (bless him) that he was played the Gretsch as well as the Ric's....the sound of the Ric 12 coupled with the great early Beatles tunes was so fresh and compelling, that it inspired and still inspires many to capture "that sound." I don't believe any of the other instruments used by the Beatles or BI bands in general increased sales anywhere close to what they did for Rickenbacker guitars and Vox (amps)..not even Gretsch came close...

Not quite mine, Brammy. That one has single coils, not humbuckers.

Mine was 1 of a limited run (of 10? ...certainly no more than 20) of "Deluxe" versions that were done in black, with binding on the body. They now have some in Red that look more like mine does. Here's a link to the current Red version (I still haven't figured out how to show a pic in a post):

http://www.phantomguitars.com/images/new_DLX-020.jpg

I guess if it weren't for the 'Fabs' (sheeziz, I can feel John turning in his grave every time that word is invoked), we'd all still be wearing Brillcreme...

A little Fab'll do ya, eh?