Why No Artist Love For Blue Rics?

[chucksimms]

I love azureglo and hope one day that colour will be available again. I have a '69 365 O.S. that's blue almost to turquoise. Absolutely stunning guitar and I get more compliments about it than any other instrument I've ever owned. I wish I'd bought the blue 4001S that was on ebay a few years back. D'oh!

[fireglo67]

These fellas played Blue Rics...........

[rick325]

I was in love with Wendy & Lisa. Now I know why. It was the Rickenbacker guitar!!!!

That's what I was lookin at, but ya can't ignore the emence acting talent those two had.

[jfine]

In stores around here (Northern California), Rics in any color are darn scarce. It was that way when I was growing up in San Francisco in the '60's too--every once in a while I'd see somebody in a local band with one, but I had no idea where they were getting them--none of the music stores I was hanging out at had any. I don't even know who carries them now around here. The first Ric I ever got my hands on was a used 450 that showed up at Sherman & Clay in SF in about '65--at first I wasn't sure it was a Ric, as it was missing its nameplate! By that time, I'd played numerous Fenders, Gibsons, the odd Gretsch, even a Mosrite or two, but Rics were like hens' teeth. I'd love to have a blueburst 660--the only place I've ever seen blue Rics in person was at NAMM shows. Blue in any shade (blueburst, Azureglo, turquoise, whatever) isn't one of Ric's more common colors, so I would think an artist looking for a Ric would be a lot more likely to run into Jetglo, Fireglo, or Mapleglo ones, even if they got them via endorsement deals, and I think I've heard that Ric doesn't give guitars away anyway. I'd sure like to see them bring back blueburst, though! I'd totally forgotten about that blueburst 660-12 that Mary-Chapin Carpenter has--I saw her playing it on some TV show a few years back.

[jps]

Mary Chapin Carpenter played a blue Rick.

[sloop_john_b]

I think Mary Chapin Carpenter plays a a couple of blue Ricks.

[fireglo67]

The bass player in ColdPlay plays a blue Ric.

The current lead singer of Marillion plays a blue Ric.

Marillion.jpg (7.38 KiB) Viewed 2297 times

[The Mod Lang]

Midnight blue 620 in this vid.

[Tommy]

Interesting video in the snow. All the time I was watching I was thinking, "Is a video really worth it to mistreat an instrument that much?" Yeah, Pete Townshend can mistreat a Ric a lot worse by smashing it to pieces, but he was Pete Townshend of The Who. His funds and access to other guitars was a heck of a lot greater than the guys in Black Skies For Blue Hearts. Why would those boys bring a very expensive guitar out into a snowfall where the temperature is thirty degrees at best? I checked another video from that band and it appears those instruments are theirs, not just props used in this snowy video. Those boys brought a beautiful Rickenbacker out into 30 degree weather and falling snow. I bet it ain't beautiful anymore.

[The Mod Lang]

Interesting video in the snow. All the time I was watching I was thinking, "Is a video really worth it to mistreat an instrument that much?" Yeah, Pete Townshend can mistreat a Ric a lot worse by smashing it to pieces, but he was Pete Townshend of The Who. His funds and access to other guitars was a heck of a lot greater than the guys in Black Skies For Blue Hearts. Why would those boys bring a very expensive guitar out into a snowfall where the temperature is thirty degrees at best? I checked another video from that band and it appears those instruments are theirs, not just props used in this snowy video. Those boys brought a beautiful Rickenbacker out into 30 degree weather and falling snow. I bet it ain't beautiful anymore.

I would never do that to my 620, but it looks/sounds like Pat's is holding up pretty well. I believe he still uses it.

[blue330]

Ah, they can take it. Colleges always want to have outdoor shows in the early spring, which seem to cause bad weather. Well, they used to, I don't know if the kids go for rock shows anymore... I'm pretty sure my Azureglo 330 has been snowed on more than once, and it's fine. It also spent the night in the van during winter tours for years. It looks almost new, still!

[Tommy]

.. I'm pretty sure my Azureglo 330 has been snowed on more than once, and it's fine. It also spent the night in the van during winter tours for years. It looks almost new, still!

Damn, I suppose they don't make 'em like they used to. I take a shower and the light steam creeping under the bathroom door wreaks havoc on every guitar I own. (I have decided to no longer shower or bathe.) Perhaps I am overly cautious with my gear, but that blue Ric in the snow in that video was just too much to take.

By the way, blue330, I actually bought myself a blue Rick 330 last Christmas because seeing you play one gave me a love of that look. Thanks for the inspiration. And have to say the first song I played on her was "Every Word Means No." That's true.

[Badanovski]

In stores around here (Northern California), Rics in any color are darn scarce. It was that way when I was growing up in San Francisco in the '60's too--every once in a while I'd see somebody in a local band with one, but I had no idea where they were getting them--none of the music stores I was hanging out at had any. I don't even know who carries them now around here. The first Ric I ever got my hands on was a used 450 that showed up at Sherman & Clay in SF in about '65--at first I wasn't sure it was a Ric, as it was missing its nameplate! By that time, I'd played numerous Fenders, Gibsons, the odd Gretsch, even a Mosrite or two, but Rics were like hens' teeth. I'd love to have a blueburst 660--the only place I've ever seen blue Rics in person was at NAMM shows. Blue in any shade (blueburst, Azureglo, turquoise, whatever) isn't one of Ric's more common colors, so I would think an artist looking for a Ric would be a lot more likely to run into Jetglo, Fireglo, or Mapleglo ones, even if they got them via endorsement deals, and I think I've heard that Ric doesn't give guitars away anyway. I'd sure like to see them bring back blueburst, though! I'd totally forgotten about that blueburst 660-12 that Mary-Chapin Carpenter has--I saw her playing it on some TV show a few years back.

I hadn't realized SF was so backwards then. In the Mid 70's just about every 3rd bassplayer in Hayward had a Ric. We all got them in San Jose. Although I never knew Rickenbacker made 4001S basses. That store only had 4001 & 4000 basses.

[david/wales/u.k]

Can't make up my mind about the Blue Rics ( blue with the various shades, Midnight, azure e.t.c ).......I sort of wouldn't go for one myself if I had a choice of other colors and yet, at times, I think they look stunning................BTW.....Am I the only Ric fan who isn't fussed on fireglo!! .. First choice Mapleglo closely followed by Jetglo.....( the fireglo is alright on the 360 but I don't like it on the 330 or 600's

[blue330]

Hi Tommy,
Aww, thanks! That is a superfine-looking guitar you got there! Really, every time I get my blue guitar out of the case I think "hello, beautiful!" and I also have a 75th Anniversary DCM one, which is no slouch in the looks department. I think Rickenbackers look fantastic in blue, and not all guitars do.
Azureglo is a tough finish. The DCM paint is not nearly as indestructible, and that may apply to some of the other metallics, like Midnight Blue.