Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

"name a great guitarist who has played a ric guitar after 1970.."

Come on now. I'm sure you can think of one.

I'd love to hear the folks on the guitar forum respond to that.

I can certainly think of many.

Chris - What a great post -- Look at this response! This is what we all need to remind us of what we are collecting/playing/living/etc. I never thought that the 4005 I have would be more a important bass than my '68 4001 -- but it is.

Tom Petty, Mike Campbell & Little Steven just off the top of my head.

Hmm...Pete Townshend, Bryan Adams, Susanna Hoffs, Tom Petty, maybe a few more, all fine performers, but none except maybe Townshend known to be a great guitar player.
When I had my music shop several years ago I sold Ricks. I couldn't give away a Rick guitar. I wound up keeping the one Rick guitar I had in the store. I had no problem selling Rick basses.
There are many more guitarists than there are basses and overall, there many more guitars sold than there are basses. I can't keep track of how many bassists I knew personally with a Rick bass. I've only known one guitarist that owned a Rickenbacker guitar...that was the guy I eventually sold my 330 to.

When the guitarist in my band introduces us to the audience, he looks at me and says " and on the Rickenbacker bass..." That says a lot right there!

I think Rickenbacker guitars have a distinct sound and one I personally like. But I Also Like Gibsons & Fenders depending on the song. If I was a shred guitar player I suppose I would buy something more exotic. So lots of choices and places a Ric Guitar just does not have the sound you need.

For my 2 cents A Ric Bass is so different from all the other basses it stands out, Way Out, when it is used in a band setting. Many of the best Rock Bands, Bassists, used these and to get this sound you have to buy a RIC. no other way around it. I personally like the Ric sound in some songs that did not use a Ric in the recordings. It just adds so much. You just can't do that with the Ric guitars.
If Jimmy Page uses a Gibson then to get that Zepplin sound you really need a Gibson. The Stones just don't sound right without a Tele.

As for the posts I don't know? I guess It's something someone said a while ago about Ric Bassist's We seem to enjoy standing out and up front in the band. I think it's a personality thing.

Opinions are like AS&&^oles everyones got one but not everyone has a Ricenbacker Bass and knows how to make it shake the house! and we like to boast about it from time to time.

Ask a guitarist in a band what his bass player uses. If it's a Ric he'll smile and look you right in the eye. If it's a Fender he'll look down or just start crying!

perhaps I should reword ... there are no guitarists of the stature of Geddy Lee, Chris Squire, Paul McCartney playing ric guitars ... if you don't count the 1960's ... and most who played a ric guitar used it for rhythm guitar ...

Top 10 Reasons Rick Bassists Post More

10. Need to constantly exercise fingers to reach around 4003 neck.

9. Strong fingers make it easier to count your stockpile of Ricks.

8. Testing out new light gauge roundwound keyboard.

7. Can't play now, just shampoo'ed and conditioned cresting wave.

6. When it stops being so pretty to look at, I'll pick it up and play.

5. Talk is cheap, typing even cheaper.

4. Need to know which bass Chris bought today.

3. Dreamed about horses with vintage horse shoes.

2. Searching Ebay for checkerboard suit with matching fedora.

and the number one reason:

1. Jeff's prototype 4001/S18.

(someone please do better than this)

Jeff, don't take this the wrong way, but you just cut off relevant Ric guitar players at the end of the '60s and in the same sentence, cut off relevant Ric bass players at the end of the '70s.

Yet, here we are in the 21st century discussing the merits of both instruments in this forum. There must surely be someone (besides Shirley) who plays a Ric guitar and/or bass who's relevant and has "stature".

LOL @ Jack!

We could add Paul Weller and Peter Buck to the list of Ric guitarists in the 80's, who were both in hugely successful bands (The Jam were huge in England) and Bruce Foxton and Mike Mills as Ric bassists. Both of whom were inspiring to me in their style and tone.

I think Tom Petty and Mike Campbell are still going strong and still using Rics, though not exclusively any more.

I like #4.....how can you do better than that!?

How about which bass I sold today?

*faintly spoken*....sell Blackstar, sell Blackstar, you will receive everlasting happiness and camera equipment if you sell Blackstar, sell Blackstar....(repeat as needed)