Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

You SHOULD brag, Simon. You have every right to be over the moon about what you have achieved in 6 months - more power to you, I say!. I took a softer option because I had the bread (oh well, the bank's loaned me the bread) and I wasn't prepared to wait. Hell, I could end up as a hood ornament on a Mack truck tomorrow!!

Allans??? Went there a couple of weeks ago looking at a Gibson SG, LP Studio and Fender Anniversary Strat. Played them a bit (no amp), felt pretty good. OK, now where's the sales guy? I was there for about 30 minutes before I was approached. Here's me looking at gitfiddles worth well over $2000 and he's fawning over a 14 year old doing Al Dimeola impressions on a Yamaha PAC12 through a cheap Ibanez amp! Mind you, the kid played like Al - quicker hands than Bill Clinton!!! They really needed another sales person. I've bought a few guitars, amps & effect units from Billy Hydes over the last 18 to 24 months but since my contact there has left I've found they don't have the personal touch anymore. They just want to flog Gibson and Fender and shove Belmans down your throat. They really are the KMart of instruments. They should have a checkout at the door!!

I assume your purchase is new. Is your friend in the States going to have to dirty up the strings and slop a whole lot of stickers on the case to prove to customs here that it's used? I guess if the receipt is in his name there shouldn't be any issues although they may want to see the guitar again when he leaves the country.

Hey Paul! (sounds like a song, doesn't it). Don't sugar coat it - tell us what you REALLY think!! I sure as hell won't send you a Strat for Christmas!! (or a Harley for that matter).

When I'm ready for the 12 string (probably a bit later on in the year) I'll certainly be seeking your input and exploring the possibilities. For the moment I'll just spend time getting used to the 330 (after playing a Strat for a couple of years it's a whole new experience - bigger body, very different feel altogether).

Seeing you're from SF, Paul, do you have long hair, wear a headband and look like something out of a Cheech and Chong movie? Please don't take offence at that - none intended - the mention of SF always brings back memories of Scott Mackenzie (I preferred Procul Harum at the time) and the Haight and Ashbury set.

Enough of my ramblings.

I've got a problem with my camera at the moment - my daughter borrowed the camera and didn't return the USB cable with it so the pics may be a couple of days coming.

Cheers all!

I've got a Strat, and one is enough, thanks. There are two Harleys that I would be proud to own: the cheapest and the newest. These are the 883 (the smallest and most traditional bare-bones Harley, unfortunately considered a "girls' bike" here in the States because of its small size) and the V-Rod, which has an unfortunate name but is a gorgeous bike.

I'm just living in SF for these last two years. I was born in Chicago (sounds like a song, doesn't it?) and lived there for 30 years, then in LA for 24 years. I'm planning to return to LA soon and retire to my beach house in Brasil in 10 years or so.

Haight-Ashbury is an expensive but high-crime area (crack addicts and crystal meth tweakers), Scott MacKenzie is doing dinner theater in Branson, Missouri, and I have a shaved head and look remarkably like an anorectic Galapagos Island giant tortoise.

Howard, its funny you've had that experience in Allans. I've had the exact same thing many times. Its either the sales guy drooling over some punk kid, or the sales guy ripping the guitar from some beginners hands and saying..."Here watch me, look at how wonderfuly I can play this guitar, you dont need to try it out before you buy it, hell I dont even care if you buy it, just watch me. go on, sit there and watch, this shouldnt take more than 40 minutes." --- I've actually heard a customer come up to one of them and ask if they could help them out, and the response was "actually, to be honest, I dont have time right now.." geez

Still plenty of good folks out there, Venue Music is good to deal with, and the guys at the Acoustic Centre in South Melbourne are great.

Luckily my friend in the states is an Aussie and is coming home for good. I'll be sure he removes any sign of the guitar being new. Worst case scenario I'll have to pay GST/Import duties. But at least I wont have to fork out $300 USD for shipping.

Hmmmm....

I'll start saving for an 883 now, Paul. What's the approximate USD cost? As I'm not buying you a Ric for Christmas, the smaller option (and I'm assuming the cheapest) will have to be the one. How about an Aussie-made guitar? That would more than likely be a novelty over there!!

When you return to LA will it be 'born in East LA'?

I was there a in 2002 but only saw LAX, the road to Anaheim, the road to Universal studios and the road back to LAX. Would have loved to get to Venice Beach, etc.

Brazil, eh? I can't even afford to put a tent up on the Rye foreshore (Rye is a pretty clutzy beachside holiday area). You must be doing something right!

When I can find a picture of an animal that is truly representative of my looks, Paul, I'll post it. Be prepared for a shock - I've been asked to play lead zombie in a remake of Night of the Living Dead.

Sorry to hear about Haight-Ashbury (and Scott MacKenzie for that matter). The years change everything!

Cheers!

Yes, Simon. Back in the Neolithic era (1972) I bought a cherry red Maton Apollo semi acoustic from Allans and they were fantastic! Mind you, it was a family-owned business in those days and they really cared.

Pleased to hear that there are still some people who care. I've found the guys (and gal) at Eastgate very friendly and helpful (pity they didn't have a 330FG). They'll get my bits & pieces business now. Most of the stores couldn't give a hoot - Troy music let me look at Rics for 20 minutes without even bothering me. Seems the attitude these days is 'you wanna buy something, you come to us'.

Oh well, stiff bikkies for them.

Cheers.

An Aussie-made guitar would be a rarity here. I've never seen one.

I'm doing nothing special except that I'm married to a Brazilian lady from the very beach town where I plan to 12-string my life away--if I can remember "Needles and Pins" by then.

The real LA hides in the cracks. I lived south of LA, in Orange County, in Newport Beach, on a pine-tree covered hill that you'd swear was anywhere else! Palm trees down the street, though.

I'm getting homesick.

A nice 883 is about the price of a mint lefty Capri, give or take a couple thou. Say $6500.00. I'd rather have the Capri, and because I play righty, so that's airfare in yer pocket.

Paul,

Go to www.maton.com.au and have a look. The Mastersound electrics aren't all that great to look at but they are very well made. The MS2000DLXSD is a cracker! Sounds and plays really well. Sells here for around $2700 AUD.

The top end acoustics are quite fantastic also. They go for $3500 plus!

If you enter 'apollo' in the 'Model Name' search box at the bottom right corner of the home page and then search you'll see a list of models. If you select the '505 (71)' option you'll see the first new electric guitar I ever had! As I recall you needed a super-strength left hand! I paid full dollar for it too! Should have kept it - I could have given it to Maton for their museum.

Now lets see..... Needles and Pins..... Am Dm Am Dm C Am Dm E Am etc. Am and Dm at the 5th, C at the 3rd.... there's a B7 or Bm7 in there somewhere, too!

I reckon I'm going to have to get that 12 string sooner rather than later!

Cheers!

It's a B7.

As I recall, George played a Maton solidbody somewhere in the early days, lent to him by a mate.

This has got to be one of the most interesting threads I've read (sorta like a travel journal in some respects) and some of it I even understand. And meant only in a flattering way, Paul, you are quite the character. And only characters should own Ric's. The hoi polloi can have the rest

Sincere thanks, Stan.

Ricks do seem to have more interesting caretakers than do, say, STRATS, Teles, LPs and PRSs.

I participate in other Forums devoted to Fenders, Gretsches, Combo organs (as I collect those as well...) and musical styles too.

None of these even come close to this one for rich interplay, firm opinions well-stated (for the most part), and gentle chiding. Well, Combo Organs on Yahoo, is about 50% there but it's not nearly as informative or active or passionate; after all, it's there to cover ALL makes and models.

Peter is to be admired and commended for his establishment of this site and his great management and guidance!

I appreciate your other interests (meaning other guitars)...Have a friend who is a Gretsch nut and can't sway him any other way. I had a White Falcon (a pre-Fender) for a number of years and enjoyed it but it wasn't the same as a Ric. I have since deminished my entire lot other than Ric's, including a couple of Gibsons, Gretsches and Epiphones (no Fenders)...

Stan, I practice on my Gretsches for chops and use my Ricks for the final touch. One Gretsch in particular has the lowest action and hottest pickups. Then I pick up the 381 and understand what looowww action and crisp sound is really about.

Does your friend have lotsa tatoos? That's currently the price of entry into the latest version of the Hip Gretsch Club.

Howard, I checked out Maton. Man, those are so typically Australian and really cool retro. Weird switches and guardplates; Melody Maker body shapes...what do the pups sound like?

Wallaby guitars, that's what they are. Very unique and only Oz could have birthed 'em...

Somehow I knew you'd check out and post the cheap 12-string!!

I haven't tried the cheaper models but I reckon they'd be pretty flat - not much bottom or top but fairly creamy in the middle. MS2000DLXSD with Seymour Duncans sounds pretty good - a bit LP-ish as I recall.

Yep! They don't build 'em like that anywhere else (perhaps Uzbekistan or the Falkland Islands!)

That's an awful lot of detailing for a so-called cheap guitar!

I did check out the entire line, but these are reminiscent of a '58 Buick. More like Iz-BUICK-stan!

That funky lever-knob is just like the one on my old Framus hollow-body 12!

Excellent comparison, Paul.

Having checked again, it's not so cheap!! $2000 AUD.

Think I prefer the Buick if it's all the same!

Cheers!