Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The modern 330, 360, 620, and 4003 models may resemble the Rickenbacker models of the past, but they have been clearly been adapted for changing times. I think RIC has an excellent brand identity, visually and sonically, and has carved out quite an enviable position for themselves in the guitar world. When demand outpaces production capability, it means you're doing something right. Rickenbackers are well designed, well crafted instruments, and criticizing their looks or features based solely on the age of the initial design from which they have evolved is a little like criticizing humans because of monkeys, don't you think?

RIC's recent history of innovations has more singles than home runs.

All those singles drive in runs!

It seems to me that the Ric design is timeless. It looks as fresh today as it did when it came out. I must confess though, that my wife helped me pick a 4003 because it reminded her an accordian her mother once played. By that, I mean the shiny black with chrome and white accents. As I write this, I'm also wondering if we - as in the collective we - might not have a yearning for things in our past. I can't help but think of the reintroduction of the Ford Mustang and Dodge Charger designs. Even other car models such as the PT Cruiser or Chevy HHR seem to harken back to older designs.

both the PT Cruiser and HHR are incredibly ugly IMO

Wow guys! So many accurate points you bring up!

And yes, a PT cruiser is ugly, and the chrome parts on a 4003 are indeed hep cool daddy-o!

Nice pic, Karl...very artsy...and I bet no one but us Ric owners would be able to identify the subject...

Personally, I bought the Rics I've owned because I fell in love with the look and distinctive sounds they made ever since the Beatles (and later the Byrds) came out in the '60's.

Same thing applies to my Strats, P-Bass, Tele, Jazzmaster, and a few Gibson Les Pauls.

Some designs are just classic to me and I agree with the "if it ain't broke, don't break it" thing. As for other designs, I can't stand modern "pointy guitars" (other than original Explorers and V's). I can totally do without "monkey grips" and Parker Flys etc. Those things just don't interest me at all.

Music-wise, I always felt that any kind of music could be played on any guitar at all - that's up to the player. Although I might own guitars "made famous" by my favorite guitar heroes, I sure as heck don't play like them - never could and never will - and no matter what guitar I pick up to play, it all comes out sounding like ME.

One question - did those guys in XTC use a Ric 12 string? Sounds like it to me, but I don't know for sure. Anyway, my point is - those guys sure as heck don't play any "'60's style" music on that 12 string at all.

Dave Gregory, who was the long time guitarist for XTC, did play a Ric 12 string (I think it was a 360/12 in Jetglo). It's all over the English Settlement album. Dave has a site at www.guitargonauts.com that details his many guitars (including a few Rics). He's a great player!

So, is Dodge gonna come out with a new 1955 Power Wagon!?? I sure hope so, then I can for sure squash and run over PT Cruisers while I'm playing my new solid body Rickenbacker guitar!!!

The all new SB350 with the two killer humbuckers!!!!!

"....and there I was, 5,000 feet above sea level....."

(and I would sell my grandma to have on of these)...

Do you think there's a big market for used grandmothers then?

If people buy





then people may buy

I'm 51, not a beatle wannabe. My first real guitar was a strat, and I still play one. I have a Rick 1997 and 660/12, as well a a couple basses. I got the ricks cause I wanted a sound different from my strat. As old as I am, the music I play is "fresh", according to one surprised 20 something to whom I gave our CD. I totally crunch, overdrive and generally get a very cool non-60's sound from both guitars. The 1997, beside having it's own Ric tone, gets a stratty tone and a filtertron tone (usually w/o stomp box). Last Saturday we played live, some guy around his mid 20's wanted a closer look at the 1997, and commented how much he liked the "blusey" sound. I love the Beatles as well as Nirvana, and no way do I think of my guitars as retro. I saw a very good band last week playing spot on covers of '60's and '70's songs, and they were playing fenders and gibsons and no name guitars. It's not only "the singer, not the song", it's also "the player, not the instrument".

you guys need to understand that I sometimes employ hyperbolic rhetoric ... in other words I overstate my case to make a point ... the "Beatle wannbe" is case and point ... a lot of people go through their whole life listening to the same music that they liked when they went through puberty ... I just tried out for a band where the guys were my age but it was like hanging out with a bunch of old men ... they considered new music as 80s stuff and oldies as 50s stuff ... I consider oldies as pretty much everything before 1990 ... another problem I have is that I have become too good on bass ... people are intimidated and won't hire me because they don't think their band is good enough to keep me ... I guess I need to stop playing rifs faster than the lead guitarist ...

That's why I am a Geddy Lee wannabe ... Geddy is one year older than me but he is on top of his game playing, writing and singing ... he hasn't fallen into a rut of playing the same 20 songs over and over for the last 20 years ...

I am 51 also but pretty much everyone is convinced that I am 35 ...

I'm 30 but everyone thinks I am 46

Rickenbacker has made some innovations in the musical instrument world ... but they are also the same company that did not make a bass that could take round wound strings until 1980 and the only company that makes a bass with a mechanical mute and they still sell basses with pickup covers ... and one of their new innovations is putting a 60s style bass cut capacitor in their bass ... and they don't currently offer a 5 string bass ...

I love my Ric basses but I have to admit the company is pretty retro ...