Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

johnallg wrote:

jimk wrote:And me? I pulled the green chain. [hint: Left Coast college kid summer job]

JimK

I hope it was hard maple logs bound for Santa Ana!

Right industry...wrong lumber mill. The mill I worked at didn't handle hardwoods; just fir, and occaisionally cedar (ooh but that smelled good!) and hemlock (and that smelled really, really bad!) So most of the lumber we cut was bound for the construction trade.


JimK

johnallg wrote:

jingle_jangle wrote:...detassle corn?!?!?

Done for controlled pollenation. They do a lot of that in SW Michigan.

I grew up in central & northeastern Indiana...corn detassling is the worst summer job EVER!!!Mosquitoes,razor sharp corn stalks,sweat in tour eyes,sadistic crew leaders...UGH!The only reason that they pay teenagers to do it is because illegal immigrants WON'T do it...they're smarter than teenagers...

Ricknut63 wrote:

johnallg wrote:

jingle_jangle wrote:...detassle corn?!?!?

Done for controlled pollenation. They do a lot of that in SW Michigan.

I grew up in central & northeastern Indiana...corn detassling is the worst summer job EVER!!!Mosquitoes,razor sharp corn stalks,sweat in tour eyes,sadistic crew leaders...UGH!The only reason that they pay teenagers to do it is because illegal immigrants WON'T do it...they're smarter than teenagers...

That's why I never did it! I had my own lawn service/snow removal service at 14. Had to get a work permit to bag groceries at 16. Jeez. no wonder I want to retire now!

tennis_nick wrote:...they weren't big on authenticity...

Uh...yeah...I really like their classic "collarless" suits...with...um...collars...definitely the Farb Four!

As per the first page of this post-topic, there are some amazing forum members...

...wisdom

tennis_nick wrote:I went to see a cover band and "John" had two of em...

Didn't sound to spectacular either, but they weren't big on authenticity... All playing through Fenders and "George" sang everything...

I love it, heh -- just in case there could be any doubt your band is a Beatles tribute band, always hang a small Union Jack behind the stage and put spotlights on it!

Ricknut63 wrote:

tennis_nick wrote:...they weren't big on authenticity...

Uh...yeah...I really like their classic "collarless" suits...with...um...collars...definitely the Farb Four!

Well... That is a style of jacket that the Beatles were known to wear...

I don't want to sound like TOO much of a jerk (I've been booted off the forum enough to have learned a lesson or two) but I don't think it's too cool to make fun of this band, Rickenfakers or not. At least they're getting out, making music, and bringing a little joy.

I wouldn't take it too hard brother. I don't think anyone was really making fun of the band, but instead were just having a bit of fun Truth is though, most Ric players don't appreciate fake (read illegal) Rickenbackers and have little respect for those who play them. So for a working musician to portray a particular famous player while using a copy of his guitar........well, that's just wrong.

Well, that brings up an interesting distinction, Ron.

I will speak for myself only, as I've never done a formal survey, and using quantifiers like "many", "most", "some", etc., can get tedious and assumptive. I've done a lot of thinking and writing on the topic of counterfeit Ricks, and I think to say that I don't have much respect for anyone who plays a fake Rick, is probably a misstatement.

What's true is that I have no respect for anyone who plays one, when:

1. there's an awareness that the real thing is out there and

2. that it's illegal to trade in counterfeits, and they are promoting this trade and inappropriate acceptance by playing one.

Because of the plethora of Strat, Tele, and LP copies on the market, the assumption among those not versed in the statements and provisions of the Lanham Act and other aspects of IP law, is that any guitar design is fair game. It's one thing to educate someone on the realities of Rickenbacker designs, and entirely another thing to finally break through the tendency to facile thinking and rationalization, to get them to really understand that this applies to them, personally and individually!

Besides having no respect, I have extreme prejudice against anyone who claims that their counterfeit sounds, plays, or is built better than the real thing. That's just plain flim-flammery, and is most often found in sales pitches for the same counterfeits, before they're shut down or put on notice by RIC's attorneys.

A Rick is a Rick. Anything else is a wannabee, and illegal to boot.