How Old Were You When You Got Your First Rick?

craigv · Post by **craigv** » Fri Aug 02, 2002 2:08 am

This looks like a very appropriate place for my first message on this forum.

I bought my first Ric in 1978, a new jetglo 4001. I was 16 and it took seemingly forever to save the $450 it cost. I later learned that the case wasn't original, and I never did get the "Chris Squire/Geddy Lee" sound I was trying for. But my Ric was my most prized possesion regardless.

I only had the 4001 for a few years, thanks to a theft. Not of the instrument, mind you. I was in night school and had just received my paycheck and Christmas bonus that day. While showering after a phys ed class that evening, someone broke into my locker and stole my wallet.

That was pretty much the only money I had, so holiday gifts for my fiance' were going to be lame if I didn't come up with cash fast. In desperation, I sold my '68 Bassman 50 and the Ric to Sam Ash. I remember the salesman telling me how Ric's were not popular at all then. I took $200 for it, and $150 for the amp. My fiance' got her gifts.

Last year, I happened to relate this story to a friend at a barbeque. My wife was there and it apparently brought back a fond memory, because last Christmas saw a brand new Fireglo 4003 under the tree.

I'm not letting this one go for anything.

thunder_monkey · Post by **thunder_monkey** » Wed Aug 21, 2002 5:43 am

Hey Craig, Your story sounds all too familiar. In late ‘77 I picked up my first, a ‘77 4001 in Burgundy from Union Music in Worcester, Mass. I was 25. I used it in a beatle band for a couple years but after the band folded, I was forced to sell it to a music chain store to fund Christmas. I only got a couple hundred $$ and often regretted it (vocally).

In 99 I picked up a new 4003 MG (#99 09041) with my wife’s blessing & I have a 340 JG on order from NCM right now. Another happy ending.

admin · Post by **admin** » Wed Aug 21, 2002 6:17 am

Very nice story Craig with a great ending. Time for me to tell a similar one at the next barbeque.

armybass · Post by **armybass** » Sun Oct 06, 2002 5:38 pm

I got my 1974 4001 at the age of 17 in 1987. I was a well worn White to crea fade and had little left on it for frets so I put flats on it and I also never got the Ric sound from it. Bought a new JG 4003 in 1989 but did not keep it long, got into slapping. Two years ago I got a beautiful MG 4003 and sold it shortly because it was my only bass and I needed more veriety. Now I have a few basses and I am waiting for my 2001 FG 4003 to get here this week. I have loved these basses for so very long and hope to be able to hold onto this one.

Scott

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Tue Apr 29, 2003 11:51 am

First time ever I held and played a 4001 (owned by a friend's friend) - August 1972, aged 15. I distinctly remember thinking that the great, clanking tone was produced by the bridge saddles which I took for piezo pickups!
I got my first Rick bass, a 2nd-hand 1972 4001FG seven years later, in October 1979, a few days before my 23rd birthday.

beatlenut · Post by **beatlenut** » Tue Apr 29, 2003 2:51 pm

Just last week at the age of 40. First time I had actually held and played one. I think my 2002 Rickenbacker 330 is a keeper.

bruceglaser · Post by **bruceglaser** » Wed Apr 30, 2003 1:54 am

I'm a lefty so it was impossible to find one anywhere in 1968. I was 16. I don't remember how I found the dealer, but he operated out of his basement in New Hyde Park, NY . He had no instruments of any kind, just catalogs. It took about 6 months for the guitar to arrive. It was a 360/6 FG . I have a very vivid memory of being slightly disapointed when I saw it because it had a right handed neck and "R" tailpiece. I always hated that upside down truss rod cover, the Rick name never fits that space properly.

I never should have sold that guitar. I only have 1 photo of it. It took me 30 years to buy my next one. Now at least the headstocks are left handed, but the "R' is still wrong. I have 9 now.

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Thu May 08, 2003 4:06 am

Got my first Ric a year ago this June at the age of 32: a 1981 330 fireglo that was an anniversary present from my husband who spoils me rotten! I had sort of enjoyed playing guitar before, but after having kids I never seemed to find the time to play....However, after getting the Ric I haven't stopped playing, and after a couple of months actually got brave enough to start playing on the church worship team.... I now have 6 Rics (there is an addictive trend happening here)! I don't think my husband had any idea how putting a Ric into my hands would rock our world!

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu May 08, 2003 4:12 am

Melissa: I would think, seeing as you have a 330, that you would especially like the Premonition DVD by John Fogerty. He plays a model 1997, certainly a sister or cousin to the 330. "Rockin" or "Rickin" you'll really enjoy it.

bigbajo60 · Post by **bigbajo60** » Thu May 08, 2003 2:25 pm

I was 17 when I got my 1977 MG 4001 (SN - QB 606). Unfortunately, against all instructions from me, the dealer opened the box before I got there, so I never saw any paperwork, wrenches, etc. Worse yet, I also got my bass with a bit of a thumbnail ding, courtesy of said dealer.

Still, it was a thrilling thing for 17 year old me to hold a brand new Rickenbacker bass for the first time.
(sigh)

longhouse · Post by **longhouse** » Thu May 08, 2003 6:41 pm

Let's see... it is/was a '95 model so I must have been 23/24 years old. Yikes. I took out a high finance/high interest loan for 2K, marched into the guitar shop, and stated -matter of factly- "I want to order a Rickenbacker" (I'm sure I said Ricken-bocker). Naturally, they challenged my veracity and insisted on a bit of $$$ up front.
I looked through the catalog with the owner (Bob Willcutt 'you don't want that guitar, it's tiny') and decided on the 360V64 in Jetglo. It took nine months to get there and I never once touched the money set aside for the guitar. A lovely day when it arrived.
Cheers, Noel

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Fri May 09, 2003 4:02 am

Thanks, Peter.... I just may have to check that DVD out!

jps · Post by **jps** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 1:35 am

17 when I got my '67 4005WB JG for the whapping sum of $175.00.

mayhem · Post by **mayhem** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 9:58 am

About six weeks ago, age 24, I played a black 620. I knew instanly that it was MY guitar. Took me a couple weeks to get the cash together and it was gone. So I searched and searched and eventually found one in Vancouver (I'm in Ottawa). It was blue, though, and I wasnt sure I'd like the colour. I asked for the serial number so I could be sure it was new. I discovered that the serial number was only a few digits off from the one I'd fallen in love with. That told me "This guitar was crafted by the same hands, maybe on the same day as the first one." How could I possibly find a closer match? So I went for it. Now, I still intend to own a nice Strat, and a Gibson ES-335, but aside from that I think I'll buy and play a whole pile of Rickenbackers over the next few decades!

chark · Post by **chark** » Sun Jun 01, 2003 5:58 pm

First Rick was in 1984, a 1967 365 Fireglow that was my one and only guitar for 5-6 years; I was 19 at the time. I really wanted what I later discovered was the Rose-Morris 1998 but the 365 was the closest I could find in the area I was living. (Finally got one of those last year, a '66 1998!) I moved to LA in 1984 and within 2 days of searching all of the vintage guitar stores I found the other object of all my searches: a '66 370/12, payed $595 for it back then. It sure was harder to find rare instruments in those days--no internet!