Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Howdy,

We're all Rickenbacker enthusiasts here. We've seen the funny looks from the "Les Paul" crowd, heard "Strat Men" tell us that we can't play the "Blooze" on a Rickenbacker.
This never quite made sense to me. Some of the most influential guitarists/Musicians of the Rock & Roll era used Rickenbackers and still we have to fight for respect. OK, Basses and 12-strings get grudging respect, but woe to the young fellow sporting a 330-6 string at a Blues Jam!
I'll conclude my rant by saying that LP's, Strats & Teles are great guitars. However, if you're tired of looking and/or sounding like everyone else, test-drive a Rickenbacker! Ya'll, please forgive me for "preaching to the Choir"

Larry

I wholeheartedly agree with Larry's view about Rickenbackers and the blues. One of the most influential blues guitarists of modern times, the late Stevie Ray Vaughan, used a nice Capri 360 before switching to his famous beat-up Strat. As far as I'm concerned, that's all the proof that's needed to show that Rickenbackers make fine blues instruments. I understand that Stevie Ray later gave this guitar to Hubert Sumlin and it was subsequently stolen. Somebody out there knows where it is.......

Darren,

Ha! A local blues "gunslinger" (who btw, isn't an anti-Rick guy) mentioned something to me about the late SRV and a Rickenbacker for slide work. I didn't know this! Talk about returning a hot serve from the "LP/Strat or nothin" crowd!That's what I call an "in your face" photo!

Respectfully,
Larry Carroll
PS: Thanks for your post, Darren!

I would've loved to have heard SRV on that Ric!

I think if you're playing the blues with other guitarists, it's best to contrast your sounds. Adding a Ric to a Jam is a breath of fresh air

Welcome Sam. You are so right.

I am just learning to play the blues but my weapon of choice is my little 325v63.Is this wrong?Should I use my 330 instead?

Use whatever you like, Mitch - it's clear that there are no rules - GO FOR IT!!

Sam, you are so right...as Paul Weller will vouch.

A great guitar to try for blues is the 650! The sound is far from too dirty like the Les Paul and I find that it has more crunch than a Strat!

as far as that Ric that SRV gave to Hubert Sumlin only to have it stolen, apparently Stevie was the one who recovered it....

http://www26.brinkster.com/jakapa/srv/quotes.htm

Hubert Sumlin:
[Stevie] was a friend of mine, partner - one of the best. I been knowing Stevie a long time, since he was a kid - him and Jimmie. I played with them so many times in Austin when Antone's had the first club on 6th and Brazos.
I'll tell you the truth: That boy was something else, man. I feel like he was one of the greatest guys and guitar players who ever lived. And he was really just getting to do his thing.
He bought a Rickenbacker for me about 10 or 12 years ago, but somebody stole it. Then he found the guitar somewhere in New York, years later. I was playing at Antone's, and here comes Stevie with the same guitar.

Hi everybody -- this post was enough to get me to join the group.

As a working bassist/guitarist, I only ever get compliments on my '76 jetglo 4001. On the six-string front, my jetglo 330 shares stage time with my old Strat. Nobody ever comes up to me and says, "Wow, nice Strat, man!" But I do always get "Dude, that RIC looks/sounds killer!"

Welcome Bill,you will like it here,friendly folks and good converstion.Post some pics of your axes.Jetglo is my favorite Rick color too!

Bill,

I'm thrilled that musicians appreciate your Rickenbackers! In my younger days, gilrs attending our shows made occaisional remarks about how "cool" my little black 320 looked. However, no musician ever said anything positive about my Rickenbacker.
I'll live. I don't want to get people on this board to think that I've got a bunker mentality as a Rick owner. I hope more people show appreciation for Rickenbacker instruments. By the way, you and I have the same name!(trust me)

Larry Carroll

We all here appreciate your (our) Rickenbackers. That's enough for me!