Mike Campbell's Rickenbacker

Marty · Post by **Marty** » Thu Dec 28, 2000 10:42 am

On Mike Campbell's web site, I read the following quote about his black/gold custom Rickenbacker:
"The Rickenbacker Company was making Tom a guitar around 1989 and they asked me if I wanted one. So I had them make me a unique one. It's a semi-hollow body with a wider neck & body than most Ricks. It's based on a John Lennon-style body. The treble pickup is hotter than normal. Most Rickenbackers are good for rhythm but not solos. But with mine, I can actually play solos and it sounds good. It has a lot of bite. I use it for most of our live set."

My question: if Rickenbacker doesn't have a custom shop could they have made more of these? Does anyone else have one?

milo · Post by **milo** » Thu Dec 28, 2000 8:19 pm

What is the address for Mike's website? I tried http://www.mikecampbell.com and it just said coming soon. I've been a fan of his since the first Heartbreakers album.

Marty · Post by **Marty** » Thu Dec 28, 2000 10:52 pm

Hi Jeff,

this isn't an "official" Mike Campbell website but has some good stuff in it.

http://www.wildbluegator.com

simer4001 · Post by **simer4001** » Tue Jan 02, 2001 2:05 pm

In 1987 Rickenbacker gave Tom Petty a model 1997. It can be seen in Richard Smith's book on page 101. I inquired to RIC about this guitar and I was advised that this guitar (1997) with the special pickguard was a gift to Tom. I don't know if this is the same guitar, but it may be. As for not having a custom shop, remember that John Hall gave Paul McCartney a 4004C as a gift (Christmas gift if I recall correctly) before they went into production, so I don't think making a special guitar for an artist is too difficult a chore for RIC.

Marty · Post by **Marty** » Tue Jan 02, 2001 11:30 pm

Thanks for the info Brian,I'll have to look up the
book.I'm looking for another guitar,and I like the
one in the live Tom Petty concert video(must be
mid 90,s).It has toster pickups,and he really did
get a hot tone.Maybe something kin to a 320,which
I,ve not seen too many of in my parts.Well I'll
just wait for whatever Ric might come out with
new this year,or keep my eyes open.Because it will
be a Rickenbacker in the end!

anon · Post by **anon** » Fri Jan 12, 2001 10:28 pm

Mike Campbell has a 615 with the upper horn shaved into a sharp cutaway and finished in black, it looks like a 350....is that the guitar your refering to ??? Tom Petty has used it as well....
FATRAT

anon · Post by **anon** » Fri Jan 12, 2001 10:32 pm

" MARTY " the Nudie Suit Marty ????
or just Marty, Marty???

FATRAT

Marty · Post by **Marty** » Sat Jan 13, 2001 2:39 am

Hi FATRAT,The guitar does look like a 350.Are those semi-hollow? No I'm not Marty Stuart,but he
is a picking buddy of mine.

fatrat · Post by **fatrat** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 1:36 am

the 615s are a solid body with a Rick 4001 type cutaway, the 350s are semi-hollow like a 325 or 320 and look like John Lennons.... Mikes is refinished because he had the upper horn/cutaway cut down sharp like a john Lennon style and with a 615 long scale neck, it looks just the newer 350s...I think when he had this done the 350 model wasnt out yet...So you would have to trash an old 600 series guitar to get what Mike has or get Rickenbacker to do a solid 350 for you...
How well do you know Marty Stuart, maybe he would have some pull with Rickenbacker??? could you ask him to find out for you....
Ive never really listened to his music, Im more into old country stars from the 50s and 60s,along with rock from that era....all the music that he probably listens to, but I sure like his cool vintage nudie suits and guitars he's got, the holy grail is Clarence Whites Tele/b-bender...does he still collect the old 50s stars tour buses???? he had E. Tubb's old bus....Ive read interviews and seen him on TV and he seems like a really cool guy just to talk guitar/vintage junk with, and hang out....didnt he start out playing mandolin in Bill Monroes band??? the stories about the Johnny Cash tours he was on are classic...I read this somewhere I dont know if its true???
but ask him about the time Johnny gave some poor or crippled kid at a show, his favorite vintage Martin acoustic, Cash took the guitar and handed it out to the kid, right in front of Marty, while the show was going....talk about being put on the spot!!!!
FATRAT

Marty · Post by **Marty** » Wed Jan 17, 2001 11:10 pm

Hi FATRAT,
a solid 350 sounds reasonable. I like the
picture of Peter's 350.I guess toasters could get a hotter tone than my stock 360. I'll venture out
and try to get my hands on a 350 to see how I like
it. I know Marty Stuart from when my dad played with Bill Monroe and Marty was with Lester Flatt (by the way, Marty Stuart didn't play mandolin with Bill Monroe, Bill Monroe played mandolin...bluegrass fanatics would kill you over that one...ha!). He was kind of like a big brother to me in the early 70's. I've not seen him play a Rickenbacker but I would almost bet that he has one. He might have more pull with Martin and Fender.

The buses...I've been on his Tubb bus and he is cool about showing people his guitars.

I have a funny Johnny Cash story....Marty said that Johnny carved "God" into the top of his F-5 Gibson mandolin with a pocket knife and told him to think about the Lord when he played it.

If you ever have the chance to talk to Marty, go on up and say hello. He's one of the nicest people you'd ever meet and loves a chance to talk guitars.

fatrat · Post by **fatrat** » Thu Jan 18, 2001 1:42 am

yeah Johnny must have been a nutty guy to work with....Marty, seems like the kind of guy I would get a kick out of hanging out with and talking guitar stuff with...plus I get the feeling we are into the samr things old cars, old clothes, old guitars & amps, and 50s country music and 60s pop rock....he just come across as a real nice kind of guy....i like that....
FATRAT