Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I am not sure about the connection, but, I thought this could be of interest.
The Road Amplifier was first built by Bud Ross in Ft. Scott, Ks. in the 1970's, 80's.
This is the same person who use to design and manufacture the Kustom amplifiers and guitars in Chanute, Ks.
Bud was apparently associated with Mr. Hall at Rickenbacker.
Kustom built a guitar that was a direct copy of the Rickenbacker guitars.
After Kustom was sold to Baldwin in the early 1980's, Mr. Ross went on to form the Road Amplifier company.
From my knowledge he ended up selling the company to someone.
Could he have sold it to Rickenbacker.
I worked for and was friends with Mr. Ross from the 1950's, 60's and 70's. I played many Rickenbacker guitars and Kustom look alikes.
I used a few Road amplifiers for awhile, but, never owned one.
Please let me know if this is the connection to Rickenbacker "Road" name.
I am back playing guitar now, and can't wait to buy another Ric.

Bud Ross has never been associated with Rickenbacker. Road was a follow-on company of his after Kustom.

I don't recall all of the details anymore but Road was purchased by someone else and moved to Los Angeles prior to the time we purchased it. We in turn sold the trade name to Celestion.

Kustom sold some guitars that had some minor similarities to our instruments but certainly not a direct copy, otherwise you can bank on the fact that we would have taken legal action.

Thank You John

I am sorry that I said direct copy. I was wrong with that statement. I worked in amplifiers. Your right, they were just similar in looks.
Thanks for informing me that Road was sold to another company before Rickenbacker bought it.
And now, Celestion owns the rights to the name Road.
Again, thank you John for clearing this up. We all love guitars and amp's, so we are always curious about how companies develope and what happens to them when they are sold.
Thanks for building such a fine guitar. I am presently looking at buying one (again).

For those who may be interested, there's a Kustom K200 on eBay right now:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2531035116&category=2384

In the interests of completeness, I should have mentioned that the Kustom K200 is a guitar, not an amplifier. It does have a cats-eye soundhole, and body construction similar to, but not exactly like, a 330/360, so has some relevance - but the 'grain' of the wood in the headstock is truly bizarre.....