Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

http://www.chrisguitars.com/

Check out the Chandler 555......

"...in fact, this model is officially authorized by Rickenbacker..."

Huh?

What's going on with Chandler?? They have a 350-style guitar AND sell blank Ric TRC's...

1. It doesn't look like a RIC.
2. Maybe they mean RIC looked at the design and said "It doesn't look like a RIC go head"
3. If not they are in big trouble

Or maybe they did decide to play it safe and paid a fee to RIC...

the body / headstock look enough like an infringement to me unless Ric gave them the "ok"

The only thing better than a Ric is of course, 2 Rics ...i have 0 interest if it's not made by Rickenbacker

I see it more as an homage, or suggestion, of a Ric than an outright attempt at infringement. Of course, that's up to RIC and the courts to decide, if they wanted to. The headstock on the Chandler on Chris Guitars is like other Gumby headstocks, and the tuning gear arrangement is found on many guitars (The newer 555 has a different headstock, looking at Chandler's site.) Body shape, well, there are only so many guitar shapes you can come up with without getting wacky, most have one or two cutaways and a curved body. It's missing key Rick elements like the TRC, tailpiece, toaster-looking pups, or pickguard style. The neck scale, through-body stringing with no trapeze tail, and 5-way switch give it something different from a Rick 350, I suppose. Maybe some players would be enticed by that. They're made in California, I doubt that Mr Hall is unaware of them. I only get bothered when I see an imitation Rick, usually priced lower for those who "always wanted a Rickenbacker but couldn't afford one".

Calling John Hall!

I got one.

The mini humbuckers are cool but I may replace them with RIC HBs.

It looks to me more like the top half of a 320/350 series guitar attached to the bottom half of a strat than a Rickenbacker, although the Rickenbacker influence is obvious.

The back of the of the Chandler 555 headstock says "Patent by RIC USA".

Well I'm certainly not very impressed.

JimK

I love the idea of a guitar with three mini humbuckers... but not that one.

They look pretty nice to me, what are they priced at? This is a Made in USA guitar, licensed by Rickenbacker?

List Price is $2499.99.