Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Friday night, I was invited to play at a medical benefit, as part of a line-up of musicians and bands. I brought my 330 MG, aka "Blondie", and knocked out five songs - three originals, and two old covers. Once again, the guitar got several compliments, even though I played and sang really well. Afterward, I was outside, and one guy says to the other guy "hey man, this guy was playing a Rickenbacker". The other guy, who happened to be an old dude, who also happens to be quite possibly the worst singer I've ever heard, says "I played one of those in the 60s, they're like flimsy little toys, the neck bends in half when you play them". I'm looking at the guy like "uh, I don't know what you're talking about man, they're like, all solid maple dude". Anyway, I didn't stick around to argue. I just thought it was wierd that an older guy would have such a negative impression of RICs. I guess I shouldn't value his opinion too much, or anyone that let's him sing in their band, for that matter. My friend heard the guy singing, and he is usually very nice about this sort of thing, but he said "now I know what death sounds like". I said "I don't think I could sing that bad if I tried", to which he replied "no way, you'd half to be in your coffin and buried in the ground, and even then, still not this bad". Pretty funny. I'll post some pic's when I get them !

Well Steve, this is America where everyone is entitled to their opinions... no matter how inaccurate, ill-informed and ridiculous they may be. Wise to take the highroad.

That reminds me of a guy who I told that I was "fond" of Rickenbackers. He said "aren't those real tinny sounding?" I just said "Yeah, real tinny sounding, you know like The Beatles, The Byrds, The Kinks, The Who, YES, etc". What a creep.

The sound I get with my 330 is so far from tinny. The fact that such amazing instruments, like the 330 and 360, are standard issue, is a testament to what a prized possession ANY Rickenbacker is. Also consider that the factory remains in the same place, and that RIC never sold out to a bigger company, or moved any production overseas, is such an oddity, and a marvel, in today's world of cheap labor and mass production. Even with the new prices, a Rickenbacker still remains a good value, in my eyes.

Don't sweat it. I was told by a guy at a musicstore that Rickenbackers were toys. Don't sweat it. the more they hate them, the smaller the backlog!

Steve, the guy who couldn't sing was probably just jealous! Some people just don't have a clue....

The fact that you can sing, and also play such a great guitar must have been more than he could handle, LOL!

Ironically, I was once told that the necks were too thick!

Thanks for the great story, Steve. And the rest of the comments, well I haven't had such a good laugh all day long. Can't wait to see the reactions I get when the Awaited One arrives.


JimK

The North Bay area where George and I live is filled with yellow-toothed, stubble-strewn, opinionated old farts with voices like steel wool, who will belch out uninformed opinions on any topic, just to validate their own overextended existence.

Then again, others like us prefer to post online, as it saves our voices for "singing".

Ricks are a relative rarity, but they still have a hold on a lot of people. I went to a party last weekend and brought along both the 330 and the 620/12. The half dozen or so guys there who played - and they had a wide range of skills - were all very taken with my two, even to the point of one of them telling the dj spinning records to stop for minute just so he could play a G chord on the 12 without even being plugged in.

So, yeah, screw that guy.

Very good, VERY good ... The Curmudgeon strikes again ! I'd say this guy's voice was more like a toad, than steel wool, with a range of approximately one gravelly, in-articulate, non-musical note. The fact that he could find musicians who would allow him to represent the band with his voice shows how little dignity the band mambers have. The lesson here is that any band thinking of playing in public should record themeselves playing, and listen to themselves in their cars. If they can't stand what they're hearing, they should probably think twice about getting on stage !

jingle_jangle wrote:The North Bay area where George and I live is filled with yellow-toothed, stubble-strewn, opinionated old farts with voices like steel wool, who will belch out uninformed opinions on any topic, just to validate their own overextended existence.

Then again, others like us prefer to post online, as it saves our voices for "singing".

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Whoa!