Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Call me a grouch, but I always thought that referring to a guitar as "she" (or "he," though I haven't heard it as much) was creepy. Thoughts?

Guilty as charged. I guess I do it without thinking but for me it's a term of affection and endearment, albeit for an inanimate object. The psychological implicatations are many I suppose but I'll leave that discussion for another time.

Is there a doctor in the house?

Signed,
Creepy in Seattle

I've never called any of my guitars "she" and none of them have names either.

I don't have a problem if someone else does it, they are a thing of beauty after all.

One thing I will never call my guitar is "axe" - that's just too shredder for me.

I can name my cars, but not my guitars....just seems too weird....where IS that doctor??

I haven't named any of mine and the term "axe" in reference to guitars and basses has never worked for me either.

care to chime in here, Mr. Paul Yan?
I've always called mine the "green one" or the "don't touch that one" etc.

"Don't touch that one" good one, Jerry lol. I sometimes catch myself calling my basses "she" and then I think, 'I don't know any women with voices that deep'. But I still do it.

You know, a little bit of me is a contrarian, and if somebody says they find it weird to call their guitars 'she' or even to give them names, I'll let them know straight away the names of my Ricks and whom I've named them after.
Ready?
My 1979 Azureglo 4080 is 'Star', after the late Star Stowe (for those of you who may be wondering who SS is, she appeared in the February 1977 issue of 'Playboy' magazine holding an Azureglo 4001); my 1970 Fireglo 21 fret 4001 is 'Jaclyn', after actress Jaclyn Smith; my 1974 Jetglo 4001 is Cher; my 1976 white 4001 is 'Angelica', after fashion model Angelica Wallgren; and my 1980 Burgundyglo 4001 is 'Shana', after fashion model Shana Zadrick.
Come on, I know some of you have given your Ricks names. Let's hear them!
Yeah, Paul, do chime in.

That's cool, Rickcrazy.

I'll admit that I tried to name a guitar years ago, but I just couldn't get myself to call it by the name.

Actually, I guess I do have one guitar that sort of has a name. It's my G&L ASAT Z2 (Telecaster style). I call it the "Twangmonster" because that's what it is.

I don't call my 360 anything but 'You'....as in "Hey YOU...get over here".
I have an ASAT too....

LOL - "Hey YOU", that's what I'll call my 360 too.

I wonder if there is a Rickenbacker/G&L thing going on. They both aren't the most popular guitars around, but I believe they offer the best build quality, and they're reasonably priced.

Plus, I know I can't get enough of either.

My 4004Cii is Claudia. That is the only instrument I have with a name and that is because she came with that name from RIC.

My wife calls my guitars my "mistresses".

Ha! Guess I'm one of the creepy kinds.
Yeah, my basses are my girlfriends and soulmates, besides my wife...and they all have a name!

-Annie: '98 4003 FG. I was listening to Heart's debut album, "Dreamboat Annie" a lot while I was dreaming and waiting for my 1st RIC bass.

-Akiko: '72 4001 MG FL. Akiko is my mother's Japanese name, meaning "Autumn Girl". Even though my '72 was made in December, I gave her the name because she's the oldest mama among all my basses and I wanted her to be the symbol representing my love for my mother.

-Sophie: '86 4003 Shadow. I bought her in the same month where my big sister Sophie got married. As a celebration, I named her after my sister.

-Michelle:'02 Epiphone Viola Bass. Named in tribute to the Beatles' great composition.

-Amber:'02 Michael Kelly QAB II acoustic bass guitar. You're not gonna believe this...she was named after a certain "Amber" in a porno film!

-Janis: '95 Fender Jazz Bass Plus. Janis Joplin, my favorite white blues singer.

But most of the time I call each of them "baby".

IMHO, I find that giving my instruments female names makes me very spiritually connected to and inspired by them. With names, they aren't lifeless pieces of wood any more. Each girl has her own special vibe.

By the way Sérgio, what's a "contrarian"? Couldn't find it in my dictionary.

A contrarian is...

One who takes a contrary view or action, especially an investor who makes decisions that contradict prevailing wisdom, as in buying securities that are unpopular at the time.