Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Does anyone know at which era, or single that Pete Townsend stopped using the Rickenbacker and switched to a different guitar?

This site, http://www.thewho.net/whotabs/equipment.htm, should give you a good idea. Pretty thorough.

Wow....thanks a lot. What a great site.

He went back and forth.



From about May 1964- Jan. 1966

Then got into Fenders for awhile---Teles then Strats.

Then picked up Rics again for awhile in 1967 (Pictures of Lily era).


Then didn't seem to touch one again until the 1980s.



But those first two pivotal years, '64-'66......ace!

Some of the anecdotes on this site are priceless:

First Amp, at age 12: "Little Selmer amp, bought after two-year paper round. Thrown at his grandmother and destroyed."

Sound familar?

I was wondering if that was a Rickenbacker on Pictures of Lily. I could hear pretty clearly that he was playing one in the earlier era. I've been listening to the Who today and thought that that could be a Rickenbacker. I'm glad it is, cause I love the sound of the guitar on that song.

I didn't read the line about his throwing the amplier at his Grandma, that's hilarious. That does sound familiar.

pocaloc wrote:I was wondering if that was a Rickenbacker on Pictures of Lily. I could hear pretty clearly that he was playing one in the earlier era. I've been listening to the Who today and thought that that could be a Rickenbacker. I'm glad it is, cause I love the sound of the guitar on that song.

It was recorded with a Mapleglo 360/12 "New Style"


In fact....here's the man himself recording the song with said guitar.

Neat old footage, Collin. The waning period of him using a Rick.

I agree, that's some cool footage of them in the studio. I've only ever seen the video of them playing along with the recording. Keith Moon is always so funny in these early videos. He's not even trying to play make it look like he's actually playing the song. He's just having fun being the character that he was. Always good for a chuckle.

You do get a good look at Pete's 360 though.

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Great footage guys. Collin, you're the man. I've got to start exclusively watching youtube I guess. I can't believe the cool stuff you can find on there.

I've often seen it as this:

May '64-January '66, exclusive use of Rics, mostly the 1998 and 1993/12 models, with occasional use of the 1997, as well as a 360S/12 which was a 360/12OS with an f-hole
February '66-May '66, switch to Fender Telecasters, probably using the 1993/12 when needed
June '66-April '67, begins frequent use of 1997, alternating between that, 1993/12, a new '65(?) 360/12NS MG and various Teles, including during the "Quick One" and "Pictures of Lily" single
April '67, switches permanently to Fender Stratocaster

Pete did not begin using Rics until 1980, when the "Face Dances" LP was recorded, Pete acquired a July '64 1993/12, which he sprayed black and removed the TRC for unknown reasons

In 1987, when the model 1998PT was issued, Pete began using all sorts of modern, vintage and reissue Rickenbackers. Today, he has a few Rics, but they remain in his home studio.

Scastles wrote:This site, http://www.thewho.net/whotabs/equipment.htm, should give you a good idea. Pretty thorough.

holy christ, that site is amazing. THANK YOU for posting it.

That was very interesting about Pete's Rics, Jake.
Just glancing at your forum photo Jake - I assume that you have been told more than once you look like Tom Petty.....At a quick glance - I thought your photo was of Tom!

GSRIC wrote:.....At a quick glance - I thought your photo was of Tom!

It is Tom.

collin wrote:

GSRIC wrote:.....At a quick glance - I thought your photo was of Tom!

It is Tom.