If John, George, and Paul Didn't Play A Ric, Would You?

Tommy · Post by **Tommy** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 2:28 pm

Simple yes or no question (and give a brief explanation after your yes or no). If John, George, or Paul did not play a Rickenbacker do you think you would have bought one? (This question maintains that all other famous Ric players played Rics. Just not those three guys.)

My answer:
No.

My introduction to Rickenbacker were those three guys and all of my guitar purchases have some basis in what those three guys played. They strongly influence what guitars I buy and play. I love The Byrds, The Who, The Smiths, R.E.M, Tom Petty....but not enough where they would influence me to spend thousands on guitars they play.

Grey · Post by **Grey** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 2:31 pm

Yes, my favorite Rickenbacker guitar haden't even been made yet.

cjj · Post by **cjj** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 2:47 pm

Absolutely.

I got into Ricks when I was unhappy with the current bass I had (A Guild). The keyboard player in our band saw an ad for a used 4001 in the paper and said I should check it out. I did and was hooked, and bought it. I'd actually never even heard of Rickenbacker at the time!

This was back in something like 1978, long before the internet and such where it's easy to find pictures of bands and what they play. I was too poor at the time to buy many albums so I didn't have a lot of them to look at to know what various bands played. It was quite a while after I'd gotten the 4001 that I found out that THE bass sound I'd really loved was in fact a Rickenbacker - Chris Squire:Yes, Geddy Lee:Rush, etc.

Folkie · Post by **Folkie** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 3:33 pm

Even if The Beatles hadn't made the guitars popular, I would certainly have played one, because my idols: Roger McGuinn of The Byrds and Peter Buck of R.E.M. played them.

Medicus1963 · Post by **Medicus1963** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 3:36 pm

yep,
i do not think i played them, because the beatlesmare my idols and my main musical influence.

Peter

electrofaro · Post by **electrofaro** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 3:48 pm

Folkie wrote:Even if The Beatles hadn't made the guitars popular, I would certainly have played one, because my idols: Roger McGuinn of The Byrds and Peter Buck of R.E.M. played them.

Roger wouldn't have played one if he hadn't seen one in a Beatle movie... and without Beatles with Rickies, I doubt Peter would've had one, either; I bet he would've stuck to Teles

I don't really see the use of the thread's question, tbh.

Folkie · Post by **Folkie** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 3:59 pm

Wildberry wrote:
Folkie wrote:Even if The Beatles hadn't made the guitars popular, I would certainly have played one, because my idols: Roger McGuinn of The Byrds and Peter Buck of R.E.M. played them.
Roger wouldn't have played one if he hadn't seen one in a Beatle movie... and without Beatles with Rickies, I doubt Peter would've had one, either; I bet he would've stuck to Teles

I don't really see the use of the thread's question, tbh.

Point taken, Werner, but the question was about MY influences, not the influences of my influences.

Besides, do we have any evidence that the Beatles inspired PB to pick up a Ric? I think it was the Byrds all the way, although you certainly know more about PB than I do, so I'd be interested to hear your take on this issue.

admin · Post by **admin** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 4:50 pm

The Beatles are the reason I got hooked on Rickenbacker guitars.

I play a 360 because Werner does.

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 7:07 pm

Yes, but no doubt that The Beatles were a huge influence on me. You can't beat Rick styling, playability, and its unique sound. It was also that Ricks were harder to obtain in the '60s when I bought my first. To me they had a mystique.

Colonel Blues · Post by **Colonel Blues** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 7:11 pm

No, the Beatles are not the reason why I purchased a Rick', but… I'm happy they were playing some ones !!

I've always look at the Beatles on the "recording side", for their composition skills, arrangement and voices harmonies, never paid attention to their instruments until recently…

In fact, everytime I've heard these chiming tones on many records, I liked those, and discovered long times later they were Rickenbacker sounds…

And everytime I saw someone playing a Rickenbacker guitar on TV or live, the artist always had something special, uncommon, compared to others… some kind of personal taste that was close to mine…

Finally, after 30 years playing guitar without any contact with a Rick' in real life, I bought my 330/6 JG, used, and it's the most amazing guitar I ever had !

idealassets · Post by **idealassets** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 7:16 pm

Sorry,
You can never outguess the what if's of history.

jps · Post by **jps** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 7:22 pm

Who are/were John, George and Paul?

ajish4 · Post by **ajish4** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 7:22 pm

Yep, I blame Chris Squire.

cjj · Post by **cjj** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 7:28 pm

jps wrote:Who are/were John, George and Paul?

I suppose I can admit it... I had no idea that the Beatles played Ricks until a few years ago when I found out on this (and the RIC) forum...

'Course, I've never paid a whole lot of attention to the Beatles anyway...

Wurlitzer · Post by **Wurlitzer** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 7:39 pm

Yes I would. I love the 360 it's my favorite electric guitar. 21 frets of course.

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