Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I was in Kansas City yesterday and stopped by Quigley Music on Troost Avenue; they had a nice selection of Rickenbackers, more than I'd ever seen in one place before. As I recall they had the following models: 330 FG, 330/12 FG, 360 FG, 360 MG, 360 Blue Boy (looked better than I thought it would), 360/12 FG, and a 620 Mid Blue. They also had a few basses, including one of the C64s. Prices were comperable to POTR and Elderly, at least from what I saw; they will ship as well.

Hey, are you from KC or just visiting? Did you go down the street off 85th & troost and get some BBQ at Stroud's or BB's lawnside BBQ? Good stuff! I had a gig at BB's that night. Quigley's is and always has been the top Rickenbacker dealer in KC. Musician's Friend is here in KC too, but only mail order, unless you can find a blem Rick in the clearance store next to their warehouse.

I got my first 4001 back in '78 at Quigley's music when old man Quigley was still alive. They always had a nice selection of Ricks, Fenders, Gibsons, Hofners, etc. in these glassed off sound rooms. That way you didn't have to listen to all the hack kids playing way too loud ala Guitar Center. I used to go there so often that they would just wave to me as they threw me the keys to the room with the Ricks in it. One day I was in one of the rooms playing "Day Tripper" on a Hofner violin bass and I look up through the window to see Paul McCartney and his drummmer looking back at me smiling. I was so stunned that by the time I got up to go meet him, he had left. Wings were playing that night and they were buying up all the Regal Rock drum sticks in the store(the factory was on strike). I had tickets to Wings that night anyway and I still have the concert program and ticket stub. I still have the hang tag from the bass too but the 4001 was stollen six months later at a gig(serial#RI 5051)

Landon: No, I was passing through, although I've heard great things about Stroud's (Stroud is my middle name, coincidentally), maybe next time.

Dane: What a story! If that had happened in a movie it would have been criticized for being unbelievable.

The real kicker after all these years is that had I caught him before he left, I coulda had him sign the Hofner and really cleaned up on eBay with it!

Cool story, I never heard of any famous musicians going there, but I am not suprised. I am sure a few have stopped by there over the years, while in town for gigs. My first Rick was a '76 4001 bought there (but I was not the original owner) I acquired it used 11 years later in 1987, Although, The case still had their famous metal screw-on plate, with there logo. I guess if that was on there, you could get your guitar, or bass adjusted or set up for free - or something like that. I don't know if they still do that. I don't have that bass anymore, I sold it off in '92 for a new 4003, after butchering it by making it fretless due to wearing the frets out.

Dane....

What a way cool experience!! I only WISH something like that would've happened to me......

Back in the DAY, our musical idols seemed to be much more accessable. Here's another blast from the past if you're from K.C.. Ed Asner(of Mary tyler Moore Show fame) was also from K.C.. His brother Ben Asner had a small record store called Capers' Corner Records(named after his dog). Ben was a bit older than Ed and was this big gruff kinda guy but with a heart of gold. I started going there when I was 14 (1974) and he was always asking how we were and if there was anything we wanted to special order that he didn't have. One time he squeezed in between me and my buddy, put his arms around our shoulders and ask if we knew where we could find any good Who tickets. Even though he was a small record store, he always had good seats to stuff. So he leads us behind the counter and pulls out the map of Arrowhead stadium and a block of Who tickets in the eighth row center! He was always doing stuff like that for us. So one time he says"You kids coming down Friday nite? I got someone special making an in store appearance who's also gonna play". It was Robert Fripp(founder of King Krimson for those who don't know). Ya had to have a pass to get in and they were free. So about 100 people showed up and there was Fripp in the middle of the store with all of the record bins pushed aside so we could sit on the floor and watch. He played his black Les Paul through two Revox reel to reels and told stories for about an hour and a half. Afterwards he signed autographs and all of the records we brought that he had played on including his current album(I had him sign his new record and a Krimson album). When ever Ed's brother was on T.V., he had it on in the store while he sat behind the counter and watched. After I moved away in '85, Ben died of a heart attack and the store eventually closed. He had gotten us tickets to Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, UK, Asia, you name it. We were just goofy kids but he treated us like kings when we went down to his store. Then there was the time we went to NO records over in Missouri and met U.K...but that's another story for another time.

If there's a rock and roll heaven, Ben's probably having a good time! Great story. Treat people good, and you'll live forever (in their hearts)