Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I am wondering deos anyone have any problems actualy playing thier guitars, my 1997 is so beautiful to look at that i can no longer play it for fear of scratching it or accidentaly knocking it or something. i can gently play it but would love to bang it into my amp but i just cant do it. and now it just sits in its case and i am thinking of a 330 model .. i have had a 330x12 in the past and had no problems beating it hard. i think a lot of people have this problem as i have looked at guitars for sale on the web and magazines etc and i have never seen so many old mint rickenbackers in comparison with gibsons or fender. no one wants a beaten old ric !! i feel its causing me some problems with my self expression or am i imagining it... i have started looking at jazzmasters and imagine myself whacking it into my amp after a horrendous B minor chord.. who's gonna admit to that also ?

I buy them to use them. I don't get any satisfaction from collecting. That is something only you can answer for yourself. If it were mine I would use it.

I want a beaten old Rick. I've been looking for months.

Let me borrow you 1997. I'll break it in for you. When you get it back, you won't even be able to tell if you put a scratch on it.

I agree with Ken - I play my guitars. I rebuilt the 62 and had in the bar two weeks later. I finished an 88 610 last month - it's having a coming out party in 2 weeks. I sure didn't do all that work just to look at them.

When I started my Rick collection, I made sure I bought a "player". Its a '01 fireglo 4003, although its in EXC++ condition, its the one I take out and play. I've taken them all out, but the fireglo most always gets the call.

To me its the one that plays and sounds the best, but then again, I'm sure its just because its the one I've gotten used to and learned to tweak for just the right tone.

After saying that, we kind of cheat ourselves by
hoarding and hiding the real nice ones. They are made to be played.

I eventually came to the conclusion myself. You can't REALLY play it if you're worried about it or conscience about it's worth while you play it.
I got rid of all my vintage stuff a while back and just focused on getting reissues.
I have no need for a guitar that I can't knock over once in awhile.

Don;t have that problem anymore!

I was treating my new 660/12 very daintily. . . obsessively. not breathing on it, wiping it down for longer than I was actually playing, stuff like that. So I get home and take it out to play it last night. As I am putting on the strap, the cable plug drops right onto the MB face of the guitar, leaving an unobtrusive but unmistakable 1/4 inch diameter *dent* in the finish. No actual finish fractures, but it's no longer mint. Oh well, now I can play it and enjoy.

I buy basses to get use and enjoyment out of them. When I've bought a new (or like new used) I always make myself a little nervous about keeping it perfect for a little while. Eventually a ding or chip will find it's way to my new prize. I just do my best to keep them in as good of a condition as possible but not to the extent that I won't use them. The few Rics that I currently own have some minor blemishes from use but are far from beaters and they've seen many gigs and practices.

I think dinged up guitars got more 'mojo' anyway.

All my Ric basses gig regularly. Even the CS which is somewhat rare, especially a lefty. I don't buy them to stack 'em in the closet.
Rock on!

I purchased my Rickenbacker 360/12CW because I couldn't decide between the two models I liked: a 360/12 and a 325v63. So, unlike you guys I keep mine tucked away and play it rarely and hopefully in five or ten years I can sell it and get the two I want. Then, I will play them out. Unfortunately, I didn't realise how beautiful the flame was on it....dope! Man, those Wilson models look great!

I tend to go for the ones that you can grind on and not worry about a scratch or a dent because they already have that mojo. I'm not much for display cases either, and I tend to play hard, so I want one that isn't too "dainty"

I like to keep my guitars looking like new, as much as I can. I always wash my hands before I pick one up, etc. I also use all of my guitars fairly regularly. I find that I can keep them nice by just being careful with them; and that allows me to show these beauties off when I gig, without worrying too much.
I've never been able to justify buying a 'beater' guitar. I know I would do the same for it; nurse it back to health and treat it with the same loving care I treat my other instruments.
I think all of my guitars have class, and they don't need to be 'beaten up' to have it.
Craig

Steve Howe has a Gibson ES-175D that is around 40-45 years old and he claims is in just about mint condition. That guitar goes with him on every tour! So you should be able to play your guitar and still keep it new looking if you are careful.