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Are Rics played mosty by the over 40 crowd?

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 12:06 pm
by r_andrew
I'm a new Ric owner (lefty 360-6 JG). I'm enjoying the posts on the site. Everyone seems very knowledgable and friendly. The Ric afficianados seem to have a great bond with eachother, that I think is great, and feel great to be "in the club".

My question is, what is the average age of the Ric players out there? I just turned 41 and that was my b-day present - my first Ric. I don't seem to see a lot of younger players using Rics, or is that just my imagination...Just curious for anybody who wants to reply...

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 12:25 pm
by beefandbones
I just turned 31 and I've been playing Rickenbackers since I was 19. I can think of at least three young local bands off the top of my head that play Rics.

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 12:39 pm
by Scastles
The older group, like myself, may have more of an affinity for the Ric because of the groups who introduced us to the Ric. Byrds, Beatles, etc. But with that in mind it still takes nothing away from the craftmanship or the quality of the Ric sound.. they are undoubtedly one of the best. I also think younger players might find the Ric a good situational guitar, but I can't speak for them. Maybe someone has a list of current name bands using Rics. It would be interesting to see, reagardless of format the band, or individual, who use Rics.

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 12:46 pm
by wrattej
I've been playing a Ric since 1980 (aged 15) and I'm still playing one now aged 40. I've loved Rics ever since I heard "All Mod Cons" by The Jam.

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 5:51 pm
by jps
These guys were pretty young when they first got their Rickenbackers:

Chris Squire, Mike Rutherford, Geddy Lee, Roger Glover, Jon Camp, you get the idea!

I was 17 when I got my first Rickenbacker:

Image

This one! Image

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 6:17 pm
by oreca
I got my 370 last year at 17.
Couldn't be happier...

Oh, wait, yes I could be, I could have 2!

Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 6:56 pm
by stuart
I'm 19, going on 20 in mid-Feb, and hopefully receiving my first RIC (360/12C63) at that age. As Stan mentioned, it was groups like The Beatles and The Byrds that planted the RIC seed in my mind. I'm looking forward to owning one. I shall keep it forever.

Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 12:12 am
by tony_carey
At the age of 44, I qualify as being an over 40 user, but my first Ric (a jetglo 4001) was when I was 18 & played them ever since. The only difference is, that now I have more of them!
I was never influenced by any band, not really being in to the Byrds or Beatles, but I remember when I was 12 or 13, seeing a Rickenbacker appraisal in a guitar magazine. I had never heard of them, but I thought that they were the most beautiful guitars I had ever seen. I actually cut them out & kept them in my wallet. When I got married on my 18th birthday, my wife used her savings to buy me my 4001.
I am just so grateful that the quality matched the beauty.

Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 1:08 am
by rickinroma
I've been playing Ricks since I was 17...now I am 37...this is my last Xmas present :-)
Image

Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 2:54 am
by los_sentidos
I think a lot of it is to do with price and how readily available they are...Well that's here in the UK. But a lot of signed bands are playing them (more so on the Bass front) but bands like Kasabian have beenseen sporting Rics

Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 3:27 am
by 360dave660
I got my first ric for my 30th birthday present six and a-half years ago and I have consistantly added since.

Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 4:27 am
by jingle_jangle
Tony,

1.) did you keep both / one / the other?

2.) did the quality match the beauty on both / one / the other?

Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 4:43 am
by spencer
Nope - I'm 32 and I've had three.

Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 5:12 am
by wormdiet
I've wanted one since age 13 or so but only acquired a 330 last year. (I'm 29 years old + a year or two Image )

But I think the overall trend is true - you don't get a lot of teenagers buying Ricks like you would a mid-line Fender, Ibanez, or Shecter.

That being said, there was an interesting thread on harmony central about (Well, pictures of) female guitarists. Quite a few had ricks, and most of them weren't probably over 30.

Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 5:15 am
by iamthebassman
Bought my first Ric in 1978 when I was in a punk band. I'm now 46 and since '78 I have never not had at least one Ric.