Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

In've just read an intresting article in issue 16 of the UK Bass Guitar Magazine (Shaun Elliot, many many thanks for sending it me). In this edition there's an interview with Chris Squire.

During this interview Squire is asked about Rickenbacker and about his 4001s. He is then asked

Nick Beggs - Question : Do you still run it in Stereo

Squire :
Yes ! Still! I invented that whole thing and then Rickenbacker started to make them in stereo

Nick Beggs - Question : Did they give you a Royalty on that

Squire :
No, but in those days they were just the guys who bought Rickenbacker. the owner (I'm presuming he means F. C. Hall) was a business guy who saw a business opportunity and knew nothing about music. The son, John Hall, persuaded his dad to buy it. I went in there, I guess sometime in the 70's and tried to explain to them the business they were in. And you know at that point in time they didn't even give the Beatles free guitars. I said "You've got to give Paul mcCartney a free bass; it will be good for you. You've got to understand marketing

Now, as much as I like Squire as a bassist, this comes across as a massive ego trip, (actually the whole interview comes across in this manner) ... Ric-O-Sound was around as an option in 1968, and became standard in 1969, so by the time he got to Rickenbacker "sometime in the 70's" Ric-O-Sound was already a standard option on the 4001.

I find Squire's statments to be be very crass, and in poor taste. As for giving the Beatles free instruments, by the 70's they collectivley had more money than brain cells and could well afford to buy their own !!!!

According to Smith p. 131, Rick-O-Sound was a deluxe option starting in 1960. I think it was made a standard deluxe feature sometime around '64 - '65.

I believe FC bought Rickenbacker in around 1952 which would mean that a 2 year-old John Hall was helping his father make major business decisions. Kudos to you John!

Hi Ted, thanks for the update, I figured ROS was early 60's.

That is what is in the Smith book but I think it is right. The part about when it became a deluxe feature is just my guess. It could have been later than '64.

I had a conversation with the editor about this article a few months back and he said he was going to follow up on it a bit. The Hall ownership of Rickenbacker, the presentation of Paul's bass and the invention of ROS predated Chris by quite a few years I'm afraid. Another case of the Les Paul syndrome, I'm afraid.

I'm a *huge* Squire fan, but that's been tempered quite a bit since I've been online, and had easy access to information. I agree with you, Jim - seems like an egotistical thing to say, and plainly incorrect. My biggest (non-musical) issue with CS - seems he can't be anywhere for any length of time without a drink in his hand. I'm wondering if this is the reason for a lot of the other things - statements like this interview excerpt, conflicting info about recording gear, his seemingly never ending quest for Owner Pt. II (more sales = more partying perhaps), etc.

Another case of the Les Paul syndrome, I'm afraid.

What??? You mean Les didn't invent electricity, recording and the Spanish guitar?

Didn't Al Gore invent Ric-o-sound ... oh ... that was the internet he invented ...

are you guys suprised ... isn't EVERYBODY in the music business an egomaniac?

I got a kick out of all of the mispelled names in the article ...

Hi John.
I was deeply saddened at the overall tone of the interview. It came across very poorly, and I was suprised that the Author didn't take the time to verify some of the things that were said.

In particular I was very annoyed about the off hahded comments about "the guy that owned the place"

A wise man once said, "Trust the art, not the artist."

Funny.

I have to agree,,, and Im one of the biggest Squire fans on the planet. He should have thought that one out before opening his mouth.

It has been rumored that the big fish occasionally lurks here. I don't know if it is true but it would be cool to chat with him once in a while.

Maybe he's among us Ted!