First Rickenbacker Sighting Comments

John Lennon's Black 325 on the Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964. This guitar was so unique compared to others I had seen up until this time. The rhythm guitar took center stage on "All My Loving" with a presence that continues to be unforgettable to this day, a mere 35 years later! The Beatles opened the show with "All My Loving" followed by "Till There Was You" and then "She Loves You." They closed the show with "I Saw Her Standing There" and "I Want To Hold Your Hand."

Ditto. I still have great memories of how that little black and white Rickenbacker stuck in my mind, all those years ago !!!

Like most teenagers, I was glued to a grainy black & white tv in a basement rec room watching and hearing Ed Sullivan introduce me to a life-altering experience. For years the guitars on that show, and the music, were my holy grail.

The same. As a nine year old then, I thought that was the coolest looking guitar I'd ever seen, not that I'd paid much attention to what guitars looked like up until then. And the music definitely got me into wanting to learn guitar (which didn't happen for another 4 or 5 years).

First Rickenbacker sighting: Also John Lennon's 325 on Ed Sullivan Show. First chance to study what a Rickenbacker looked like: The cover of the "Saturday Evening Post" which featured the Beatles. It is reproduced on page 73 of the Smith Rickenbacker book. Other early sightings (albums): 1966-The Rolling Stones "Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass)" On the inside folio Brian Jones is sitting down with a round top Fireglo 360/12. 1966-The Kinks "Greatest Hits"-Pete Quaife playing a Fireglo 1999 (export version of a 4001 bass) 1967-The Who "Happy Jack"-Pete Townshend windmill strumming a Mapleglo 360/12. Am I a child of the English Invasion or what?

"A Hard Day's Night" was my first RIC sighting.

The first Ric that really registered on my psyche was George's 12-string during the baggage car scene from Hard Day's Night. Funny thing. I was the bass player in my band back then, and all I could think of was to find out what kind of bass Paul was playing, but none of the music stores in the hick town I grew up in could even find it in a catalog. I was off in college & already had my first Ric 12-string before I found out it was a Hofner. Always wanted one, but still can't justify buying one (and the two Bobcat has right now are gorgeous).

My first Rick sighting was John and George in a Hard Days Night but I didn't really want one until I saw Paul playing his 4001 in Magical Mystery Tour.

The centerfold poster of Magical Mystery Tour. The 4001S was a knockout.

My first Rick sighting was John and George in a Hard Days Night but I didn't really want one until I saw Paul playing his 4001 in Magical Mystery Tour.

Well I really hate to embarass myself with my lack of Ric-o-Time in the saddle, but My first sighting was a Mary Chapin Carpenter video Ohh but what a site... that headstock, those curves and that tone! Had to have one.

John Fogerty, with CCR, live at Royal Albert Hall. (The movie, unfortunately - not in person)

My first Rick sighting was my high school friend's black 320, which he bought new in '78. He was a total Beatles fanatic, and had all the Beatles and Jam picture sleeve singles and albums. His guitar looked cool but was so small; looked like a toy. I don't even know if they make the 320 anymore. He influenced me to buy a '67 fireglo 330.

When I was a child, maybe 10 or so, my dad and I used to lay on our backs and listen to his collection of vinyl. I remember each time he'd switch records he'd explain to me who each band and its members were and show me the photos on the album. My first ric sighting was on the jacket of the Rolling Stones album (Big Hits) High Tides and Green Grass...There is a great photo of my favorite Stone...Brian Jones sitting in the studio with a ric 12 string...I think its a mapleglo 360...ahhh memories...

Geddy Lee, In high school (1981-85) I was a big Rush fan. I bought the "Exit Stage Left" on videotape. Geddy jammed on that 4001 like the monster bass player that he is! Blew my mind. That was enough for me. Couldn't afford a Rick, but local church had an unloved JG 4001 that they "loaned" me for the next 5 years. For further reinforcement I saw YES twice on the "90125" tour, and then REM in 1985 made me realise that when I evolved up to playing 6 strings that a 360 would have to be acquired. Didn't get one until 10 years later.

Also high school, 1976-80. In 1980, after following Rush's music since 1977, I attended their Permanent Waves tour in Seattle. Unbelievable performance. Geddy was just beginning to really use synths along with Taurus pedals and his 4000 Jetglo. Finally realized my dream of owning one when I bought a 1999 Fireglo, 21 years after hearing that sound for the first time.

That would have have been the bass player with Rick Nelson on tv. Long, long ago. I was just taken buy it's shape, every facet of it. Then my older sister brought home the Beatles' first album, I then new what a bass sounded like and where it fit in the music, that connected bass and Rickenbacker for me. I used to dream of owning a Rickenbacker bass and would find bands where the bass player played a Rick and would buy their records just to hear the bass. I finally was able to buy my first one (used of course) when I was 17. Is that an obsession or what?

The first band that made me take notice of Rickenbacker was not the Beatles, the Byrds, CCR, Rush, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, nor REM, although I love all those bands now. In high school I sat at home a lot and listened to early 70s progressive rock. By far my favorite band was and is Genesis. In their 1993 live concert video Mike Rutherford plays a 360/12fg. I've studied it closely and still can't tell if it's a v64 or just an old double bound. Anyway, he only used it for one song - "Dance On A Volcano," in which he also plays some bass pedals with his feet. From then on, I knew that guitar was "different" and I wanted to stand out like he did with that fireglo Ric. After that, I got some bootleg videos of their early 70s show and saw the BEAST - his 'ho-made' 4003+620/12jg doubleneck as seen on the RicReg "Artists" page. Finally, in 1996 I got a 1991 360/12fg which I recently traded out to get a brand spankin' new 660/12fg, to add to my 1967 900mg, 1963 900mg, 1974 330mg. I now have a 1993 360/12v64fg on the way. It'll sound good with my old analog Crumar CPB-1 bass pedals for "Dance On A Volcano"...

The image of a Pete Townshend performing with one. And reducing it to splinters. Of course never knew of the Rickenbacker name until I saw an image of George Harrison's '64 360/12 in a book. After realising what beautiful instruments they were, I had wanted one ever since.

Pete Townshend playing and/or smashing various export models in the book that came with "The Kids Are Alright" movie soundtrack. Of course I had probably *seen* many Rickenbackers prior to that, but this is my earliest recollection of seeing a Rickenbacker and making an association between the guitar and the Rickenbacker brand. I decided I had to own a Rickenbacker mid-way through my second listening of the Jam's _Sound Affects_ (sic) LP.

Man...this is a true test of memory. I believe my first sighting was Mr. Peter Townshend (as Keith Moon shouted before the playing of Young Man Blues on the King Biscuit Flower Hour recording) flailing away on his Ric and eventually ramming it into a speaker or smashing it on the floor. The memory that always rings the clearest was Roger (Jim) McGuinn and his mapleglow 12 string.