cktimes.ca Archives for Classic Vinyl
Classic Vinyl
RICKENBACKER GUITARS
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Rickenbacker 331 Light Show 1971
Rickenbacker Thick-Body Hollow body 1990
Rickenbacker Combo Tulip shape 1957
Rickenbacker Double-neck 1975 
Rickenbacker Astro Kit Guitar 1964
Rickenbacker 460 Cresting Wave 1961
Adolph Rickenbacker started a successful tool-and-die operation in 1920 stamping out metal and plastic parts for one of his most enthusiastic customers, "The National Guitar Company of Los Angeles"---George Beauchamp and Paul Barth put together a basic magnetic pickup at National Steel and along with another National Steel worker, Harry Watson, they built a one-piece maple lap-steel guitar "the famous Frying Pan Guitar" because of its small round body and long neck. It was the first guitar to feature an electro-magnetic pickup---and in that's sense, the basis for virtually all modern electric guitars.
In 1931 the Ro-Pat Company came into existence, they made cast aluminium versions of the Frying Pan electric lap-steel guitar, which also tended to have the Electro brand name on the headstock---referred to today as the Electro Hawaiian models. In 1934 the name " Rickenbacker" (also spelled Rickenbacher) was added to the headstock and manufactured by the Electro String Instrument Corporation (changed from Ro-Pat)
After the war, Adolph Rickenbacker sold his instrument business to on Francis Hall, who immediately hired Gibson guitar maker, Roger Rossmeisi, to come up with a new Rickenbacker design.That year, the double-cutaway carved-top Rickenbacker Combo 600 and 800 were issued with the new and still present Rickenbacker underlined in the headstock.
In 1958, a new series of guitar models were introduced that formed the basis of Rickenbacker's success during the 1960's and onwards---the thin-hollow body designs----Rossmeisi would start with 2 halves of maple joined together--cut ! the body shape---partially hollow it from the rear---a separate wooden back was added, then the neck was glued into place----this would be the model that John Lennon fell in love with and used later on when the Beatles came onto the scene-----in 1960 a new stereo feature called the Rick-O-Sound was added to some guitars----1963 brought on the Acoustic 12-string folk craze with the wonderful "jangling sound" that the Byrds Roger McGuinn would dazzle us with.
With the Beatles Invasion in 1964, Rickenbacker set up a special display at the Savoy Hilton hotel in New York to show The Beatles----George ended up with the company's 360 model 12 string---Lennon took the Black 325 model and sent him a special one-off 12 string version of the 325 and lastly, Brian Epstein requested a 360 style 12 string for Gerry Marsden of the Pacemakers. After the appearance of The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show playing the Rickenbacker guitars, sales soared off the map. The opening chord of the Beatles Hard Day's Night, has the typical jangling effect on the opening chord that instantly takes us all back to a special time to remember.
One of the coolest Rickenbacker guitars to come out in the '70's, is the "Light-Show Rickenbacker"----made with a clear plastic top, psychedelic array of coloured lights that would flash in response to the frequencies of the notes being played. Roger McGuinn had a special 12-string built with slanted frets and 3 pickups which he used for "Eight Miles High" and has to be the most bizarre Rickenbacker ever made and also, makes it the most rare breed ever made by Rickenbacker.
In 1975 the company's first production double-necks appeared in 2 types---1080 used the electric bass body and the 362 enlarged upon the 360 style guitar mould-----1983 Rickenbacker made an attempt to recreate some the the older models as they noticed a popularity among the vintage collectors.
During the 1980's, Rickenbacker produced limited-edition signature models for some of the more elite guitar players with limited runs of 250-1000. Some of the artists include Pete Townshend 1987, Roger McGuinn 1988. John Kay 1988, Susan Hoffs 1988, John Lennon 1989, Tom Petty 1991, Glenn Frey 1992 and Carl Wilson 2000.
In 1992 Rickenbacker made the new 24-fret 650 series---they are like the early "cresting wave" models with wider necks and high output pickups to compete with mainstream instruments and as of today, the Rickenbacker line still make timeless designs of their classic guitars.
Well i hope you can check out some of these clips of some Rickenbacker players and I look forward to covering some of the other classic guitar makers in future columns----Have Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
http://youtube.com/watch?v=nUworKXBzdE&mode=! related&search <http://youtube.com/watch?v=nUworKXBzdE&mode...&search> = the Byrds playing "Turn, Turn, Turn " John Lennon with his black 325 model on "Tell Me Why" http://youtube.com/watch?v=t_KN2-WEk2g the always exciting "My Generation" the Who http://youtube.com/watch?v=fsiYMDXlpXI&mode=rel...ated&search <http://youtube.com/watch?v=fsiYMDXlpXI&mode...&search> = Steppenwolf playing "Born To Be Wild/Magic Carpet Ride" on Ed Sullivan http://youtube.com/watch?v=yUc6xBYq8yw&mode=rel...ated&search <http://youtube.com/watch?v=yUc6xBYq8yw&mode...&search> = and another Steppenwolf B&W "Born To Be Wild"
Hope you enjoyed this weeks column and see you in 2 weeks---contact me at bluesslider88@yahoo.ca or at cktimes with any comments you would like to make about classic vinyl.
Allan Day----long time acquaintance of John Gardiner----I presently live in Goderich Ontario, retired (oh yeah) and live for the sound of music, especially from the 60's music explosion---I hope you enjoy some of my articles and they bring back some lost memories of bands gone by. Now I have to let you know that I am a HUGE Rolling Stones fan, collector, historian and I hope to hear any stories you might have on this GREAT Band from the 60's----email me at CK Times and let me know what you have or memories you have of this group. I will include stories and short stories on The Stones each week.
