The Rickenbacker, Crafted Sound

Pete Townshend with Ricks in various stages of their lives

Founded in Los Angeles in the 1920′s, the Rickenbacker guitar was created by the first company with the sole purpose of making high quality fully electric instruments. Popularized by Hawaiian musicians in the 1930′s, the guitar steadily gained notoriety through the 40′s and 50′s as a mainstay of artists such as Sam Cooke, Ricky Nelson, and The Raiders.

Ricks in the 50′s: a model 365 and an Electric Mandolin

Tommy Sands and The Raiders

Things really took off though when the world’s most popular band hit the silver screen in the 1960′s- The Beatles. All three of the guitar-playing Beatles used Rickenbackers. Close your eyes and think of the opening chord to Hard Day’s Night. That’s the sound of the classic Rickenbacker. A twang, with a real kick!

The Beatles

George Harrison

The Who

From there, it was history. Every band, if they admitted it or not, wanted to have a bit of the Beatles sound or at the very least, a bit of their look. The Ricks have always been beautiful with their classic sunburst finishes, high lacquer shines, violin-style routed contours. All Rickenbacker guitars and basses are still hand finished today as they were originally.

Building

Burnishing

Like all guitars, the sonic range of the Rickenbacker varies by how it is tuned, what amps are used, and of course what the musician does with it.  In the mid-late 60′s, The Who’s Pete Townshend often used Rickenbackers, but preferred a rawer sound achieved by over modulating (turning everything way the hell up) and by heavy compression in the studio. Nonetheless, the sound was pure Rickenbacker. Although Pete smashed quite a few of his early Ricks, he still owns and plays them today for their rich sound (just no smashing).

Rickenbacker has stayed true to it’s original creed and continues to gain loyal devotees. Bands as varied as The Jam, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Motorhead, U2, Radiohead, Pearl Jam, and Oasis all include Rickenbackers in their musical arsenal.

Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Paul Weller of The Jam