Rickenbacker
Rickenbacker International Corporation, also known as Rickenbacker, is an electric guitar manufacturer, notable for putting the
world's first electric guitars into general production in 1932. All production takes place at its headquarters in Santa Ana, California.
During the 1960's, Rickenbacker benefited tremendously when a couple of Rickenbacker guitar models became permanently intertwined
with the sound and look of The Beatles. In Hamburg in 1960, Beatles guitarist John Lennon bought a Rickenbacker 325 Capri, which he
used throughout the early days of The Beatles. He eventually had the guitar's natural alder body refinished in black, and made
other modifications including the fitting of a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece and regularly changing the control knobs. Lennon played this
guitar for The Beatles' famous 1964 debut on The Ed Sullivan Show (as well as for their third Sullivan appearance, pre-taped the
same day but broadcast two weeks later).
George Harrison bought a 425 during a brief visit to the USA in 1963. In February 1964, while in New York City, F.C. Hall of
Rickenbacker met with the band and their manager, and gave Harrison a model 360/12 (the second electric twelve-string built by
Rickenbacker). This instrument became a key part of the Beatles' sound on their LP A Hard Day's Night and other Beatles songs
through late 1964. Harrison played this guitar sporadically throughout the remainder of his life.
After the Beatles' 1965 summer tour, Paul McCartney frequently used a left-handed 1964 4001S FG Rickenbacker bass, as its tone
was better suited to recording than the lightweight Hofner basses he had used previously. The instrument became popular with other
bassists influenced by his highly melodic style, as it produces a clear tone even when played high up the neck, its deep cutaways
allowing easy access to the higher frets.
Partially due to the Beatles' popularity and their consistent use of the brand, Rickenbackers were quickly adopted by many other
1960's notables, including Mike Pender of The Searchers, Roger McGuinn of The Byrds, Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones, Pete Townshend
of The Who, Pete Watson of The Action, Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys, Jerry McGeorge of the Shadows of Knight, Paul Kantner of
Jefferson Airplane, John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival, Al Nichol of The Turtles, and Steppenwolf.
As both the British invasion and the 1960s came to an end, Rickenbacker guitars fell somewhat out of fashion; however Rickenbacker
basses remained highly in favor through the 1970's and on. Perhaps as an echo of the past, during the late 1970's and early 1980's,
Rickenbacker guitars experienced a renaissance as many New Wave and jangle pop groups began to use them, with notable users including
Tom Petty, R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, Marty Willson-Piper of The Church, Susanna Hoffs of The Bangles, Paul Weller of The Jam,
The Edge of U2, punk funkster Rick James (as pictured on the Street Songs album), The Smithereens, and Johnny Marr of The Smiths.
Rickenbacker guitars and basses continue to be very popular to this day with demand persistently and exponentially outstripping
new factory supply. Demand is particularly high amongst retro groups who have been influenced by the sound and look of the 1960's.