My problem with many Rickenbacker owners is that when someone like myself asks a question on their forums like, "How do I get around playing this skinny neck?" Or, "has anyone had a Ric 360 neck re-fretted with larger fret wire?" you get treated like a mental misfit and are told to just man up and play the guitar because it is absolute perfection as delivered from Rickenbacker. Then you start talking to these people and realize that the vast majority of them have never even played a gig or have any idea of what a gigging player needs from a guitar. Their answers are often condecending and based in complete fiction. Then I started to realize that the last time I actually saw a Ric on stage, at a gig, open mic, Barmitzvah, keg party, bar gig, regional club gig or anywhere aside from the rare television appearance, was about 20 years ago. I just found it strange that people with so little practical experience had such strong opinions.
So, in a good natured effort to show the step by step process of building a Ric style guitar, (just the same as many share their work on other style brands), a bunch of people go ballistic and start tattle tailing about what a fiend I am. Then the threatening e-mails start arriving from corporate. There's no love loss between Rickenbacker and myself. I fully understand their position where trademarks are concerned but I guess the arrogance of a bunch of non-players who worship what I consider a beautiful, yet archaic design is what irks me a little, and gives just a wee bit of a chuckle every time a photo of one of my guitars shows up and sets them off.
It is what it is. I take great pride in my work and in the thrill of being able to play my own hand made instruments. Personally, I don't think they look fancy. I thought they looked kinda humble and natural.
