Rickenbacker

Rickenbacker are a USA company named after Adolph Rickenbacker who was one of the founders of the company along with George Beauchamp. The company was formed in 1931 and actually produced the first electric guitars! This innovative design built in conjunction with Harry Watson and Paul Barth was the Rickenbacker Electro A-22 - best known as the 'Frying Pan' thanks to their rounded metal bodies. Rickenbacker have remained true to their roots as an American company with their manufacturing based in Santa Ana, California. They build guitars in small numbers and do not incorporate modern technology into their designs or hardware, meaning you know you are getting an instrument where a great deal of care and attention has gone into the build process.

Rickenbacker are well-known for their unmistakably classic shapes and distinctive tone. They are famous for their 12-string models, hollowbodies and basses, with the guitars offering a jangly tone and the basses a very present and forward tone perfect for aggressive playing. These guitars have been played to great effect throughout music history with rock royalty like John Lennon and George Harrison of the Beatles, Pete Townshend of The Who, Tom Petty and Radiohead. Rickenbacker basses are extremely well-loved for their unique sound, with players such as Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead, Chris Squire of Yes and Geddy Lee of Rush.

Unique features of Rickenbackers are not just limited to their shapes, but their pickups, dual truss rods, and stereo output (known as Rick-O-Sound). Playing a Rickenbacker is not like playing any other instrument. They are traditional, but retain their own very distinct identity. Rickenbacker are a well loved, iconic company from California who make electric guitars and basses. The company was started by Adolph Rickenbacker and George Beauchamp in the 1930s and actually produced the world's first electric guitar. Some of Rickenbacker's most well-known guitars include their 330, 360 and 4003 models.

Rickenbacker designs are both highly original and very traditional. More than any other manufacturer, Rickenbacker have held true to their heritage. Keeping both designs and production to how they have always been, they manufacture their guitars in small numbers in California and never incorporate modern technology into their designs or hardware. Rickenbacker fans are very particular about this, making it a win-win for both company and player to continue with this method.

Rickenbacker make both solid bodied and semi hollow guitars as well as very famous bass designs, all sharing the same art deco-influenced design flair which has distinguished them since day one.

Rickenbacker electrics are associated with a distinctly 'jangly' tone and their 12 string electric guitars are highly prized for their distinctive sound. In contrast, their basses (particularly their most famous model, the 4003) are known for their thick, growly sound which is every bit as distinguishable as the guitar tones, albeit for completely different reasons.

At guitarguitar, we have been an authorised Rickenbacker guitars dealer since we opened. As Rickenbacker stock is, by nature, not in plentiful supply, please contact your local guitarguitar store to find out more about available and incoming stock. Browse our website to see our current, up-to-the-minute stock of Rickenbacker guitars and basses.

What Makes Rickenbacker Different?

• First to produce the electric guitar
• Iconic shapes
• Handmade in the USA
• Unlike any other instruments
• Unique tone