Kudos to Rickenbacker for remaining US made and remaining a family business. There is obviously a tremendous amount of love, care, and pride in their fine instruments, history, and innovation. And rightly so. Long live Rickenbacker.

Aside from all the amazing guitars, that electric violin is astonishing for something from the 30's

Folks complainin' about the way Charles looks? His hair? Really? I would never think of that, watchin' something so good and interesting. Thanks, Charles and everyone involved. You guys did a great job.

A wonderful history lesson of a great guitar manufacturer...Long Live Rickenbacker!

When I was Growing up and playing guitar Rickenbacker was an aspirational hi end brand and they still look exclusive. Thanks for posting !

"Hi Mr. Hall, thanks for granting us this interview .... sorry if I sound tired, I've been stranded on a deserted island for 8 years and they only just rescued me".

I have both Rickenbacker 360/12c64 and 420 and I loved it

My meme tells you the story.. that's a 1971 360 Deluxe, I bought new in the day and play it almost every day still, it is what I am known for and that's just fine by me... I love this guitar and the beautiful time I have spent enjoying it...

I've wanted a Ric 360 12 since the Byrds came out with Mr. Tambourine Man in '65. Now, I'd still take that 360 12 but would rather have the 370/12 Roger McGuinn model. I absolutely love these guitars. I'd also like a 360/6 string. Both in Fireglo. These are absolutely great guitars.

An amazing walk-through of guitar history and very unexpected, too! Thank you for making this - it is wonderful to see so many rare and innovative instruments gathered together!

All those amazing guitars just sitting on the wall, day after day, year after year, ... just waiting to be played and loved. Send one to my house please.

Rickenbackers are truly beautiful instruments. I'm saving up for a 360/12 in Midnight Blue or Ruby

The most unique sounding and beautiful of all the electric guitars. Rickenbacker has always been my favourite guitar. My wallet limits the acquisition of all the models I would love to own though. Fantastic guitars, just amazing.

Yep we haven’t had a new model in thirty years but we’re all about innovation

i love everything in this room!!

Love the two I have.

I think the interviewer burned one on the way over

Mr. Hall, thank you for the interesting history! I'm an old Rickenbacker fan since the 60's.

They have indeed been "the same for so long". I get Premier Guitar, Guitar Player, Guitar World and worked in music equipment retail for many years and I can count the people playing Rickenbackers, especially the crucial youth demographic, on about zero fingers. I'm sure a small enough factory would still have problems churning out enough sequined Elvis suits for a few more years too. Hey, I'm a fan, and I'm glad they're still around. I just think they may be driving toward a cliff.

Terrific background on this fabulous collection.

14:38 are probably the best looking Rickenbackers I've seen, and they didn't go into production? What a shame!

RIC should update their website. They still have guitars on there that were discontinued about 20 years ago

Thanks for taking the time to load the video. Full of good information. Great looking Ricks

Could cry when I think of some of the guitars I owned in the 70s that I let go. An antique electric Rick lap steel that was in new condition being one of them. (black and white seen briefly at 11:00)

I wish them all the luck in the world. I just look at their lovely instruments, and the (possibly even more) lovely instruments that they no longer make and I can't help but think.......what if?

Did anyone else get hot and bothered by the 4003 on the far right at 17:49?

As a lifelong Beatle musician I have found the Rickenbacker sound (and look) to be pivotal in the cultural revolution of the 1960s... (still the biggest decade in the history on mankind)... To quote Mr. Dylan... "in the jingle-jangle mornin' I'll come followin' you!"

One of the best videos I’ve ever seen, it’s just legen… wait for it… dary ! Rickenbacker is really one of those brands I just dream of, thanks Charles and PG for putting that up :)

That 650 at the bottom at 0:42 is jaw-droppingly nice.

While I find this video, and this walk through history fascinating, I think it also illustrates Rickenbacker's current weakness. Look at these amazing instruments and all the beautiful models here. I know that it's a real balancing act to run a U.S. business today, but it seems to me that some reissuing, redesigning and a bit of a Rickenbacker "splash" is long, long overdue. And I'm not talking wildly expensive signature models either. How about an all new 481 guitar? And/or a new 4004 bass?

Nothing is more metal than a cast iron uprigth bass! \m/

That 4080/12 tho. *drools* Shame you didn't go over that! Geddy is king. RIP LEMMY.

Spectacular! I love it.

Awesome guitars 😁 classic, vintage 🎸

A Plethora of info. Thaks for posting.Think i'll go play my Ric 12 string now.

the bass to the far left of the sunburst is lovely !! at 17:34

It’s lovely looking at them all , but it would be much better if we could hear them , I’d love that upright bass r even just a lay of it !

I don't care what anyone says, no other guitar manufacturers made a rage of guitars and basses as innovative and as beautiful as Rickenbacker, but I am very bias and jealous 😉💜🎸

Rickenbacker has stated that they can't handle advertisements with their production backed up as it is. They aren't typically reviewed because they have been the same for so long. John Hall has said numerous times that he doesn't wish for the factory to get bigger, and I'm fine with that. In terms of becoming irrelevant, I don't think we have to worry about that considering the long back order and solid history with arguably the most influential rock band ever.

If you're referring to what John called a 4004 in the video, those are actually 4005 basses.

Maybe some people say fender and gibson, but heyy rickenbacker is perfect from the early day

360th like, fittingly iconic, lol.

Love that walnut acoustic at 05:00

LOVE Rickys!

No mention of Geddy Lee's 4/6 Rick? I'm disappointed. Other than that, great vid.

Was there ever a George Harrison 330 12 string model? I don’t recall seeing one ... if not, there should be - with out George playing that 12 string there would be no Roger McGuinn model ...

didnt talk about the paul mccartney basses or limited chris squire bass???

The hollow bodied basses are indeed 4005 basses. They would probably would come in with new colors and new models but they have enough trouble keeping up with production as it is. Have you ever asked a Rickenbacker dealer what the wait time is to order an instrument from Rickenbacker? Last time I asked the back order was 2-3 years. That's right, years.

This has been entertaining, have a nice day sir.

He said "4004 series" and I believe him. Regardless, there's obviously quite a following for some of these instruments that are no longer available. It just seems high time to me that they introduce a "new" instrument and it also seems obvious that they come out with updated versions of some of their beautiful instruments from the past. If I ran the company I'd commission Grover Jackson to design a neck for a new 481. Then the 4005 bass and a reasonably priced Jazzbo next!

genius at work rickenbacker

I would say Rickenbacker's quality is what it costs. I paid exactly as much as I think I should have for my 4003 bass. Is it a boutique instrument meant for me? No, but I didn't $5000 dollars for it. Rickenbacker wants to stay small because they know its good for them as a business. They want to stay small. If they expand their lines and colors their prices will no doubt go up. Expansion is not always good on the consumer and that is what I'm sure they are most aimed to please.

Toots played guitar? I did not know that.

Rickenbackers are near & dear to my heart...someone should take a Ricky Frying Pan guitar and put some Edward Van Halen stripes on it !....widdley-widdley -wow-wow-wow !!!

Why did they skip over the 4080/12?!? WHY?!?

No mention of the importance of George Beauchamp and Paul Barth 🤷‍♂️

Bring back the semi-hollow bass guitar.

❤❤❤

If, IF, IF ONLY, I Could Get A Pass, The Chance, The Special Opportunity, WHATEVER, to Stand in 'That Room' for 14 Hours & 14 Minutes', I Would Become One of the Happiest RICKENBACKER HEADS On Planet Earth. (Any Reference to the #14 is Mine Alone and has Nothing to do with the Rickenbacker Co.)Just Think about The History of 'The Electric Guitar', the 'Pick Ups' and All the Inovations that This Company has Brought to Our World of Modern Music. Unbelievable---!!! Rickenbacker: Unique-Beautiful-Strange and Totally American. NICE.

These new videos with the speed settings will not play. I'm using google chrome on my mac and I tried to download the latest flash player, but it said "google chrome already has flash and will update when new software comes"

Oh , I Wish....... 🎸👍

Is it worth the price

Why would you Ever stop Checkerboard Binding? When I ordered my Mapleglow in '74 they didt tell me of style change in mid '73..I tried have Sam Ash send it back! Then Afew Yrs Ago it burns up in house fire, So I eventually have money buy Checkerboard Rickenbacher 4001, So I find what I believe to be very rare White Checkerboard 4001 out Japan..I knew you made 1982 Checkerboard for Japan but every 1 I ever saw was Black, But I found this Bass, waited it out, bought it & brougt it to United States..I couldt be happier w Bass but now I have obsession to buy these Checkerboard Rickenbacher Basses..I see now you put Checkerboard Binding on basses here & there, So would be possible to order a 4003 w/a Checkerboard Binding now? Always wondered why ud stop using this design other then labor cost, but rasie price slightly to cover cost because that was 1 of the beautiful parts of the bass & ofcourse when I ordered mine was the style change that has now spanned better part of 50yrs, So just asking😉🎸

Hey if he decides to sell the collection I'll buy it from him for £50

As a Luthier, I tell some of my customers that Guitars can withstand all but 5 things! Moisture/Dryness/Cold/Heat, and Pete Townshend!! How can the words "Respect", and "DESTROY", be synonymous???

Rickenbarchaeology!!!!

there clearly not "driveing towards a cliff" when i was after my 4003 i went to one guitar shop because i saw on the website they had some in, by the time i got there they was gone, i'm not saying they sell like that everywhere but i disagree with what you said

Me quedo con cualquiera de doce cuerdas!!!(Les sobran muchas ?no?)

Well, I understand quality control and not spreading themselves too thin, but I think Rickenbacker needs to expand a bit. Models, colors, options and availability. The quality of Rickenbacker has never been on par (nor was it meant to be) with boutique luthier type instruments, but their waiting list is comparable? I would perceive that as a problem if it were my company. Is there some lack of skilled workers in this economy? There's a difference between control and control freak.

John Hall agrees with me.

I was not a good fit with this company because I pronounced "bass" wrong and during the job interview II told the human Resources guy "Drum solo....." and walked to the bathroom because he talked too much. He said. "If we ever make a 5150 we'll call you."

8:10 I'll take the one behind Hall's head, right there.

You seem upset, i would take John Hall's opinion over MuscleDad420. Awesome name by the way.

No doublenecks?

Burnt by the Sun - 'Forlani'. Tell me what you think... :-)

George Harrison actually got it sent to get a second pickup on the neck, the more you know

Great finishes back in the early years when his dad ran the company not made as well now I will never buy a new one again finish that never dry wood that’s wet when fabricated necks warp never again

Les Paul was an amazing innovator and luminary, but he did not invent the magnetic pickup. Rickenbacker did. Gibson and Fender have been taking credit for innovations that actually came from Rickenbacker and Paul Bigsby for years.

I'm a little surprised there is no mention of the forced spelling change of the name. Imposed by A. Hitler in the late 30s, he mandated the spelling to be changed from Rickenbacher to Rickenbacker because the original ch in the name looked to jewish.

How much for that late 50's combo 850 at the top of the wall? Oh, everything that I own? No problem. I'll live in a cardboard for the rest of my life if it means that I can own that amazing instrument.

BRING BACK THE 4005 JOHN!

Yes John, here WILL be a market for the 4005, so rev up your CNC mills.

I would do horrible things for a Ric 4005...

22:19 So is that V82?!!?

god i'd love to earn one of those beauties or all of them

hey he's o.k.

he come from of the Germany it's the real origin of this & they will building and there ?

those electric violins and bass were from the 1930'.s...you are wrong

What the hell was the interviewer mumbling? I could barely understand a word he was saying. And besides, he looked like he woke up from a dumpster and lives just by using drugs...

In

Presenter should look presentable at least, not half baked, directly out of bed look.

Too often the word Awesome is easily used... here, it's justified...M

You don't disagree with John hall, and i agree with John Hall, therefore you agree with me. You have to stop blowing that ganja dude, it's messing with your head!

Les Paul invented the magnetic pickup not Rickenbacker, the more you know.

where the funk is the bantar !!!!!

@ROBMANOB He's always wasted!

You realize it probably sounds like garbage because of the wood?

First view and first comment!! awesome video!!!!

I need a slap just presumed it was German, Beatles had been in Germany.......

I wouldn't advocate Rickenbacker expanding like a Schecter, ESP or even Fender. However, I think it goes against your argument that the sprawling product lines from their peers, isolating just the their domestic products, did not raise their prices appreciably. I like Rickenbacker. I like Rickenbackers. But when was the last time one was reviewed in the guitar mags or online equivalent? I fear they are creating a formula for future irrelevance, which I think would be sad.