.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
This black Rickenbacker 12-string was most likely signed at Ibiza 123 Rocktronic in 2012. Recalls Rodgers fondly of that weekend: "It wound up actually being the day of the [UEFA European Football Championship] and the show was Sting as the headliner and Chic and Lenny Kravitz were the openers. And what happened was, Sting knew that he couldn’t perform while the [championship game] was playing. Because he wanted to watch it. And all the fans were also gonna watch it. So they had big jumbotrons....Lenny Kravitz put on a really good show...it was smoking. Like ridiculous! And then there was this long break…. to wait for the game to be over. And Sting went on after that."
Founded in Los Angeles as the Rickenbacker Manufacturing Company in 1925, Adolph Rickenbacher’s only experience with guitar-making was supplying metal guitar bodies to the National String Instrument Corporation. In 1931, he teamed up with inventor George Beauchamp to produce Beauchamp’s design for electric guitars with the company name of Electro String Instruments Corporation. These instruments were sold under the brand name Rickenbacker, though the instruments were often labeled with Adolph’s original German spelling of Rickenbacher.
The primary production prior to World War II was in Hawaiian lap steels, but also included electric mandolins, string bass, violin, and cellos, all employing Beauchamp’s patented horseshoe magnet pickup. In 1953 Adolph Rickenbacher sold the company to F.C. Hall of Radio-Tel who were the exclusive wholesale distributer for Fender. Hall changed direction by concentrating on the manufacturing of electric guitars and in 1962 renamed Radio-Tel as Rickenbacker Incorporated.
The brand Rickenbacker was given a considerable lift in the 1960s with the Beatles’ high-profile use of Rickenbacker guitars, followed by the Byrds’ Roger McGuinn and his exclusive use of Rickenbacker electric 12-string guitars. From 1964 through to 1969 Rickenbacker produced specific models for export to Rose Morris and Company Limited in the UK. This international distribution widened Rickenbacker’s market appeal with British and European guitarists, helping to establish its name as a global brand.
Founded in Los Angeles as the Rickenbacker Manufacturing Company in 1925, Adolph Rickenbacher’s only experience with guitar-making was supplying metal guitar bodies to the National String Instrument Corporation. In 1931, he teamed up with inventor George Beauchamp to produce Beauchamp’s design for electric guitars with the company name of Electro String Instruments Corporation. These instruments were sold under the brand name Rickenbacker, though the instruments were often labeled with Adolph’s original German spelling of Rickenbacher.
The primary production prior to World War II was in Hawaiian lap steels, but also included electric mandolins, string bass, violin, and cellos, all employing Beauchamp’s patented horseshoe magnet pickup. In 1953 Adolph Rickenbacher sold the company to F.C. Hall of Radio-Tel who were the exclusive wholesale distributer for Fender. Hall changed direction by concentrating on the manufacturing of electric guitars and in 1962 renamed Radio-Tel as Rickenbacker Incorporated.
The brand Rickenbacker was given a considerable lift in the 1960s with the Beatles’ high-profile use of Rickenbacker guitars, followed by the Byrds’ Roger McGuinn and his exclusive use of Rickenbacker electric 12-string guitars. From 1964 through to 1969 Rickenbacker produced specific models for export to Rose Morris and Company Limited in the UK. This international distribution widened Rickenbacker’s market appeal with British and European guitarists, helping to establish its name as a global brand.