Rickenbacker

Based out of Santa Ana, California, Rickenbacker International Corporation (aka “Rickenbacker”) beat Gibson and Fender to the punch by producing the first electric guitars in 1932. The company originally produced Hawaiian and Spanish guitars, but they switched to producing more standard, steel-string electric and acoustic guitars in the 1950s as rock and roll took hold. In 1956 Rickenbacker introduced guitars with neck-through-body construction, which became one of the trademarks of their early instruments. During the 1960s, Rickenbackers became the guitars and basses of choice of key British Invasion bands, most notably The Beatles, but also The Byrds and The Who (before Townsend discovered the Gibson Les Paul). With their 6-string, 12-string, and bass guitars used by some of the most famous rock and pop musicians in the world, Rickenbacker’s status as a major guitar manufacturer was cemented. Rickenbacker experienced a resurgence among guitarists in the New Wave and jangle-pop movements in the 1980s, and their basses were adopted by popular prog-rock artists as well. Rickenbacker instruments remain respected and popular today.