What's the DEFINITIVE Rickenbacker Panda/Bakelite Tone....to you??

[Jim Fogarty]

Curious what people say. To me, it was Lindley with Jackson Browne, although his Supro variants were just as good.

What's your ultimate Rick tone?

[Mike Neer]

It’s Jerry Byrd and Sol Hoopii on a multitude of recordings that define the Rickenbacker bakelite sound for me.

[Brad Bechtel]

I'd agree with Mr. Neer. I'm glad I stumbled across one when I was starting out.

[Andy Volk]

Jerry Byrd
Pagan Love Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVCXKWAPMFM
Sweet Corn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcdwnGGM7KU

Sol Ho'opi'i
Fascinatin' Rhythm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvOHhnbaHl0

Raphael McGregor Demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuLS-XsKHg8

Mike Neer:
Keepin' it Real": https://mikeneer.bandcamp.com/album/keepin-it-real

[Michael Kiese]

David "Feet" Rogers. The Hawaiian Steel Guitarist for the band "Sons of Hawaii". Bobby Ingano's Mentor.

Feet played a Post-War 6 string Bakelite.

My Hawaiian isn't that great, so the translations are approximate.

Ka Wai O Namolokama (The Waters of Namolokama)
This is one of my favorites, such beautiful tone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cmnUSzxf8M

Nani Wale Na Hala (Simply Beautiful Hala).
Hala are a type of tropical tree in Hawaii.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UViRzTvfMUI

Kona Kai 'opua (The Flower's Water).
Feet was fearless in playing entire single note melodies as harmonics. In my opinion, nobody was his equal in this regard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrZb0R46eaY

Feet's Wikipedia article:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Rogers_(musician)

[Michael Kiese]

In January of 2024, Uncle Bobby and I went to visit the graves of David "Feet" Rogers and Gabby Pahinui in Kaneohe, HI.

We paid our respects, and I recorded Uncle Bobby playing for both Feet and Gabby for posterity.

Uncle Bobby is playing a post war Bakelite that he gifted Feet in the late 70's/early 80's. Feet's original Rickenbacher Bakelite steel had been stolen. After all these years, the steel guitar was passed through some people after Feet's passing, and it made its way back to Uncle Bobby. Nice and Sweet story.

Here's the YouTube link:

https://youtu.be/cZGrWLJsGxE?si=uhJBcfYV5d1QAlbn

[Rick Aiello]

https://youtu.be/nSgm7J_PfJs?si=6KRymgWJP4pMp1ZB

[Tom Wolverton]

Steve Fishell’s playing on this song:

https://youtu.be/p9tkVbtox1M?si=MsAX5Cvo4k2M0y11

[Andy Volk]

Can't believe I left out Feets! Thanks for posting about him, Mike. Hi harmonics were perfection and his tone was invariably beautiful, at least IMHO.

[Michael Kiese]

Can't believe I left out Feets! Thanks for posting about him, Mike. Hi harmonics were perfection and his tone was invariably beautiful, at least IMHO.

Oh, my pleasure Andy!

Feet to me is the epitome of what a good musician is. He ALWAYS added to and supported the music, he didn't compete with the singer. A master at filling in the pukas (holes/gaps) between the last breath of the singer and the end of a musical phrase. He kept things loose and fun. Everything he played complemented the song and whoever sung or played the lead melody.

Because his playing is so reserved and understated, it's very easy to overlook his mastery.

He was FEARLESS in playing entire lines and melodies in harmonics. No one plays like him. He's a player's player's player.

His playing is like vanilla extract in a cake. You don't notice it when it's there, but you definitely notice it when it's gone.

[Jack Hanson]

For me, it's like a good push/pull. Full, rich sound, unsurpassed sustain, with a hint of a growl to it.

[Sebastian Müller]

Also a big fan of Feet Rogers here. But I love Benny Rogers as well, so I would call myself a huge fan of the Rogers family style !

[Dave Stagner]

This is out of "classic", but I'm in love with Megan Lovell's tone with Larkin Poe. But it's definitely a ROCK tone.