November 2008 \ Features \ Artist Interview \ Roger McGuinn: Rickenbackers, Martins & Byrds

Roger McGuinn: Rickenbackers, Martins & Byrds

Bob Cianci

An interview with Roger McGuinn, with notes from Rickenbacker's John Hall and the Byrds' Chris Hillman
Premier Guitar November 2008
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Who designed the compressor in Roger’s guitar?
That was our chief engineer, Bob Desiderio. He left shortly after and went to work for Fender, and I believe he’s still there. Bob also designed the pickups and circuitry for John Kay’s signature model.

I wondered why Rickenbacker never issued the McGuinn compressor as an outboard stompbox?
It wouldn’t have been right to offer something like that after a limited edition guitar had gone out of production.

Any chance you might reissue the 370/12/RM anytime in the future?
Not at the moment. We’re already way behind in our production schedule as it is. We don’t have the manpower to put limited edition reissues into production. I really don’t like reissuing signature guitars, to be honest. It defeats the purpose of an instrument being a limited edition. If Roger wants to work with us to produce a new instrument sometime down the road, we could do that.


Roger McGuinn
Chris Hillman on Roger McGuinn & The Byrds

Chris Hillman was the original bass player with The Byrds and also played with Roger McGuinn in the group McGuinn, Clark & Hillman. Chris has worked with Gram Parsons in The Flying Burrito Brothers, with Stephen Stills in Manassas, with the ill-fated super-group Souther, Hillman & Furay, and as a solo acoustic and electric artist. Hillman enjoyed considerable mainstream country music success with The Desert Rose Band in the nineties, and still tours, playing mandolin and flattop acoustic guitar with his musical partner, Herb Pederson. They play an acoustic bluegrass-inspired music. I chatted with Hillman briefly about Roger McGuinn and The Byrds.

How would you describe your relationship with Roger McGuinn?
Roger and I are still friends, in fact, I emailed him for his birthday recently and said we should have lunch and catch up, but of course, he lives in Florida now. I can tell you that Roger was easily the best musician in The Byrds. He’s an extremely talented and meticulous man, and I have nothing but respect for him and always have. Although I enjoy what he’s doing now, I think he’s the type of musician who needed and still needs a catalyst to bring out the best in him. I believe I was that catalyst in The Byrds. He and I finished the Notorious Byrd Brothers album ourselves.

Roger told me point blank that he wouldn’t reform The Byrds. As a lifelong Byrds fan, it would be great to see the three surviving original members together onstage again before I leave this earth.
You’re not going to see it. I totally agree with Roger that we should leave it alone. The Byrds left a great legacy of music and it should remain that way. Besides, both Michael Clarke and Gene Clark are dead, and we both feel the band should be remembered as the Photo: © Bill Kollar five original members.

Roger’s Gearbox
On the road and in the studio:

GUITARS
Rickenbacker 370/12/RM
Martin D12-42RM
Martin HD-7
Vega/Ode 5-string banjo.
 AMPS
Roland JC-120
 EFFECTS
Janglebox compressor
Sennheiser wireless
Countryman 85 direct box
 STRINGS
Pyramid Gold Ultimate 12-String
set, nickel plated, 10-46 gauge;
Martin SP Phosphor bronze MSD-4200, 13-56 gauge.
 PICKS
Bigrock F1 Ergonomic picks.


Roger McGuinn
rogermcguinn.com

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Comments

 (16 comments) display by
UsernameComment
Ed Benson
on 03/09/2013 		Had a 360 12-string Rickenbacker. Took it to a guitar shop and had middle toaster pickup added so now pickup-wise I own a 370. Took it to Eric's guitars and re-wired the guitar and keeping the 360 bridge it cut it into a perfect design and it is cut out to accodomate the middle pickup. 12-saddle bridge. I plan on replacing the two remaining high gain pickups with toasters, for the mellower sound.
Marc Alexander
on 02/03/2013 		Hi Don, Roger uses Pyramid flatwound 12-string sets. Marc Alexander -- Britannia Guitars
david gibbon
on 11/04/2012 		@ don wallace- in an interview in British "Guitarist" magazine Roger said he uses Pyramid strings as he doesn't like the original Rickenbacker ones
Don Wallace
on 10/27/2012 		After 45 years of looking for a ric 370-12 I found one on ebay. I could not beleive I was high bid. Whin I opened the case, tuned it uo and started to pick I stoped because tears came in my eyes.After finger picking two Martins for all my life I was so excited to plug my Rick into my Super Beetle I just had to stop and stare at it. If only I new what strings Rodger used, does any one know.
Keith L Mason
on 04/06/2012 		As a Byrds fan for over 47 years, I am always amazed how fresh and original there music sounds. I have seen Roger McGuinn in cocert many times, and he still has that fabulous stage prescence which makes his concerts such wonderful events. He truly is a genius, whose musical legacy will live on for generations to come. Thank you Roger. Even my late Mother was a huge Mcguinn/Byrds fan.
Steven Spinner
on 02/14/2011 		The best of the best. Roger brings me back to the days of my teens when I first taught myself to play guitar. Always loved the 12 string. I owned a 67 Gibson 12 string, bought new, but always wanted a RIC 12 string. Ten years ago I bought a RIC 330-6 string, and now at age 59 for my birthday, I just got a Rickenbacker 360-12 string. Life is good. Honestly there has not been a band since then that I have enjoyed more than The Byrds. Thanks guys.
Ed Benson
on 09/14/2010 		I just paid for a Rickenbacker 370 and also a special bridge that has 12 saddles verses the stock six. In addition, my Janglebox arrived yesterday. I played my new American Stratocaster through it and it definitely gave the guitar a different .. an at first slight hesitant followed by a long ring. Even the dark switch is great for doing like blues work. I ordered my Ric a little over a month ago and that's all I need to start a group again.
John Yuknalis
on 08/07/2010 		Yes Bill, Chris has always been playing bluegrass. In
fact, wwhen the Byrds reunited with Roger and Dave he said it was the 1st time he'd picked up the bass in years.
Saw him play B/G here in Pittsburgh around 10 years ago with
one other guy. He even did some Byrd songs on mandolin.
Fortunate to meet with him and asked him about tuning
during the Byrd days. They apparently all tuned to Roger's
12 string.
Bill
on 01/10/2010 		Chris Hillman, I believe, came out of the west coast bluegrass genre, as a mandolinist. I always loved his work, regardless of whe he was playing with.
John Yuknalis
on 08/20/2009 		I have the limited edition Roger McGuinn 370/12 and it is a beauty! It is a perfectly balanced guitar and almost plays
itself once it is in tune...I mean, the weight of the guitar, the design of the body, the fret placement all help your fingers to glide. Still need to have it autographed by Roger!Played it at an open mic and the MC was opened mouthed about it, he called it "the cadillac of guitars!"



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