Rickenbacker Guitars

Adolph Rickenbacker, a German immigrant, along with two partners formed the Rickenbacker Manufacturing Company in 1925. The company was primarily a metal stamping shop. In 1928 he invested in the National company and contracted to make the metal bodies of the National guitar. In 1931George Beauchamp, who was a founding partner and general manager of National, formed the Ro-Pat-In Corporation with Rickenbacker and others figures from National. They started work on Beauchamp’s design for an electric guitar with a magnetic pickup. Ro-Pat-In manufactured electric Hawaiian guitars made of cast aluminum. ric99 They also made wood archtops under the name the Electro String Instruments brand. Ro-Pat-In Corporation changed its name to Electro String Instrument Corporation in 1934 and the brand name was changed to Rickenbacker although there are some decals that use the original family spelling of Richenbacher. By 1936 they were making mandolins, violins, cellos, violas and laptops with horseshoe pickups. Rickenbacker did not make instruments from 1942 through 1946 instead making war related products. Rickenbacker sold the company in 1953 to F.C. Hall whose company at one time was the exclusive distributors of Fender products. Hall expanded the line of electric guitars. He hired Roger Rossmeisl who designed a new solidbody line in 1957 and a hollowbody line in 1958. The Beatles played Rickenbacker and this surely contributed to their popularity. By the late 1960’s Rickenbacker was also well known for their 12 string electrics. In 1962 the company moved Santa Ana California. In 1984 John Hall, son of F.C. Hall took control of the company and renamed it Rickenbacker International Corporation.