Ridge @ Formentera Guitars

August 2018

Yezzzz, I did it. I was there. I took the chance of a 3-week- gap in the calendar to build my own, self-constructed electric guitar, and for spoiler-alert's sake, I came up with this beauty:

I don't wanna come up with meticulous blog on how I did everything step by step from the choice of the wood all the way to the end of oiling and the whole assembly screw by screw, but I do wanna share some great moments on a "fuckin' paradise"- kinda island (sic, Robert Plant), meeting lovely people, learning a lot 'bout the construction of my instrument, exploring how it's done, and finally coming up with a fine, fine guitar. Enjoy!

The features

Okay, what we got here is a killer-type flame maple neck under a rosewood fretboard, set into a alder body, a self-wound P90 in neck position, an equally self-wound Humbucker in bridge position (both slightly over-wound), and a L.R.Baggs Vibrato-bridge, featuring a piezo pickup for mimicking an acoustic guitar sound. The balance between the piezo and the magnetics is set by a blend knob, and since there's only one more knob to be found on the top (Volume, of course, alongside with the toggle switch), you may already have been assuming rightly: There is no tone knob. Neither are split or out-of-phase options, nuffin.

Some impressions from the building process. Click the pics to enlarge:

Where it happens: Fomentera Guitars in Sant Ferran

The "marriage": Glueing the neck to the body

Let's have a drink on her at Kiosko 62 (Platja de Mitjorn)...

For more information check out their website www.formentera-guitars.com! For me, it was a great trip and worth every minute and €.

Coming up - Richie live

21.06.24 Wernigerode, Rathausfest (Paniker)

20.07.24 Wiesmoor, Freilichtbühne (Paniker)

03.08.24 Weinheim (Paniker)

04.08.24 Hildesheim (Paniker)

15.08.24 Nortorf (Paniker)

23.08.24 Solingen (Paniker)

24.08.24 Eppingen (Paniker)

05.09.24 Maschen (Johnny B. Bad)

What's up, Ridge?

Meeting (and rehearsing with) Udo Lindenberg

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Dreams come true. Sometimes. Happened to me in May '22. No kidding', seriously!

In April '22 I got a call from Andy, a guy who turned out to be a member of the „inner circle“ of Udo Lindenberg’s tour production team. In essence: „The artist wants to meet you, Richie! And bring your guitar...“.

Wait... WHAT?!?

Fou...

So, this happened on May 1st 2022:

I drove to Timmendorfer Strand, where UL and the Panikorchester were rehearsing for the tour ’22, and met all these icons I knew from concerts and articles and the telly. I met the man himself and we rehearsed his music all day long. Mark well: Not a tribute band, I was part of the real deal!

I met a totally friendly, overwhelmingly nice guy, professionally well informed about this Richie Jones he was making music with. A man who’s absolutely reflected and aware about his attribute being a national treasure, totally committed to make everybody in the room feel comfortable and easy, including himself.

Maybe the purpose of having me at a rehearsal was to check out some plan B on guitar players against the background of the pandemic.

Since the tour took place without any virus incident (hence me not playing on this tour), you might ask: „Okay, now what’s next?!?“ Frankly, I dunno, but I keep dreaming of being part of Germany’s greatest Rock’n Roll circus. But whatever may come, hey, I’m already on the bright side of life. I played with Udo Lindenberg, he liked what he saw/heard, and nobody will ever take that away from me.

Surely, a dream came true…

Hamburg, May 2022