Rick Nielsen's Collection
So What Would You Do with 2000 Guitars? Just Ask Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen!
By Renee Williams, Guitar Digest
Having seen Cheap Trick countless times over the years, I know I can look forward to a couple of things before each performance. I know I'll see a revved up show, but beyond that, it's always fun to see which guitars Rick Nielsen is gonna haul on stage. This is showmanship at its pinnacle. It isn't so much the number of guitars he uses each evening; rather, the spectacle is the artistry each weapon displays. If you're in for a trip down memory lane, the group's website (www.cheaptrick.com) prominently features the '90 Hamer Miller Beer guitar, the '83 Hamer "Uncle Dick" model, as well as many other notable pieces from his collection. Having recently hit a relationship milestone of 25 years together, the boys celebrated by releasing the double disc effort Silver, a chronological hit list of 29 high impact tunes recorded live in their hometown of Rockford, Illinois. Come summer, they were back on the road and ready to keep the party going. Before snagging an email interview with the Axeman Nielsen Himself, Marc Wayner and I schemed together on a few questions.
Here is what the master had to say:
"This guitar was inspired by the artwork from the Doctor album. The artist, Andre Miripolsky, among other things, is known for the piano and wardrobe designs for 'Elton John in Central Park.'" - Rick Nielsen
RW: What is your current relationship with Hamer Guitars? If you are still connected with them, do you have them making you anything currently, and can you tell us a little about what it is?
RN: I am always in contact with Frank Untermyer at Hamer, and I hope to have something new in production before the end of this year. Through the years they've made me some interesting things and it's time to get the thinking cap on again. I always have a Hamer arsenal with me.
RW: If you were on a desert island and could have only one guitar, which would it be and why?
RN: Because of the lack of a music store and string breakage, it would be important to have a multiple neck of some sort (of which I have more than a few) but it would probably be my 1961 Gibson ES-1235 6/6 Black Doubleneck. It's the thick bodied variety and therefore is semi-acoustic. You didn't mention that I could have electricity or an amp.
RW: Are you particular about your guitar set-up?
RN: No, I can make any guitar sound lousy. I suppose I'm like anyone else, in that I prefer the buzzing to come out of my amps, not on the frets.
RW: Can you give us some ideas of your ideal set-up? How straight do you like the neck? How high is the action off the 12th fret? How far are the pick-up poles from the strings, etc.?
"When Cheap Trick released Day Tripper I had to pay some tribute." - Rick Nielsen
RN: You'll have to ask my tech, David Rule about that stuff. I'm strictly hands off except when I'm hands on.
RW: Which guitars have you brought out on the tour?
RN: You'll have to ask my tech David Rule about the particulars on that stuff. He and I pick stuff from my collection before we go out on any tour or go into the studio. We always bring a few of the same things, like Les Pauls and Checkerboard things but coming up, I plan on bringing both my 1958 Explorers out together for the first time, and I seem to be collecting and playing a few more Gretschs lately. I've been playing a Penguin, a 1954 Round-up, and I now have 4 or 5 Malcom Young models.
RW: What amps are you currently using?
RN: My old set-up is now rack mounted. It includes my souped-up Fender Deluxes(Paul Rivera), Blues Devilles, Checkerboard Rivera's, and Sound City cabinets (I've had them since 1968). I'm also using some Premier Amps, some 60's Orange combos, a pile of 50's Fender Tweeds, a Nielsen Amp (found in Seattle) and a 60's Vox AC30.
"Uncle Dick" - Rick Nielsen
RW: How do you have the controls set?
RN: Master volume on 7 and Channel volume on 7. Treble on 10, Bass on 3. Shure wireless through a Whirlwind Multi-selector into a passive splitter.
RW: What effects are you using, and can you tell us the chain they are in?
RN: I'm only using a 60's Vox WaWa pedal. I have other pedals that I also use from time to time when I'm recording at home or on the road.
RW: Are there any instruments you are looking into for your collection?
RN: A Merle Travis. The black one with fancy ornamentation.
RW: How big is your collection?
"This guitar was a gift - but they never sent the beer." - Rick Nielsen
RN: Just including guitars, I've owned over 2000 in my 35 plus years of collecting. I now have about 250 pieces and that's too many!
RW: Is there some song that you have always wanted to do with a band but thought it was just too corny or weird to even mention? What is it?
RN: "They're Coming To Take Me Away" Napolean the XIVth
RW: If I understand this correctly, your son is on the road with you these days, covering for Bun E. What has that been like for you?
RN: 2 of my sons have a band called "Harmony Riley" and they've been touring with us off and on for the last year. This summer Bun E. had to go in for emergency surgery on his back, and luckily they were out with us at the time. My son Daxx knows most of the drum parts and he made a bad situation into a great thing. I had to remind him if he goofed-up his parts, I would dock him his allowance. He also turned 21 in August, and our crew helped him dislocate his brain.
RW: What are your plans after the tour? What is next for you and for the band?
RN: I'm working on songs for a new Cheap Trick CD. We've got so many song ideas and I've got a ton back logged myself.
"One of my earliest trademark pieces. 3M helped in the development for this earliest checkerboard finish"
- Rick Nielsen
"The 'Busted' guitar. I called Jol and Frank at Hamer on a Monday and on Friday we had this guitar for our video. Thank You."
- Rick Nielsen
"I said enough pictures of me - let's have the King of the Thunder Drums on the back."
- Rick Nielsen
"This was in Rolling Stone - June 14, 1979."
- Rick Nielsen
"A 1950 Ford or 57 Chevy look - I'm tempted to take it to cruise night"
-Rick Nielsen
