Ric 330, Vox AC30, and TS808
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Ric 330, Vox AC30, and TS808
I got my 330 a couple of months back after wanting one for years. It's my go to guitar, a lot more comfortable to play than my Fenders or Gibson.
It does what Rics are supposed to do. Great jangle. Wonderful for arpeggios. Fantastic cleans.
Yesterday, I bought an Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808. I should have bought one decades ago.
I plugged the Ric into it and into the Vox AC30, and I wasn't prepared for the balls out rock and roll sound the Ric was making. Seriously showed me just how versatile the Ric is.
I have an OCD and a Bad Monkey OD, and while I love those pedals, the Ric only sounds "ok" with them. But the TS really gives it that smooth but powerful rock body. I a/b'd it with my Les Paul, and the Ric held its own in the arena of the Les Paul's specialty.
It does what Rics are supposed to do. Great jangle. Wonderful for arpeggios. Fantastic cleans.
Yesterday, I bought an Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808. I should have bought one decades ago.
I plugged the Ric into it and into the Vox AC30, and I wasn't prepared for the balls out rock and roll sound the Ric was making. Seriously showed me just how versatile the Ric is.
I have an OCD and a Bad Monkey OD, and while I love those pedals, the Ric only sounds "ok" with them. But the TS really gives it that smooth but powerful rock body. I a/b'd it with my Les Paul, and the Ric held its own in the arena of the Les Paul's specialty.
All the world's a stage, albeit with mountains, plains, oceans, rivers, buildings, towers, animals, humans, plants, and Armour's Spam.
Re: Ric 330, Vox AC30, and TS808
There are a lot of misconceptions about Rickenbacker guitars, and probably the biggest one is, they can't do anything but jangle rock. You have discovered this isn't true. With the right amp and the right pedals, a Rick can rock as hard as almost anything out there. People also think you can't play blues/rock solos on Ricks. Again, that's untrue. I'm working on Pentatonic solos today on my 360.
Re: Ric 330, Vox AC30, and TS808
Yeah, too many people have misguided prejudices.
Re: Ric 330, Vox AC30, and TS808
I agree with you folks that Rics are pigeon-holed as a guitar offering nothing but certain tone for a certain style of music. But I will counter with a "so what?" There is nothing wrong with Rics being labelled what they are.
I readily admit that I bought my Rickenbackers because of their stereotyped characteristics. And I bought my Gibson SG for its stereotyped characteristics. Can I play AC/DC music on my Ric? Maybe. But the SG does it a lot easier and better.
What I am trying to say is (unless it is the only guitar you own) why try to get a Rickenbacker to do things a Kirk Hammett ESP signature model is designed to do? I enjoy my Rickenbackers because they sound like Rickenbackers! That's why I bought them. I wouldn't buy a Ferrari to haul sheet rock and I'm not plugging my Rickenbacker into a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier to play Metallica.
Enjoy your Ric with the Tube Screamer. I'm sure you are having fun doing that. But come on, let the thing be what it was born to be.
I readily admit that I bought my Rickenbackers because of their stereotyped characteristics. And I bought my Gibson SG for its stereotyped characteristics. Can I play AC/DC music on my Ric? Maybe. But the SG does it a lot easier and better.
What I am trying to say is (unless it is the only guitar you own) why try to get a Rickenbacker to do things a Kirk Hammett ESP signature model is designed to do? I enjoy my Rickenbackers because they sound like Rickenbackers! That's why I bought them. I wouldn't buy a Ferrari to haul sheet rock and I'm not plugging my Rickenbacker into a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier to play Metallica.
Enjoy your Ric with the Tube Screamer. I'm sure you are having fun doing that. But come on, let the thing be what it was born to be.
Re: Ric 330, Vox AC30, and TS808
So, you're saying that I won't be able to fit sheets of plywood in the back of the used FF I just bought for that purpose?Tommy wrote:I wouldn't buy a Ferrari to haul sheet rock...
Re: Ric 330, Vox AC30, and TS808
Don't get me wrong--I'd still be in love with the 330 even if it were a one-trick pony. I've had a 4001 since 1978, but no experience with Ric six strings. So I was surprised when it did what I knew it for and on top of that showed itself to be a great guitar for lots of styles.
All the world's a stage, albeit with mountains, plains, oceans, rivers, buildings, towers, animals, humans, plants, and Armour's Spam.
- kennyhowes
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Re: Ric 330, Vox AC30, and TS808
I have known about the mystique of the Tube Screamer, but always understood it to be slightly misaligned, as SRV used them dialed in clean as a solo boost, or so legend goes.
So imagine my surprise when I started paying attention to what first wave TS pedals are going for now. $1k and up.
So imagine my surprise when I started paying attention to what first wave TS pedals are going for now. $1k and up.
Re: Ric 330, Vox AC30, and TS808
I know it's blasphemy, but I feel about SRV that he was a talented and great guitarist, but I am just not into him.
Actually, I was a little afraid that it would make my Strat sound like his, but I was wrong. I don't mean any disrespect to Stevie or anyone who loves his music.
Actually, I was a little afraid that it would make my Strat sound like his, but I was wrong. I don't mean any disrespect to Stevie or anyone who loves his music.
All the world's a stage, albeit with mountains, plains, oceans, rivers, buildings, towers, animals, humans, plants, and Armour's Spam.
Re: Ric 330, Vox AC30, and TS808
The Tubescreamer is a wonderful overdrive that can add sustain and slight breakup without coloring the tone too much, I think that's why people love them.kennyhowes wrote:I have known about the mystique of the Tube Screamer, but always understood it to be slightly misaligned, as SRV used them dialed in clean as a solo boost, or so legend goes.
So imagine my surprise when I started paying attention to what first wave TS pedals are going for now. $1k and up.
This is especially true of the early ones, but any of the dozens of versions made over the years will do the job. It's a classic pedal circuit that has been cloned and copied a million times as well.
Re: Ric 330, Vox AC30, and TS808
To further cement the foundation, try a set of "11's" on it, like the D'Addario XL115/XL115W (plain G string or wound G string - your choice). The added mass, though not much, will help the guitar drive the TS808 even better.
Re: Ric 330, Vox AC30, and TS808
I never understand this at all.ch willie wrote: Yesterday, I bought an Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808. I should have bought one decades ago.
I plugged the Ric into it and into the Vox AC30, and I wasn't prepared for the balls out rock and roll sound the Ric was making. Seriously showed me just how versatile the Ric is.
You say when you plugged your Ric intoo your TS808 you enjoyed "the balls out rock and roll sound the Ric was making." But it wasn't the Ric...it was the Tube Screamer you plugged into.
Guitars make guitar sounds. Pedals make pedal sounds. A Ric sound is bright and sparkly. Why would I want to alter that sound to make my Ric sound like a Les Paul through a cranked Marshall?
I just don't get pedals at all. I like guitar sounds, not pedal sounds.
- kennyhowes
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Re: Ric 330, Vox AC30, and TS808
I tend to agree with your philosophy, but there are combinations that are better than others. Like recipes.Tommy wrote:I never understand this at all.ch willie wrote: Yesterday, I bought an Ibanez Tube Screamer TS808. I should have bought one decades ago.
I plugged the Ric into it and into the Vox AC30, and I wasn't prepared for the balls out rock and roll sound the Ric was making. Seriously showed me just how versatile the Ric is.
You say when you plugged your Ric intoo your TS808 you enjoyed "the balls out rock and roll sound the Ric was making." But it wasn't the Ric...it was the Tube Screamer you plugged into.
Guitars make guitar sounds. Pedals make pedal sounds. A Ric sound is bright and sparkly. Why would I want to alter that sound to make my Ric sound like a Les Paul through a cranked Marshall?
I just don't get pedals at all. I like guitar sounds, not pedal sounds.
- paologregorio
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Re: Ric 330, Vox AC30, and TS808
It is not mutually exclusive to:
Like and play the “classic Rick sound.”
Like the sound of “screaming rock tones” (and play them).
Want to play screaming rock tones and leads on a Rickenbacker.
I have two Les Pauls, but I have 8 Rickenbackers; Ricks are more unusual- looking, visually striking, and have their own character; why wouldn’t one want to play the screaming rock bits as well as the pretty parts on a Rick?
Like and play the “classic Rick sound.”
Like the sound of “screaming rock tones” (and play them).
Want to play screaming rock tones and leads on a Rickenbacker.
I have two Les Pauls, but I have 8 Rickenbackers; Ricks are more unusual- looking, visually striking, and have their own character; why wouldn’t one want to play the screaming rock bits as well as the pretty parts on a Rick?
Last edited by paologregorio on Sat Sep 05, 2020 3:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- kennyhowes
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Re: Ric 330, Vox AC30, and TS808
Defending Tommy a bit, I think his point is that such sounds are often the color of the pedal rather than the guitar, and the priority should be the opposite.
My point is that I agree that less effects is more, and more organic*. But sometimes, one gets a winning combination with mixing and matching.
When I do have crunch, which isn’t often, I prefer the amp to do the work, rather than a pedal or other box(es).
*As organic as electric guitars can be.
My point is that I agree that less effects is more, and more organic*. But sometimes, one gets a winning combination with mixing and matching.
When I do have crunch, which isn’t often, I prefer the amp to do the work, rather than a pedal or other box(es).
*As organic as electric guitars can be.
Re: Ric 330, Vox AC30, and TS808
I guess because the screaming rock bits sound better with an SG playing through a cranked Marshall.paologregorio wrote:why wouldn’t one want to play the screaming rock bits as well as the pretty parts on a Rick?
Because I like the trebly, crystal clear, bell-like tones that certain guitars can make, I have three Rics, three Fenders, and two Gretsches. I have one Gibson (an SG) because if I do want the screaming rock bits, I can do it on that guitar.
To each his own, of course, but I still can't see spending some steep money on a Ric just to make it sound like a Les Paul. Get the Les Paul if that's the sound one wants.