Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Well Rics are magical and we all know that. This morning, the action is just where it needs to be. I wonder if it took a while for the wood to adjust???

Also: as a truss rod wrench, the little chrome one I bought at Home Depot the other day for $2.49 fits perfectly -- no grinding required. I think ...

Whatever 10-gauge strings were on this 381 when I bought it were obviously higher tension than the ones I put on, because the buzzing started the second I tuned it up. I've been wondering if it's different cores; hex vs. round. I'll have to check, since I haven't tossed the original strings.

Played ...

OMG, I just found the ground-down wrench. It must be a sign.

One reason I haven't tried the truss rods yet is, I've heard that Rics are designed to have NO relief. The neck is supposed to be perfectly flat. And my straight edge tells me, this neck is flat like the proverbial board.

The other issue is having the right tool. In 1979, I ground down a 1/4 ...

I removed the 10s it came with and put on a new set of 10s. Then I started dropping the action to match my other Rics. Then the fret buzz started...

Yes, the 11s by themselves would initially raise the action -- but they're higher tension strings, so you should be able to then drop the bridge quite ...

I finally got a 381, and very quickly discovered I can't get the action as low as my other Rics. Thinking about going up to 11 gauge strings to see if I can move them closer to the fretboard.

Thoughts? 11's on a Gretsch feels completely natural, but a Ric is not a Gretsch.

Yes.

I've always loved the guitar sounds on Beatles records, but I went on a MISSION to own a Ric after I heard The Jam. I was absolutely, deliriously obsessed, and I could not find a Ric to save my life, when their first couple albums came out. I remember a guitar store offering to order me one ...

These are my "magic" gauges, that I've been using since the late 70s:

10 10
13 13
17 9
22w 11
34w 14
44w 20w

Some guy in a music store looked that up in a book and made me a set. Nothing else has ever worked right for me.

When I first wanted a RIc, you couldn't find one to save your life. This was just after the Jam arrived, in the late 70s.

So my first Ric was a 12, but only because it was all I could find -- at a guitar swap meet -- used, mint condition 360/12. Just couldn't pass up that deal. Still have it, too ...

FWIW, these are the "magic" gauges that I've been using on my 360-12, for roughly 30 years:

10 10
13 13
17 9
22w 11
34w 14
44w 20w

A guy working in a music store made that set up for me, based on some book the store had. I have NEVER been able to find out what that book was... but these gauges ...

When I finally got a 330, I played it exclusively -- and it was like learning to play all over again!

I've always done originals, and I found myself re-thinking arrangements and leads and writing in a whole new way. Simple, single-note lead stuff that worked fine on a Strat or Les Paul just sounded ...

How would you describe the sound of a Dr. Z with a Rick 12?

Dark. Surprisingly dark.

I just stumbled into a 370-12, and I was very excited to try it through my Maz 18 Junior NR head. But I was a little shocked at the lack of sparkle and chime.

Still have to try some different speakers -- I was ...

Not a 360, but for YEARS I used a 330 exclusively.

kiramdear wrote:Waiting to see what fate will throw into my path when the stars align. I like 'em all, and anything is possible.

EXACTLY how I feel. All my Rics have been like that.

This sound. It's in my head forever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqiMfPe6U7g