In praise of my 650D

[eatswodo]

My main (and only) gig is leading worship at our church on a Sunday morning. Normally, we are guitar, bass, keys and drums, with anywhere from 3-6 people singing. I play either acoustic or electric depending on a) this week's set, and b) how the mood takes me as I get ready to leave in the morning.

Well, today was an electric day - my 650D had worked well last weekend in the ensemble, and I thought I'd take it again. Set up and ready to go, and in walks Cindy, our bass player, telling me that Stefan, the drummer (and her husband) is sick and won't be there. Chris, the keyboard player (and, coincidentally, Cindy's sister) shows up, and we start practice as a trio. I'm modifying my approach at this stage, playing more rhythm than fill, to try to compensate for the missing Stefan. All of a sudden, the sanctuary is filled with worried looking kids - turns out that Chris' son has falled and gashed his cheek badly on a table. Exit Chris to emergency room.

So now it's me and Cindy (sorry, Cindy and I). I should point out at this point that Cindy has been playing bass for about a month. I'm really wishing that I had my acoustic with me now, but we soldier on.

And the whole point of this long-winded tale? I'm reminded what an incredibly versatile guitar the 650D is. It coped with everything from full-on strumming, to crunchy rhythm, to fluty lead, to jazzy chord-melody fingerstyle (ok, I'm flattering myself there a little ). What a guitar. It will be with me a very long time......

[longhouse]

Excellent David.
Fact is this:
If I have a gig -any electric gig- my main guitar is always a Ric. And if I can only use ONE guitar, it's definitely a Rickenbacker (1997SPC/VB).

Keep it up!

Noel

[beefandbones]

I haven't played my 650D much in the last few months - just love that mapleglo 330 - but in the last week I've bee playing the 650D a LOT and I agree it's a great guitar. Totally weird looking, but extremely versatile. I kind of wish the pickguard was nickel instead of chrome, giving a more manly less schizophrenic look, but ah well, it's still an awesome instrument and a great value to boot.

I played the 650D at our record release show back in March and after only one song, some drunk guy yells (in that drunk guy yelling voice) "Yes! That's an AWESOME guitar!!" Normally, I'd think he was just being a jackass, but he was totally serious. And no, it wasn't one of my friends...

[eatswodo]

I do agree with you about the chrome pickguard - I would prefer something a little more subtle. Perhaps one of these, in walnut?

http://www.pickguardian.com/pickguardian/RIC650.html

[golfo]

now that's the ticket as far as a 650d pickguard. i have to say that the chrome doesn't do one thing for me. now i know the solution when i get one (oh, yes.. i'll be getting one at some point).
thanks for the tip, david e.
geoff

[kenf]

I like the maple one - my 650D pickguard always looks like it was felt up by a class of kindergardeners.

[wormdiet]

I've always thought the Sierra to be a bit more attractive than the regular 650.

You guys are giving me GAS again. due to wiring weirdness in my apartment, I haven;t been able to plug in for about a month. This is making it worse /

[ken_j]

The wood gaurd looks good. As an alternative you can always powder-coat the chrome one to a different color. We have used a "smokey chrome" powder coat at work. It looks hazy like nickel plated parts do. My 650 has a back painted gold gaurd. I know I've post this before, I just like showing it.

[beefandbones]

All this talk inspired me to play my 650D at our show last night at Neumos in Seattle.

Rickenbackers are pretty common around the Seattle pop scene. Mostly 330s and 360s. So it was pretty cool to be able to play a model that you don't see that often. I played through my bandmate's Vox AC-15 and it sounded really great. I got a lot of compliments on it afterwards.

650D - huzzah!

[kenf]

My first idea for the 650D was a back painted silver guard - I still think it would look good.