Rickenbacker...rhythm only?

grinch · Post by **grinch** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 2:34 pm

Okay, but...have any artists played lead guitar on a Rick SIX string?

karl_teten · Post by **karl_teten** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 2:43 pm

Pete Townshend - The WHO

Jim Babjak - The Smithereens

Mike Campbell - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Marty Wilson-Piper - The Church

John Kay - Steppenwolf

George Callins - Carla Olsen and the Textones

Paul Weller - The Jam

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 3:26 pm

Amen!

And add Peter Buck to that list.

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 3:36 pm

John Fogerty - Creedence Clearwater Revival

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 4:11 pm

Brian, you're very welcome, & I'm happy to see you know who Freddy King is!
A classic blues tone that has what I refer to as a sweet bite. Not too sharp, but nice & clear & defined, with some aggressive growl as well.

If one can get a Rick to sound alternatively like a Les Paul, a Tele, a 335, an SG, & then distinctively Rick, then surely there's no further proof needed that they are very versatile guitars & certainly lead-worthy.

winston · Post by **winston** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 4:34 pm

Again thanks so much Kevin,

For those who don't know who he was here is brief excerpt from "Freddy King" written by Johnny Harper

"Freddy King (was) a blazing, masterful blues guitarist, a gorgeous, heartbreaking singer, and a huge influence on Eric Clapton, Jimmy and Stevie Ray Vaughn, and many other peformers"

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:37 pm

Freddie was a terrific showman. He died way too young (42). He was a big guy, around 300 pounds. I recall him as wearing belt buckles as big as frying pans...

I've got a number of Freddie's albums; my all-time favorite cut is "Shake Your Booty"; half talking, half singing and half great guitar.

Yup. The total is more than 1. Freddie was larger than life!

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 4:15 am

Anyone who's even remotely into blues at all needs to listen to Mr. King (as well as the other Mr. Kings).
One of the true blues masters.
T Bone Walker is another must-listen-to guy.

ricnbacker · Post by **ricnbacker** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 4:22 am

Brian,

sounds good to me....

I was told the same thing recently that rics are rhythm only. rediculous!
I purchased a les paul recently because it felt great to me and a 620 was not available. I did try a 330 12 string and the neck was absolutly fantastic.I am a classic rock /metal player but i believe it is the player not the guitar.

I was curious to as to the lead status of a Ric since none of my favorite players have been know to play them. they mostly play SG`s and Les Pauls

winston · Post by **winston** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 7:53 am

Thanks Chris,

SRV has been known to own and play a Ric. I am not sure who else in his genre may have used one.

As far as being the guitar player not the guitar? I believe a good musician can make a good instrument sing and a good instrument can help make a musician into a better musician.

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 8:47 am

Yeah, right... but (IMHO) while a good musician can play well on a bad instrument, a good instrument wouldn't help a bad musician to become a good one... (you can take it from me

)

winston · Post by **winston** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 9:02 am

Well Sheena,

I had to buy at least one of every popular brand to test my theory. Strat, Les Paul, Ibanez, etc.

It's true that I can play any of them, but I prefer certain instruments over others for their own particular qualities. I use them all however, for different applications.

That' my story and I am sticking to it. (Just in case my wife reads this thread) LOL

kog · Post by **kog** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 9:28 am

Sheena, agreed! Harrison made a ukelele sound good, Robert Johnson became immortal with a beat-up old acoustic. Hand either of those instruments to me, and Congress would pass a law banning them. (Although, I DO tend to lean on the argument, "But Honey, Sweetie, I NEED to have a [insert brand name] guitar to sound exactly right. I just can't play In-A-Godda-Da-Vida on a MIM Strat." That's worked so far, but she MAY be catching on...)

Brian, Crossroads was very cool....but dang you, now I've got to go practice it too!

kog · Post by **kog** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 9:30 am

Hmmm, I think I sense a "theme" here...

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Sat Feb 11, 2006 9:36 am

Oh well... a general problem... i've been often told (before), "hey, do you really think one guitar isn't enough?!" Yep... it isn't enough!

But i just meant, my friends who are good at playing guitar, manage to play great solos on my ol' broken/glued cheap acoustic... oh well... after we've "adopted" a (relatively) thin neck Telecoustic in our family, i've certainly become a faster chord player (faster doesn't mean better, mind you!), and Mousie doesn't have the usual troubles with barre anymore... BTW, a while ago i have "composed" (ripped off?) a small, simple, sort of "ragtime" solo (riff?), but i cannot imagine it played on electric...