Lead Player Role Call

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 9:22 pm

Not sure if this counts...
1. Rhythm/some simple leads - in fact, all the instrumental parts for the song if i may put it this way, since most of the time i play alone with a guitar...
2. Hmmm... 650 D (in the future, actually...

)
3. Folk/punk.

craviola990 · Post by **craviola990** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:39 pm

Bluegrass & folk picking on Rickenbacker 360/12 and Giannini Craviola 12 string. Indian Sitar, Mandolin, Appalachian Dulcimer, Autoharp, Balalaika, Bandurria, Epihone Casino, Gibson Firebird. Lead guitar? Not if my life depended on me getting out of a wet paper sack to watch re-runs of "Quark" or "Pink Lady & Jeff". My soloing is ABSOLUTELY HORRENDOUS. "Heart Full Of Soul" is about where it begins and ends. "The Bells of Rhymney" solo yes, "Purple Haze", can't do it. Main Interests are mid '60's Folk Rock, traditional Folk, alot of British Invasion, OBSCURE Hendrix, Peanut Butter Conspiracy, Mama's & Papa's, B. Springfield, also Henry Mancini, Rhachmannanoff, Grieg, EARLY Genesis (NOT "I can't dance"-get it outta here) My Soloing sounds kind of like "Captain Soul"-MISERABLE. Thanks! Christian

jeff_ulmer · Post by **jeff_ulmer** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 8:25 am

To answer Paul re: steel

I have three guitars (a D8 Gibson console, T8 Ric (508 console - the one on Bjorn's site) and a D8 pedal steel), all tuned differently. The Gibson is the standard C6/E9 if I recall correctly. The others I have no idea (they are currently in storage and it's been a while since I tuned them). I have recorded with both the Gibson and Ric on the last album, however my abilities on these are pedestrian, but in the back of my mind there is the desire to learn. Christian's instrument list almost matches my wishlist. Learning different instruments is one of my primary motivators for making music in the first place. I really should look at brass or woodwinds though, since changing all these darn strings could become a full time job!

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 12:02 pm

I am the lead player in my band
I have been using a 1997 lately
We play
power pop/rock/alternative/hillbilly/psychedelic

Tomorrow I put the 1997 to a recording for the first time!

kog · Post by **kog** » Fri Apr 07, 2006 8:44 pm

1. Always been the lead player, in my teenage bands and then in my 30s in a brief flirtation with my youth. Now, in my 50s, just doing a lot of home recording with a buddy. But still doing the lead parts.

2. Er, uh, ahem, ya see, I had pretty much been a Gretsch bigot up until 1980 when I got my 360-12 (hi-gains). So, I used that a lot in my mid-life crisis years in the 1980s. I even used it a lot when we did non-12-string songs. It really sounds beautiful playing the solo to "And I Love Her". I now have a 325C58 which I've used for lead ("You Can't Do That"). And after I get my 360/12C63, I plan on getting a 330 or 381V69 (JWilli's new BBR has blown me away). After having been on this forum for over a year, you clowns have convinced me that I have led a severely Ric-deficient life.

3. Well, let's see, Gretschs and Rics and Hofners (oh my!). Wild guess..Beatles looms large in my legend. But in my teens in the 60s in was a lot of the usual 60s rock -- Doors, Hendrix (try doing "Purple Haze" on a Gretsch 6120), the usual. In my band in the 80s we did a lot of those 60s oldies plus some 80s rock -- not the synth stuff, but some Steve Miller, Bryan Adams, stuff like that. Songs that guys in their late 30s -- who couldn't grow long hair if we wanted to -- wouldn't look too stupid playing.

Great thread...

gregga41 · Post by **gregga41** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 1:18 am

1/..In my own case, i've always gone to the rhythm side of things. I prefer to back up the lead player,just play nice and clean and in time! I'll throw a small touch of lead in every now and again, if it's warranted!!!
Haven't played in a band for over a year and a half now, "parenthood" (mine, and the other guys in the band) takes a toll on playing! "Ringo" is now 8 mths old, Kieran is 2&1/2.
Looking forward to forming up with Darren Trott and see what happens!
2/.. Ric of choice?Aitch's 350!!!Darrens360/12 !!Lol.
Played my Burgundy 320 in my band when i owned it but couldn't get over the shorter scale! Thanks to Darren's advice, moved on to my 2005 FG 360/6,but as yet, have not played it in a band situation. New amphead and quadbox has arrived, so i'll "christen" them all together.
3/.. Genre! As a child of the 60's. i grew up with the 60's sound,and as you should all know via my posts, am a huge Beatles fan. Australia's music scene in the late 70's and early to mid 80's was something to be proud of,so, thats another influence.Nothing beats a good tune, played well!

winston · Post by **winston** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 12:22 pm

OK It looks like this thread has run its course. I will tabulate the results and see if they give us a definitive idea what Rics are used by lead players and what type of music is being played.

I'll post the results as soon as I get sufficient time to properly analyze the data provided.

steve_hershberger · Post by **steve_hershberger** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 1:54 am

Wait Brian - one more!

1.) I play lead and rhythm but pride myself on rhythm the most. Maybe I should say it's a hybrid style of rhythm/lead combination because I'd rather leave the "real" lead stuff to someone more talented than myself. Plus, in most cases, I've never had the patience nor facility to figure out most leads in a note-for-note manner - "close enough to be somewhat recognizable" is fine with me.

Also, I tend to play a lot of arpeggiated chords etc. using a pick and my other three picking fingers (or just the flat pick alone). Kind of McGuinn-ish at times.

It's really hard to say because this stuff happens automatically and I've never really analyzed it before now.

2.) The only Ric I've got is a 360/12V64, so that'll tell you that I'm doing the Beatles and Byrds style 12 string parts (even on some songs that don't "require" that kind of thing). But I'm also using it for newer stuff like Plimsouls, Gin Blossoms, etc. - whatever sounds cool with a 12 string. At a jam once I used it to play lead on "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" at a volume that tore the roof off the sucka. That was pretty cool.

3.) Genres - I play whatever... Like most people here, I grew up doing what's now termed classic rock (when it was new), and blues, some country - typical bar band stuff that's all over the map. Had an all original "new wave" type of band in 1980 that was pretty cool, but I haven't been in a real band for 20 years now. Only jam a few times per year and I'm the guy who tends to want to do the "different" non-typical jam songs that everybody in the world does... i.e., I'm trying to add something in besides all the blues and southern rock. Sometimes I even succeed.

But I still like playing that stuff too.

Heck, I'll play anything as long as it's fun and sounds halfway cool. For more "traditional" leads I'll usually use one of my Strats, or a Les Paul Standard or Special, or Tele.

winston · Post by **winston** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:42 am

Thanks Steve.

Having briefly looked this thread over I have concluded that it probably warrants a short narrative containing some observations of the results.

I think that I will do the results this coming weekend.

There is just too much on my plate right now. So, if anyone else want to contribute you have lots of time.

dean712 · Post by **dean712** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:26 pm

1. Rhythm! I play guitar for songwriting, and also in a side project band with friends; otherwise, I'm a bass player.

2. 660/12 - my only Rick guitar. I love it. I play a couple of other guitars, but they're not worthy of mention in comparison.

3. Since most of my guitar playing (as opposed to bass) is with my friends' band, it's classic rock, from the Beatles (a lot of Beatles) through the decades of good guitar-based rock. Whatever's fun....

winston · Post by **winston** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 10:33 am

Poll Results

First, I would like to thank all on the forum who took the time to post their answers to this poll.

Now, let’s focus on the interesting data that was gathered. My own personal observations that were generated as a result of the data collected, will follow along in a separate post.

Number of Respondents 25. Comprised of the following:

22 lead players, some who play both rhythm and lead
3 rhythm players

Rickenbacker guitars used for lead (in no particular order).

360/V64
650C
610
360
330
345
620
220
1997SPC/VB
370WB
620/12
335
450
460
370/12
650D
360/12
1997
325C58
350
320
660/12

Genres played while using a Rickenbacker guitar for lead.

Classic Rock
Southern Rock
Oldies
Country
Blues
Jazz
70s/80s rock
Praise & Worship
Folk
Alt/Art-Rock
Hard Rock,
Metal
Power Pop
Punk
British Invasion
Dream Pop
60's Brit Rock
Current Rock
Melodic Power Pop/Rock
Jangle Pop
Alt. Country
Roots Rock
Bluegrass
Mid '60's Folk Rock
Traditional Folk
Alternative
Hillbilly
Psychedelic

bitzerguy · Post by **bitzerguy** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 4:54 pm

22 of 25 forum musicians recommend Rics for lead. (sounds like a Crest commercial, don't it?) okokok, it is a Ric forum after all, but still...

And look at the genres! Very interesting. Cool thread Brian, thanks.

...Dean

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 5:02 pm

I play lead bass guitar in bands with my Rick basses.

winston · Post by **winston** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 5:30 pm

Joey,

That's way too cool. John Entwhistle and Jack Bruce used to do that too, so you are in great company.

Dean,

You have made a great observation. The Crest comparison was tres funny too.

I also agree that it has turned out to be an interesting thread.

winston · Post by **winston** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 6:02 pm

Well,

Here are my thoughts and observations on this subject.

First and foremost we now know that lead guitarists who play Rickenbackers do in fact exist on this forum. Guitar players who utilize a Rickenbacker for lead are not a figment of our imagination. Frankly there were times when I wondered if there were only two or three of us on this forum. Although the poll shows that our numbers are thin, it proved that there is definitely a small group of skilled and dedicated lead guitarists that share a common bond.

It is very interesting to me we to see that a wide variety of Rickenbacker guitars are used to play lead in a wide range of genres. This should be very encouraging to John Hall to see first hand that his beautifully crafted instruments are used in many more situations and genres than perhaps one might possibly imagine. The results of the poll were both encouraging and an eye opener for me, to be perfectly honest.

I am excited that I am not alone in my use of these beautiful instruments in all manner of applications.

Again thank you all for participating and assisting to disseminate this very interesting information.