Lead guitarists playing a rickenbacker 6 string?

winston · Post by **winston** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 3:44 pm

Well Bob I too can be persuasive in the same manner.

I have been playing for 42 years and I have played with and on the same stage as some of the best guitar players in the world, but I don't need to call on that experience to support what I already know.

Rickenbacker guitars can do it all...in the right set of hands.

Lets agree to disagree. You have your opinion and it is the precisely the opposite of mine and many others here.

woodsgirl · Post by **woodsgirl** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 4:58 pm

Has anyone submitted tracks for the forum cd that has leads on Rics? That would be proof positive.

telebob · Post by **telebob** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 5:10 pm

That's cool Brian. I'm just stating an opinion and wanted to give a little background to substantiate it. You never know who you might be talking to on these forums.

I don't doubt there are very talented people out there getting the job done with Rics. Heck, I gig with my Ric. Steppenwolf Live is one of my all time favorite albums, and they sure get it done.

We were asked to comment on the topic here and I shared my observations based on practical experience. I'm not trying to be "right" but just sharing a perspective.

And I agree, Rics can do it all for some people. My opinion is not that different from yours. I just don't find that Rics can do it "all for everyone." If that were the case, they'd be more popular among players. But it's a good thing they're not. It would dilute the very thing that makes them special.

Please tell about who you've played with and where I might hear some of your recordings! I love to hear about people's playing experiences. I've photographed and have been in the presence of several great players and always enjoy the experience.

winston · Post by **winston** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 5:26 pm

Kaia,

With respect to the upcoming forum CD ask Tony or Gary. They are coordinating that effort.

Tony I would surmise has contributed to the CD. He plays Rickenbacker guitars and is a huge proponent of their use as lead guitars. He is also a highly respected producer in the UK by the way.

winston · Post by **winston** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 5:38 pm

Bob,

I seriously doubt that you would have ever run across me. My career started in England and ended in Canada. As I stated in an earlier post I am hardly famous. My last tour was opening for Rory Gallagher across Canada.

winston · Post by **winston** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 5:56 pm

Bob you have mail BTW

woodsgirl · Post by **woodsgirl** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 6:14 pm

I am just going to wait for the cd to come out. I think this should be very interesting, and you totally never know who you are talking to here or even who will be hearing this cd........I really thought about that as I had to send my track in in less than perfect form. Sheesh, anyone at all could hear this,( for sure John Hall will hear it) so I hope there is some kick*ss lead on it so we can just say---check out our cd. I am not in that category! lol!

woodsgirl · Post by **woodsgirl** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 6:17 pm

I don't think most players have ever even tried a Ric. Most lead players I know sure haven't. Remember that you can't just walk into a music store in most towns and even find one! There isn't a Ric dealer within 100 miles of me. You can get a strat, tele or gibson or knock off thereof anywhere, even Costco!

woodsgirl · Post by **woodsgirl** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 6:40 pm

Duplicate, sorry.

winston · Post by **winston** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 7:58 pm

That's a great point Kaia. I stumbled across my first Rickenbacker in 1965 in a pawn shop. My second one came to me via a guitarist who had toured in the US and came home broke.

All of the my current Rick guitars came to me via e-bay. My bass came from a forum member. I never got to try even one of them out with any of my amps before I bought them.

I love them all though.

tony_carey · Post by **tony_carey** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 9:36 pm

I've been watching this thread with great interest. As many of you know, I have been rather outspoken in the past about the attitude that Rics can't solo.

The fact that most 'name' players choose not to, doesn't mean that they can't. What can I say...I do not consider myself a particularly gifted guitarist, but I regularly receive spontaneous audience applause after certain solos that I play on, believe it or not....a Rickenbacker! I don't find them any harder to solo on than any other world class gtr.

Why don't name guitarists solo with Rics? I think it has nothing to do with the necks, or the frets, but more to do with a 'comfort zone'. We all know that Rics are a gtr that you have to 'get used to' & I would imagine that most guitarists, who are used to their respective brands, tend to stick with them when soloing. It's a shame, because they would be rewarded with the typical Rickenbacker bell like tone that no other gtr can acheive.

I also firmly believe that most players look at Rics as some sort of 'retro' gtr & as a result, simply just don't use them right!

At the end of the day though, Bob's right in that different gtrs do different things & have different sounds, but I suppose the capabilities of each depends on the perspective with which it's viewed & the overall sound that you are out to achieve.

ricardo_vicente · Post by **ricardo_vicente** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 1:48 am

Fascinating thread. Just thought I'd add my two penneth worth ...

I'll restrict this to just relating my own personal experiences and preferences because I think that's all you really can do on a subject matter which basically boils down to just that; personal preferences.

I am predominantly a rhythm guitarist/singer but during a set I will go through the whole range of plectrum techniques including strumming, plucking, riffing and soloing.

My main gigging guitar is my Rickenbacker 330/6.
I also own a Gibson SG Standard and a Gibson ES-347.
The reasons the Rick is No. 1 gigging guitar is mainly due to the sound being absolutely right for most of the band's material but I also am more than comfortable (big hammy hands and all) playing everything on the 330, including the solos.
Having said that, I must confess I do prefer the SG for solo work in the studio. It's not worth the hassle of switching guitars on stage but I can perform the solos a little easier on the SG because the rosewood fret board is not varnished. On the Rick, I'm slightly more prone to slipping. However, I must add that this applies equally to the ES-347 which has an ebony neck. The same Gibson dimensions but a very smooth ebony fret board which offers little frictional resistance when I'm bending notes.
So, yes, I do slightly prefer another guitar to my Rick for soloing but for me it has nothing to do with neck width and frets; it's just the varnish, which of course has its own benefits.

For whatever reason there are I think quite a lot of guitarists, including Rick owners and lovers, who prefer another type of guitar for solo work as I do but in my case, this slight preference isn't going to stop me taking my most beautiful looking and sounding guitar on stage with me.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v720/ricvic/4.jpg

longhouse · Post by **longhouse** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 5:28 am

I generated a setlist for my group recently. As I scanned down the list wondering which guitar would be used for which song I smiled as I said, "1997, 1997, 1997, 1997... "

For four songs in the middle of our set, I will switch to my Epi Elitist Country Gentleman (and those songs would sound AS GOOD on my Rics).

My parts will run the gamut from clean chime to Marvin Hagler riffs to stinging leads and the Ric handles all with aplomb.

The fact is this - if I have an electric gig, NO MATTER WHAT SORT or WHAT VENUE, I take my two Rics: 1997SPC/VB with my 360V64 as backup.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 5:31 am

I've heard many players cite the varnished fretboard as a hinderance to their playing on a Rick. I think the problem is actually the small frets though. Late 60's and 70's Strats had lacquered fretboards, but taller frets, so the fretboard wasn't "felt" as easily.

westtexasrickenbacker · Wed Aug 09, 2006 5:52 am

Wow, talk about feedback!

Now, what was the question?

OK, from all the response, it is now abundantly clear to me that Rickenbacker necks and fret are slightly too small, except that that is really not the case, as they are really adaptable to even gigantic "ham-fisted" hands. Additionally, the varnish finish on the neck either makes fingers slip a bit too much, or it otherwise works better than sliced bread.

And finally, "name" guitarists who have the GALL to NOT use these most beautiful and well-made of guitars are woefully ignorant of the instrument, thinking them 'retro' and unsuitable to their needs. Ah, the fools!

Rickenbackers rule. A very interesting point someone made before: one can go to any music store and see Strats, Gibbies, even a PRS, and of course, the cheaper lines, but it is very rare to see Rickenbacker guitars on the hooks. Of the maybe 15 music stores I've been to in 4 different cities in the last 5 years, only one store carried Rickenbacker. People don't know what they're missing.