Mike Mills of REM

big_g · Post by **big_g** » Sat Sep 06, 2003 11:26 am

On the album Reckoning, it does sound like he used a Ric 12-string on the song "I'm Sorry".

big_g · Post by **big_g** » Sat Sep 06, 2003 11:28 am

Pete Buck, that is, not Mike Mills

wormdiet · Post by **wormdiet** » Sat Sep 06, 2003 1:07 pm

Someone many moons ago mentioned that Pete uses super heavy strings - .013!! Perhpas that has something to do with it.

wormdiet · Post by **wormdiet** » Sat Sep 06, 2003 1:08 pm

"On the album Reckoning, it does sound like he used a Ric 12-string on the song "I'm Sorry"."

To my ears, there's definitely a 12 on "TIme After Time."

rkbsound · Post by **rkbsound** » Sat Sep 06, 2003 4:48 pm

Well, I know he used 12 strings on many songs(including South Central Rain, ie I'm Sorry), and many songs are also overdubbed repeatedly with lots of guitars. So his studio sound is very "big" and hard to replicate at home.

That said, I know that his "live" sound is very simple and straight forward, yet I still am challenged to replicate his sound. I am not using an AC30 or even an all tube amp, so I'm sure that's a major issue. Thanks for the help!

rkbsound · Post by **rkbsound** » Sat Sep 06, 2003 4:53 pm

Well, I know he used 12 strings on many songs(including South Central Rain, ie I'm Sorry), and many songs are also overdubbed repeatedly with lots of guitars. So his studio sound is very "big" and hard to replicate at home.

That said, I know that his "live" sound is very simple and straight forward, yet I still am challenged to replicate his sound. I am not using an AC30 or even an all tube amp, so I'm sure that's a major issue. Thanks for the help!

By the way (some personal opinion here), Peter Buck is credited as a major influence on bands during and post 80's, but he is still one of the most under-rated guitarists of our time. The fact that his signature sound began with a Rickenbacker is what makes his sound that much sweeter. Peter Buck picked up where Roger McGuinn left off. Not that Roger has gone anywhere!

corey · Post by **corey** » Sun Sep 07, 2003 6:35 am

I believe the Ric 12 Buck used on "Reckoning" was Mitch Easter's 330/12JG, as he was still amassing his Ric collection at that time, and R.E.M. was living in a van at that point.

Live, Peter has 5 AC30's that he decorates with loads of plastic dinosaur toys he got from his twin daughters.

corey · Post by **corey** » Sun Sep 07, 2003 6:47 am

Oh yes, 6 string wise, Peter uses .013-056 Dean Markley strings. As for 12's, he's playing 10's like the rest of us.

While not for everyone, the guage Peter uses works well for his style of playing (not lots of solos, more mid tempo picking, etc). I use 13-56 DM flats now and am quite pleased.

rkbsound · Post by **rkbsound** » Sun Sep 07, 2003 10:14 am

That is quite heavy! How does a Rick 360/6 react to strings that heavy? I'm guessing truss rod and bridge adjustment?

corey · Post by **corey** » Tue Sep 09, 2003 12:11 pm

Actually, that's what I used to think, but my 360/6 and my 381v69 are both equipped with 13's, and nothing much had to be done to them, according to my tech. I guess the way to look at it is that if a 360/12 can handle all those strings tuned to concert pitch, 13's are just fine for the same neck.