Are Rickenbackers pop guitars?

[Jimmy-Jim-Jim]

I've been giving this some thought recently because I am becoming increasingly dissatisfied with rock and pop music. Are Rickenbacker's simply pop guitars; how versatile are they? I know they can sometimes jangle and growl, but on the neck pick up do they sound as good for rhythm and blues as for example a 335, or for jazz as a 335 or an ES-125. For weird and surf and twang can they compete with Fenders or the Italians - Vox, Eko Galanti? I have this question because jazz, blues, classical and other specialists do not seem to go for Rickenbackers. Are they essentially pop instruments? I know many (basically rock and pop players) say Rickenbackers sound good for jazz, but can they really cut it in this field? I have a suspicion that they may be very decent Jazz instruments, but that perception may play a part in why they are not seen to be so (okay a bit circular!). And this brings me to the question what were the classic models - the 330 and the 360 - designed for in the first place? What was their percieved niche when they were designed and first launched? The (without binding) 360 in particular remains a very unusual guitar design, what genre is it most suited to?

[jimk]

The answers to your questions really lie in the imaginations, and technical levels in individual guitarists. Is our hypothetical guitarist willing to break out of the stereotype of Rickenbackers as just jangle/pop guitars? It's just a guitar. The guitarist is the one making the statement.
JimK

[deaconblues]

And this brings me to the question what were the classic models - the 330 and the 360 - designed for in the first place? What was their percieved niche when they were designed and first launched? The (without binding) 360 in particular remains a very unusual guitar design, what genre is it most suited to?

I think Ricks were originally designed for that twangy sound you hear in old country and western music. The 360 is really just a 330 with smoothed edges.

So IMO a Rick 330 and a Strat occupy basically the same sonic niche. I think more people use Fenders just because they're more common and familiar.

[collin]

You can debate until the cows come home about what the preconcieved limitations are of Rickenbackers, but there are so many other factors (the most important being the PLAYER), that it's useless to try figuring it out.


That said, I don't even try to make my Rics sound like an ES-335. That's why I have ES-335s.

Even though they can do it all, I like to have a tool for every job, and I let Rics do the job they're best at.

[Rickygirl]

IMHO a Rickenbacker can be anything you want it to be. Just rearrange tone/blend of pickups and then rearrange settings on chosen amplifier. Add pedals as desired. It can sound whatever you want it to sound like. They are exceptionally versatile I think. More so than some other makes.

Anyway, who says what dictates the type of music you play on your Rickenbacker??

[steverok]

I consider them to be pop guitars, with their look and sound, and I wouldn't have it any other way. However, they can be used for many styles of music.

[Clint]

I think that for what you are talking about the choice of amplifier would make more of a difference than the guitar. Like JimK says, it's just a guitar.

[sgstandard]

Only when the tailpiece snaps!!

[paologregorio]

IMHO a Rickenbacker can be anything you want it to be. Just rearrange tone/blend of pickups and then rearrange settings on chosen amplifier. Add pedals as desired. It can sound whatever you want it to sound like. They are exceptionally versatile I think. More so than some other makes.

Anyway, who says what dictates the type of music you play on your Rickenbacker??

Ditto what Sarah said. I've made it a mission over the last two years to personally change the perception of Ricks: My other brands now stay in the case in the closet for the most part, and I use my Ricks for everything, and I love the sound of overdrive and feedback, among other things. Ricks ROCK if you want them to!

[johnallg]

After reading the thread title, all I could think of was "don't tell Steve Howe and Stevie Ray Vaughan (would be difficult in his case....). There are many other examples of non-pop players, but those immediately "popped" into my head.

[jimk]

IMHO a Rickenbacker can be anything you want it to be. Just rearrange tone/blend of pickups and then rearrange settings on chosen amplifier. Add pedals as desired. It can sound whatever you want it to sound like. They are exceptionally versatile I think. More so than some other makes.

Anyway, who says what dictates the type of music you play on your Rickenbacker??

Ditto what Sarah said. I've made it a mission over the last two years to personally change the perception of Ricks: My other brands now stay in the case in the closet for the most part, and I use my Ricks for everything, and I love the sound of overdrive and feedback, among other things. Ricks ROCK if you want them to!

Yeah, I'm with you Paul. I've been trying to do stuff on my Rick 12 that neither George nor Roger did. Sometimes I'm pretty happy with the results. Chuck Berry's "Memphis Tennessee" comes to mind. Other times I think "Nice idea, I wonder if this other approach would work." And that's where the fun begins.
JimK

[johneek]

....It's not the arrow, it's the Indian...

[longhouse]

....It's not the arrow, it's the Indian...

No need to play the race card.

Actually I agree 100%.

Rickenbackers are GUITARS. Musical colors to paint with or musical tools to work with (whatever you call it). Sonically they probably don't do where, say, a mega-hot humbucker-equipped metal guitar goes ...nor do they have the mellow jazz detail of a Benedetto. But they cover EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

You want surf, grind, twang, jangle, lushness, thinness, jazzy fat, crunch, kerrang, superclean, or snap... your Rickenbacker can deliver.

I think in lots of ways they are more versatile than other hallmark guitars. Rics can often emulate Strat, Tele, or Les Paul sounds -but you can never quite make those guitars sound like a Ric! And, like Collin implied, there's a job which Rickenbacker's do best.

I often wonder why other guitarist don't reach for Rics more often -be they pop guitarists, West African pickers, country twangers, etc. They could all sound SO MUCH BETTER. Truth is I'm glad they DON'T.

We carry that flame.

[johneek]

+1 on everything NCR said. No single guitar can perfectly emulate every other guitar. Every make and model has their own unique sound, and as we all know, even two identical models and years don't play and sound the same. All that said, most guitars are far more versatile than people give them credit for (hence my "Indian" comment). Two obvious examples are RICs and Telecasters...both of which are far too quickly stereotyped as pop and country tools respectively.

[electrofaro]

A friend of mine, who's a studied jazz player, loves to play blues stuff on the 360 without any effects. He says it's perfect for it.

So far whenever I say I play a Rickenbacker 360 I'm told it's a cool guitar - I'm greeted with admiration, not ridicule.