Are Rickenbackers pop guitars?

[egosheep]

It's kind of a silly question on a lot of levels... I mean, there's a lot of different models of Rickenbackers for starters! And you can compare their respective differences till the cows come home.

On the other hand, it's like saying: "Can I get a good clean sound with an SG? Ok, but is the SG traditionally well suited for this task??"

Guitars are wood, pickups and strings. It's best not to overthink what you should or shouldn't be playing on them. Play what sounds good to you.

[JakeK]

Rickenbackers can nail pretty much any style of music:
Just off the top of my head, I can think of...
Pop
Blues
Jazz
Rockabilly
Hard Rock
Country
Funk
Metal (I think a 650 could do this job)

Basically, a Ric is a versatile guitar. Don't believe those non-Ric players (the kind who balk at their prices and some who've never heard of them), they've never tried before.

[brian_l]

I spent several years playing in a punk band and I used both a 620 and a 330, as well as the 360 I currently have. Depending on what amp you plug into, they sound pretty good for metal also. I mean, if Ritchie Blackmore and Yngwie Malmsteen can use a Fender Stratocaster and Richie Kotzen can play a Telecaster, there is no reason in the world why a Rick couldn't play that style of music also. Ricks sound excellent when played with distortion, and they have wonderful clarity and definition, so you can crank up the gain without your sound turning to mush. The only downside is that the single coils (My 360 has high gains) are a little on the noisy side.I would NOT recommend toasters for heavier rock or metal. I have tried them and they were too thin-sounding and excessively noisy for this style of music. I had a 650 with the Rick humbuckers in it and they were dead quiet. They were also a little thicker sounding than the high gains, which can be good or bad depending on personal preference. Since they are drop-in replacements for Rick single coils, I would suggest putting them in the Rick of your choice if you plan to do full-on metal duties, simply because they are a lot less noisy on stage.

[Rick2005]

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.

I totally agree this way. Every "tool" can drive the player way in territories not perfectly suitable if you play with other ones.
I always liked guitars with a strong personality for this reason and Rickenbackers have one of most defined trade mark sound ever
Some musicians are looking for the ultimate guitar who produce all sounds, some others modifies LP to play like a Tele
I'm not in that list: there's nothing who can generate "the sound" as the real thing!

[1a12]

No need to play the race card.

As our RRF resident Native American, Its ok to play the race card...this time!

I trumpet JimK's assessment. When it comes to the mimic get the monkey see monkee do tools. When it comes to creating, TRAILBLAZE. You can define the sound of new whatever if you have the gumption.

Parenthetically, Rickenbacker is crystallized in the "pop" collective consciousness because of the Beatles sights and sounds IMHO. If it was not for the Beatles, I'm not sure if Toots Theilmans would have carried that weight! he he!

[jps]

As our RRF resident Native American

I think you may have some competition, there.

[cjj]

As our RRF resident Native American

I think you may have some competition, there.

Ah, yup! Or at least partial competition...

[indianation65]

Rickenbacker 330 recently used in a non-typical Rickenbacker-styled song...Wahi page...

...wisdom

[rickosound]

I played our 330 last night in a steel drum band. Add Calypso to that genre list!

Fireglo looked purdy with the red drums...

Matthew

[jps]

Cool, Fireglo steel drums!

[Trav]

Over here in the UK Rickenbackers are considered "Marmite" this means you either love them or hate them (irrespective of what they are capable of). However, the beautiful people know that Rickenbackers are cool, and that's enough for me! Also is this implying that pop is somehow a low art form?

[sgstandard]

Whenever this subject comes up, you have to remember that most Rickenbackers are SINGLE COIL guitars. Both single coil and humbucking pickups lend themselves to varied applications, and both are widely used in POP, which has quite a broad spectrum. But for heavy metal, unless your Ric has humbuckers, you'll never get the heavy bottom end that most metalheads like. Even then, it still won't sound like a Les Paul. Personally, I think that Rickenbackers sound better for rhythm or chording, and have a unique sound that is both bright and dark at the same time. Single notes sound best when you're closer to the nut than high on the fingerboard, IMO. If you play lead guitar, get an SG.
I think that Rics are versatile for lots of genres, but that bright, chiming, chirpy sound make it seem best suited to POP. The more you over-distort the Rickenbacker pickups (or ANY pickups), the more you lose the desirable tonal characteristics, which defeats the purpose of buying a Rickenbacker in the first place.

[longhouse]

I think that Rics are versatile for lots of genres, but that bright, chiming, chirpy sound make it seem best suited to POP. The more you over-distort the Rickenbacker pickups (or ANY pickups), the more you lose the desirable tonal characteristics, which defeats the purpose of buying a Rickenbacker in the first place.

I must disagree. While I'm not one to typically over-distort my Rickenbacker, what I love about the Ric single coils is the clarity and note-to-note definition I get whether I'm playing clean or dirty. And yes, they grind quite effectively when pushed. Check out Mr.Vintagemusic's videos to see what I'm talking about.

[Danotron]

must I post this picture again? Rock on!

[Rickygirl]

I think that Rics are versatile for lots of genres, but that bright, chiming, chirpy sound make it seem best suited to POP. The more you over-distort the Rickenbacker pickups (or ANY pickups), the more you lose the desirable tonal characteristics, which defeats the purpose of buying a Rickenbacker in the first place.

I must disagree. While I'm not one to typically over-distort my Rickenbacker, what I love about the Ric single coils is the clarity and note-to-note definition I get whether I'm playing clean or dirty. And yes, they grind quite effectively when pushed. Check out Mr.Vintagemusic's videos to see what I'm talking about.

I'm with you Noel. Crank it up and feel the force!! I think lead sounds great on any Rick. I don't think you need an SG or Les Paul for that matter either. To say Ricks are only good for chimey sounds is doing them a severe diservice IMHO. Still, each to their own.