Is a 360 You Main Gigging Guitar?

rkbsound · Post by **rkbsound** » Thu Jul 07, 2011 11:27 pm

I have had the great opportunity to join a band for the first time in over 20 years. It's a sort of alt-punk band that does original music. I am most comfortable playing my Epi Dot. I just love it, and have been taking it to the rehearsals. These guys are into gear, but couldn't care less what I play as long as it sounds good. But I'm ditching the Epi for the next practice and showing up with my 2002 360 JG. We like feedback and raunch, and I think the 360 will fit the bill (requisite pedals are involved). The humbuckers on the Epi are actually really good sounding, and feedback from the amp is great, but a little too much.

I don't want to screw around playing different guitars during rehearsals, but I have never had the chance to play the 360 in a loud situation. I'll take the Epi as a back-up. I'm sure that a lot of the members here own a 360, but I'd like some "feedback" on tips using it in a band situation. Sounds like a dumb question, but I'm asking anyway. Thanks.

paologregorio · Post by **paologregorio** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 2:54 am

My 360 WBs are my main gigging guitars these days.

In my experience, a lot of Rick players not used to gigging their Ricks crank up the treble too much; for what I imagine your type of sound to be, I'd keep the treble at 3-4 max, and crank the mids and don't be afraid to have the bass up a bit as well. Obviously, where you set the knobs will vary, depending on the amp.

My backups/alternate guitars are a Gretsch Duo or Silver Jet.

trosse · Post by **trosse** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 4:37 am

Rickenbackers - and 360 in particular - are extremely nice guitars - even a bit alternative in construction. They play well, they sound well, they are light, and they are of EXCELLENT build quality.

Rickenbackers CEO, John Hall, has a eye on everything in the factory and knows every contruction detail down to the smallest screw. Add to that the nice connection to the heydays of the '60's rock'n'roll. Cant' be better to my opinion.

I have many guitars - vintage Fenders and Gibsons and new guitars too - including an EPI Sheraton II. None of those without exceptions can compete with my Rickenbacker 360 from 1997- which I most often play live and in the studio. So my advise: Go' ahead

Read and listen here btw: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=399980

trosse · Post by **trosse** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 4:58 am

paologregorio wrote:My 360 WBs are my main gigging guitars these days.

In my experience, a lot of Rick players not used to gigging their Ricks crank up the treble too much; for what I imagine your type of sound to be, I'd keep the treble at 3-4 max, and crank the mids and don't be afraid to have the bass up a bit as well. Obviously, where you set the knobs will vary, depending on the amp.

My backups/alternate guitars are a Gretsch Duo or Silver Jet.

You're basicly right... but I would still prefer the maximum signal from the guitar to the amp (if not from a/the sweet point between 9 and 10 on the guitars volume controls) and then operate the amp to get a healthy level of treble.

My personal experience is that the best way to achieve a well balanced sound is to use the amp as filter rather than the guitar particularly if the amp has three tone controls: volume, midrange and bass - because the volume control onboard guitar is designed in the stoneage and due to that also cut the midrange in an maybe unwanted way.

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 9:41 am

trosse wrote:Rickenbackers - and 360 in particular - are extremely nice guitars - even a bit alternative in construction. They play well, they sound well, they are light, and they are of EXCELLENT build quality.

Rickenbackers CEO, John Hall, has a eye on everything in the factory and knows every contruction detail down to the smallest screw. Add to that the nice connection to the heydays of the '60's rock'n'roll. Cant' be better to my opinion.

I have many guitars - vintage Fenders and Gibsons and new guitars too - including an EPI Sheraton II. None of those without exceptions can compete with my Rickenbacker 360 from 1997- which I most often play live and in the studio. So my advise: Go' ahead

Read and listen here btw: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=399980

I think you've got some schmidt on your nose, Troels...

To OP: If I only played my original music, I would be playing a 360/12 live pretty much exclusively. But in my cover band I play a '96 Epi LP Special II with Gibson P94's and a Bigsby B5. Good thing, too, because my gear got rained on Sunday. I got lucky and it seems to have dried out with no damage, but I'm glad I didn't have a more expensive guitar there, even though they're insured.

JakeK · Post by **JakeK** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 12:05 pm

Every song I've ever recorded has featured my Ric 1997 (330 with f-hole for those who don't know). I haven't gigged in over a year, but I used all of my guitars evenly for that last gig.

chucksimms · Post by **chucksimms** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 2:09 pm

I gig a lot and I only use Ricks- mostly my 365. If I am subbing for an R&B band I sometimes bring a strat but usually play the Rick anyways.

jimk · Post by **jimk** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 5:28 pm

I consider my Rick my main guitar on stage, and the Chinese tele the alternate. And like J-Dog said, if I too were only playing original music, it would be the Rick all the way.
JimK

toofmullets · Post by **toofmullets** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 6:25 pm

I play originals, use my 360/12 solely. Why would I use anything else?

rkbsound · Post by **rkbsound** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 9:45 pm

OK - Rick all the way! So what amp is loud enough in a club setting? Tube only and weight a factor.

jimk · Post by **jimk** » Fri Jul 08, 2011 11:14 pm

I figure if I can't lift it with one arm, I don't haul it around. Yeah, I'm getting to be a geezer. And if I were playing in some real noisy joint, I'd just stick a mic in front of the amp. Having said that, the Vox AC15 (upper limit as far as weight goes) does just fine by me in all areas of concern; weight, volume, and overall sound. My other amp of choice is a mid '70s (I think) Music Man 110 RD-Fifty. Neat little hybrid amp, loud, and weighs about 35 lbs. or so.
JimK

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 1:10 am

The current-era Kustom 36 Coupe (all tube, 6L6 power at 36 watts) weighs in at 45 lbs, and it'll let a Rickenbacker sing sweetly.

BTW, I played my 360 Turquoise at one of our local Mini-Cons and I had no feedback problems.

fireglo67 · Post by **fireglo67** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 1:13 pm

Re: Is a 360 You Main Gigging Guitar?

No.

paologregorio · Post by **paologregorio** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 2:25 pm

trosse wrote:
paologregorio wrote:My 360 WBs are my main gigging guitars these days.

In my experience, a lot of Rick players not used to gigging their Ricks crank up the treble too much; for what I imagine your type of sound to be, I'd keep the treble at 3-4 max, and crank the mids and don't be afraid to have the bass up a bit as well. Obviously, where you set the knobs will vary, depending on the amp.

My backups/alternate guitars are a Gretsch Duo or Silver Jet.
You're basicly right... but I would still prefer the maximum signal from the guitar to the amp (if not from a/the sweet point between 9 and 10 on the guitars volume controls) and then operate the amp to get a healthy level of treble.

My personal experience is that the best way to achieve a well balanced sound is to use the amp as filter rather than the guitar particularly if the amp has three tone controls: volume, midrange and bass - because the volume control onboard guitar is designed in the stoneage and due to that also cut the midrange in an maybe unwanted way.

We are in complete agreement. Apologies for any ambiguity; I was referring to the amp controls, not the guitar controls; I crank the controls on my Ricks all the way up.

paologregorio · Post by **paologregorio** » Tue Jul 12, 2011 2:30 pm

jimk wrote:I figure if I can't lift it with one arm, I don't haul it around. Yeah, I'm getting to be a geezer. And if I were playing in some real noisy joint, I'd just stick a mic in front of the amp. Having said that, the Vox AC15 (upper limit as far as weight goes) does just fine by me in all areas of concern; weight, volume, and overall sound. My other amp of choice is a mid '70s (I think) Music Man 110 RD-Fifty. Neat little hybrid amp, loud, and weighs about 35 lbs. or so.
JimK

If you train by dead lifitng, bench pressing and curling the AC 15 it will feel much lighter in a couple of weeks. I'll train with you while you're in town . . .