Do you play differently on your Rickenbacker?

[Clint]

Volume swells are easier on a Strat. Other than that, not really.

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

Well,this has been all Guitar oriented,but i find i tend to play better on my RIC basses,mostly because they just feel great,and i suspect the neck profile has a lot to do with that. I don't find running up to the upper register a hindrance,like it can be with Fender-type necks.

i tend to attack my ricks a little on the heavy side to use the fret buzz/crunch nuances these basses tend to have over other manufacturers. probably due to the ability to have lower action and flatter fretboards.

[s4001]

I definitely play with a different style with a Ric. The tone, bass, attack and almost preternatural distortion they have are a completely different palette to play with.

[jimk]

I think switching over to my 360 12 string from years of acoustic guitar playing has definitely changed my picking technique. I've learned to use a flat pick and fingers. I've also been using this technique on my Telecaster as well. And then I switch back to my old tried and true finger picking style when I play my acoustic guitars.
JimK

[8mileshigher]

+4. I agree with Jdog, Collin and Paulie...best avatar ever!

+5 Yep, its a great avatar.

[Tommy]

For my 12 string Ric here's my playing differences:

1- no fingerpicking! I don't think I have ever tried fingerpicking on my 360/12.
2- no pedals with my Ric! Why would I? Why would I change the natural sound of a 12 string Ric?
3- when strumming chords my pick does more picking of individual strings than fully strumming. The pick dances over the strings rather than strums. I guess I am doing arpeggio chord playing which I don't do much on my other guitars.
4- I use my pinky more when chording open chords. The tight spacing of the strings makes me use my littlest finger more.
5- always play more on the treble strings than the bass strings

[weemac]

Most of my learning was on Rickenbacker basses, I'm used to them. So Its more like: "I play my other basses differently than my Rickenbackers"

Eden.

[Ain'tGotNoPokemon]

For my 12 string Ric here's my playing differences:

1- no fingerpicking! I don't think I have ever tried fingerpicking on my 360/12.
2- no pedals with my Ric! Why would I? Why would I change the natural sound of a 12 string Ric?
3- when strumming chords my pick does more picking of individual strings than fully strumming. The pick dances over the strings rather than strums. I guess I am doing arpeggio chord playing which I don't do much on my other guitars.
4- I use my pinky more when chording open chords. The tight spacing of the strings makes me use my littlest finger more.
5- always play more on the treble strings than the bass strings

1. Why not? It just takes a little practice and getting used to.
2. Again, why not? You're not changing the sound, but adding to it. When I put on some delay and phaser, it sounds heavenly, and creates a sound I can't replicate with other instruments.

---
I have told this story before, but I'll tell it again: When I got my 360, I practiced on it for a month or two before going back to my other guitars. My routine consists of scales, runs, harder songs (You know, those ones that take well over a month to learn?), etc. So, when I pick up my SG after having the 360 as my main guitar, I was a much better player, but did have to adjust back to my other guitars. Whenever I went back to the 360, it took me a few moments to become accustomed to it again.

Now I only have a 620/12, and I practiced on it exclusively for a month, and again, found I was a much better player afterward. I can actually sometimes "shred" faster on my Ric than my six string guitars! I recorded an album called "After Twelve" which features the twelve string on most of the songs. It's really become a part of me and my repertoire. If I do change my technique, I do it unconsciously!

[Tommy]

1. Why not? It just takes a little practice and getting used to.
2. Again, why not? You're not changing the sound, but adding to it. When I put on some delay and phaser, it sounds heavenly, and creates a sound I can't replicate with other instruments.

1. Why no fingerpicking on a Ric 12 string? For one thing the action is way too low for fingerpicking. Secondly, the strings are way too close for fingerpicking. Thirdly, how the heck do you fingerpick on a 12 string!?! Can you get the octave strings to ring with the bass strings?

2. No pedals used at all on my 12 string. The sound of a Ric 12 string is a sound other guitar manufacturers and pedal manufacturers try desperately to emulate. But they can never get it right. Why would I want to alter that iconic, one of a kind sound with a pedal? I spent thousands and thousands of dollars on a Rickenbacker 12 string because I want the sound of a Rickenbacker 12 string. No way do I color it with anything.
If you enjoy your phaser and delay on your Ric that's cool with me. I can picture that set up in my head and it probably does sound heavenly. Me, I just prefer my Ric 12 sound as is.

[Folkie]

Tommy,

I do play my Rick 12's differently from my other guitars (Strat, PRS, Guild, Ovation, Alvarez). For one thing, I use a much thinner pick (usually a Dunlop .50mm) which gives me more chime quotient. For another, I often do the George Harrison/Roger McGuinn trick of playing lead melodies along the G-pair.

I hear you loud and clear about preserving the natural sound of the instrument. I felt that way for many years and used no effects with my 330/12. But as soon as I started to try compressors, I noticed a dramatic improvement in tone. I've settled on a Janglebox JB2 and have been very happy with it. Now when I plug in and compare the sound with and without the compressor, I notice a huge difference.

I'm lucky enough to have medium to small hands, so I've never felt the need to adjust my technique to perform standard open chord voicings.

Each brand or model of guitar plays differently, so I always have to adjust my technique based on the instrument. But you can do anything and everything on a Rick if you have the patience and perseverance to adjust and to learn.

Robert

[Tommy]

as soon as I started to try compressors, I noticed a dramatic improvement in tone. I've settled on a Janglebox JB2 and have been very happy with it.

Yes, everyone raves about their Jangleboxes. I came this close to buying one, but I played my Ric through a Boss compressor and I noticed it sounded way too much like Roger McGuinn's tone. The compressed Ric tone is all Byrds and I prefer George's tone.

When you say "each brand or model of guitar plays differently," you could not be more correct. I play my Gretsch far differently than my Strat and my Tele is played differently than my Ric and on and on. They all require different techniques to get the best out of them. Low notes on my Gretsch with some finger vibrato and a cranked reverb pedal is something that is a blast to hear and something one wouldn't really do on a Ric. Sure you can do it, but the effect suits one guitar brand better than another.

[coolingitdown]

I think maybe it has changed the way I play other guitars-- but not in a bad way.

BTW - Brendan, I liked the old "You're a Good Man Albert Brown" Avatar, but the new one is cool too.

Do I detect an XTC reference!? Excellent! I was beginning to think I was one of five fans of theirs.

[jps]

my other guitars (Strat, PRS, Guild, Ovation, Alvarez).

Robert

Want another PRS, Robert?

[paologregorio]

Volume swells are easier on a Strat. Other than that, not really.

Yep. . . though since I usually like to keep both hands on my guitar I used a volume pedal for awhile. Adds versatility to the volume swell thingy; shake the whammy bar or pick whilst performing the volume swell.

[paologregorio]

I think maybe it has changed the way I play other guitars-- but not in a bad way.

BTW - Brendan, I liked the old "You're a Good Man Albert Brown" Avatar, but the new one is cool too.

Do I detect an XTC reference!? Excellent! I was beginning to think I was one of five fans of theirs.

One of six; I'm a fan as well.