Rickenbacker 12 vs Gibson ES-335 12

[iiipopes]

Strawberry Alarm Clock, as in "I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night," and "Incense and Peppermints."

[jdogric12]

This weekend I played my Bullet Strat/Warmoth XII

and I liked it.

[collin]

[quote="sloop_john_b"

Strawberry Alarm Clock, as in "I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night," and "Incense and Peppermints."[/quote]


IHTMTDLN was by the Electric Prunes.

[iiipopes]

IHTMTDLN was by the Electric Prunes.

Oops...[note to self...do not try to recall psychedelia details before completing first cup of coffee in the morning ]

[collin]

IHTMTDLN was by the Electric Prunes.

Oops...[note to self...do not try to recall psychedelia details before completing first cup of coffee in the morning ]

I think remembering any bands from the psychedelic era is a particularly remarkable achievement, especially you lived through that era!

[eljayski]

i added a 330/12 to my collection then subtracted it. my electric 12-string:

[jingle_jangle]

Strawberry Alarm Clock, as in "I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night," and "Incense and Peppermints."

These were built for SAC by Semie Mosely. There was also a 6 string and I believe a bass, too. I remember all three for sale back in 2004 or 2005, and the price wasn't too bad considering their historical provenance.

I own the SAC ELKA Pro Duo organ (top of the Elka line for '67) played by Mark Weitz. At least it was affordable...

[jps]

There is a photo of the bass in a book I have.

[johnallg]

There is a photo of the bass in a book I have.

The bass is half-pictured in Paul's pic. I wonder if the pic you have is posted on the internet, putting it into the public domain.

[jps]

I wonder if the pic you have is posted on the internet, putting it into the public domain.

[Chrome Aardvark]

Collin,

I don't doubt that the Gibson ES-335 12-string you played sounded "darker" than a Rick 12. But the difference in tone probably has more to do with body woods and pickups than it does with the fact that the Gibson is strung "traditional-style." In fact, having those high octaves struck first on downstrokes creates a treblier sound, one you can hear on the intro to R.E.M.'s "So. Central Rain" and the overdubs to "Talk About the Passion," (both played by Peter Buck on Mitch Easter's "traditionally-strung" Fender XII.) The bottom line is that the Gibson can't even approach the jangle and shimmer we associate with Rick 12's, and that's where we agree.

Robert

I own both and the Gibson is definitely "darker" sounding or more "baroque" in tone. To give the Gibson a brighter sound I've swapped out the nylon saddles and put in graphite saddles. It's brighter, but it's still not a Rick. Then again, Buffalo Springfield wouldn't have their distinct sound if Richie Furay had played a Rick.

[Folkie]

It doesn't surprise me that you had to mod your ES-335 12-string in order to make it sound more like a Ric. Let's keep in mind that there are radical differences in body woods and pickups between an ES-335 12 and, say, a stock Ric 360/12. ES-335's have traditionally been used by jazz players because of their darker tone, and Rics, as we all know, have been prized for their trebly chorus and shimmer. I was just trying to point out that the "traditional" string arrangement on the Gibson is not the "hidden secret" in the sound difference between these two radically disparate instruments.

[Chrome Aardvark]

The nylon saddles dull everything down and don't let the guitar ring out as should, so it was more about improving tone and resonance than sounding like a Rick. Another difference is that the ES-335 12 is monstrously in comparison to a Rick. Subtle they ain't. They do play well though.

[Folkie]

You know, Rod, there's one in a glass case at a small guitar shop that's near where I live. I may ask them if I can play it, just for purposes of comparison.

[Chrome Aardvark]

Definitely check it out. They're a very different beast, but enjoyable in their own way.

Also, the important word I left out of this sentence has now been added in bold: "Another difference is that the ES-335 12 is monstrously loud in comparison to a Rick. Humbuckers VS single coils, centre blocks VS x bracing, a lot of differences sound wise.


My love for this guitar started with Richie Furay, sometimes he gets buried behind Stills and Young, but he does add some cool things to the mix too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbXKEjIApac

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K6BmZ_Mxcg