Improvements you would make if you were JH..

aristeas · Post by **aristeas** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 6:16 pm

The alt.guitar.rickenbacker usenet has a whole lot of anti-Rickenbacker ranting going on currently - this is bad, that sucks, etc about a whole lot of Ric Guitar 'shortcomings'. Rather than being negative I'd like to know what people would inmprove on Rics if they 'owned the company'. I'm not trying to give JH a headache but there's a whole lot of experience and expertise out there in your heads and hands. So what would you change to improve Ric Guitars?

Personally, my first move would be to put locking tuners on all the 12 stringers. Simple, neat, no fuss to restring.

fading_fast · Post by **fading_fast** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 6:50 pm

I'd like a wider fingerboard option on all models. The main reason I bought my 660 is the 1 3/4" board. Boy, I'd love a 330 with a wider nut. Other than that, everythings cool. I may make the vintage style bass bridge a little easier to intonate.

xcoyle · Post by **xcoyle** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 7:08 pm

Back in the day when I was trying to figure out R.E.M songs, and new nothing of the twelve string, it was the "sloppy" play (muted strings) of Peter Buck's 12 string that I liked so much (just didn't know it). If he had a wide neck and all 12 strings rang clear as bell, would the music have been the same? It may have sounded like recent R.E.M, and no one likes that.

billikenn · Post by **billikenn** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 7:27 pm

well, if I were John ..

Improvements I would make would involve me taking more vacations and leisure activities.

If I wanted to boost revenue I would buy up all the competition, oh wait someone is already trying that, darn!

Id say boost availability, but I like the fact that I have a black sheep

Honestly, its hard to add to this thread. Everybody knows what makes a great guitar - playability. When you buy one of the classic Rics you sacrifice a minute playability advantage for historical interest and carma...

Realistically I think were "WE" all a 'bit' too picky. Look at the greats, generally their guitars were not great.

On the other hand, if you want locking tuners, by all means go for it. Im not against makin a guitar work better for you (now thats something the greats did extensively)

I think it is safe to say that a builder or repairman knows how to make guitar better then a player, unfortunatly the Demand part of supply/demand is currently dominated by historic correct Rics - guys who want the guitar they gave up when they got married...

who was it that said "good taste is easy, all you have to do is buy the best"

JP

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Thu Jan 13, 2005 10:04 pm

I think for a while, I would just run around and play all of the instruments

I'm sure John's job is not easy. They have 50+ years of guitar-building expertise to draw from. I think they know what they are doing!

xcoyle · Post by **xcoyle** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 5:14 am

I would like Ric to offer an F hole option. I know that would spoil some of the limited runs, so how about just on the 350v63 for starts.

squid · Post by **squid** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 5:27 am

I just want to say that I love Rics. BUT if I owned the company, I'd put the modern bridges (the ones on the 380L and 650 series) on every guitar except the re-issues. The necks would also have to be adjusted slightly so that they sit lower in relation to the body. This would be an unpopular decision, but I love my 380L so much (amazing playability) that I wouldn't care. Rickenbacker would lose money and go bankrupt as folks revolted against such a radical change to an already great instrument. Which is why (thankfully) I'm not in charge of Rickenbacker.

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 5:59 am

I am saddened that alt.guitar.rickenbacker has turned into a hornets nest. When setting it up in the fall of 1997 I was unsure of whether it should be moderated nor not. It would seem that I made a mistake in this regard. The good news is that I was able to create The Rickenbacker Forum as a result of this experience. The bad news is that I did not create this forum first.

My wish list would include having Rickenbackers readily available to more regions of the world. In this way, more musicians could see, firsthand, the superb quality of these instruments.

I would like to think that this Forum, in some small way, wets the appetite of those who have not experienced the sound and playability of Rickenbackers in person.

wormdiet · Post by **wormdiet** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 6:20 am

Free samples to forumites!

Playtesting Focus Grous!

Seriously. . .
It appears that Ric is running fine without my advice. One interesting and relatively easy thing to do would be to offer the 380L in standard finishes with chrome hardware. It's essentially a "modernized" 360. Still definitely a rick but with contemporary features that some players would find more appealing.

eatswodo · Post by **eatswodo** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 8:42 am

I'd buy a 650/12 in a heartbeat.......

Scastles · Post by **Scastles** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 9:47 am

I'd like to see Rickenbacker stay as is. A person (not unlike myself) can always want to tinker with this or that and modify one thing then another and then pretty soon you may wind up losing what makes the Ric what it is.
It would be nice to have the Ric's more readily accesible to all regions but it's hard enough just to get the one you may be looking for in N. America (no offense to anyone elsewhere)...which in a way is kind of neat because when you finally do get it, one way or the other, it makes getting your hands on it all that much sweeter! I had to wait too many years for my first one. It was worth it, although prior many of the Ric's I'd seen had often been from afar and the one's I'd heard played professionally were sparse, the guitar turned out to be everything I hoped for in both looks and sound.

squid · Post by **squid** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 9:56 am

Eatswodo: A 650/12 would be very cool. I've often wondered about the modern bridge and a twelve-string application, specifically a 380L/12. I think that particular bridge would be very difficult to build. I've never seen a bridge similar to the modern Ric bridge in a twelve string version. Surely, if it were possible or practical, someone (Schaller, etc.) would have developed it by now. Or maybe there isn't the widespread demand to justify the R&D on such a thing?

beefandbones · Post by **beefandbones** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 12:17 pm

The things I like about Rickenbacker instruments far outweigh the things I dislike. I like that they're not like every other guitar. I like that they have character. I like that the company is committed to their instruments being made in the USA. I like they value their own history and heritage. I like that they don't pander to the whims of every possible potential buyer.

It's like with cars. So many car makers try to make a middle of the road vehicle that's cheap and will appeal to everyone. That's why most cars look the same these days. And it's SO BORING. Certain vintage cars are so cool because their makers used to value character, design, and dependability.

I like that Rickenbacker, to an extent, makes people come to them. You see someone playing a Rick, you try to find one to try out, you play one, and either you like it or you don't. What's the matter with that? When a company starts to pander to every possible potential player and buyer, like Fender does... it makes you lose respect for them, because obviously they don't know what makes them special. Plus, it's greedy. And kind of slutty.

I think John's done an admirable job guiding RIC and I totally respect his choices.

That said - I can't resist! - I'd like to see a 4001v68 and I'd like the necks on 330s and 360s to go back to 21 frets.

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 12:20 pm

A 12 string bridge like this?
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar,_non-trem_bridges/Twelve-String_Bridge_For_Electric_Guitar.html

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 1:04 pm

Well said, Ethan!

I posted a VERY similar statement to yours, on alt.guitars.rickenbacker an hour or so ago, in response to one of their resident EVH thrash-Charvel, Rick bashing, wish-I-had-one-but-don't-want-to-admit-it, adolescent ranters.

RICs ask for something from their caretakers, just like a fine automobile or beautiful watch or fountain pen. They're not for everybody, but to the dedicated player / admirer, they return satisfaction of many flavors--in spades!