You know what it is...
Rickenbacker guitars do clean so well, that their dark side is overlooked. Forever wearing the face given them by Harrison and McGuinn in the minds of many.
And they're so attractive. Ripping it up on a Ric is like driving a pristine Dussenber Series J or LaSalle at top speed. Or, for me, maybe more like a 1964 Ferrari 330GT 2+2. Elegants curves, comfort, and speed. Speeding in style! So many guitars made in the Les Paul/PRS vein are one trick ponies to my ears. They do saturated gain well, but that's it. Every time I hear an LP through a dimed Marshall or Mesa, I imagine mr. Les Paul saying, "What the ****? That not what I meant!".
Amp Shoot Outs with Rickenbackers
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
-
jingle_jangle
- RRF Moderator
- Posts: 22679
- Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 6:00 am
- Contact:
Noel, I appreciate your sense of humor.
I have three "planks" (Yikes! And what fine-playing and -sounding planks they are!): an April '59 Duo Sonic, a '93 MIM Duo Sonic, and a new Squier Jagmaster (does that count as Fender? I'm also building a Jazzmaster and Jaguar of approximate early '60s vintage, each a different custom color, and each dead stock. The only old stuff on them will be electronics (pups, pots, caps).
The MIM Duo is unique--it has 3 active pups, a Strat neck, Floyd Rose, and every cosmetic feature is handmade. The pickguard has no screws. All hardware is gold-plated. It's painted Sherwood Green. Some would (and can) say "over the top", but I say "striking". I call it a "Duo Plus", and that's what the headstock decal will say.
It will be completed in two weeks, after 6 months in construction.
The '59 is dead stock in tan with perfect gold pickguard and aged white pups.
I've owned all sorts of Fenders, starting with a '54 Tele, but prefer the Jazzmaster/Jaguar and Musicmaster/Duo Sonic/Mustang body style.
I have three "planks" (Yikes! And what fine-playing and -sounding planks they are!): an April '59 Duo Sonic, a '93 MIM Duo Sonic, and a new Squier Jagmaster (does that count as Fender? I'm also building a Jazzmaster and Jaguar of approximate early '60s vintage, each a different custom color, and each dead stock. The only old stuff on them will be electronics (pups, pots, caps).
The MIM Duo is unique--it has 3 active pups, a Strat neck, Floyd Rose, and every cosmetic feature is handmade. The pickguard has no screws. All hardware is gold-plated. It's painted Sherwood Green. Some would (and can) say "over the top", but I say "striking". I call it a "Duo Plus", and that's what the headstock decal will say.
It will be completed in two weeks, after 6 months in construction.
The '59 is dead stock in tan with perfect gold pickguard and aged white pups.
I've owned all sorts of Fenders, starting with a '54 Tele, but prefer the Jazzmaster/Jaguar and Musicmaster/Duo Sonic/Mustang body style.
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
I'm attracted to Jag/Jazz models too, but with ony 2 exceptions, every one I've EVER played was a complete dog!
My bandmate and I found a matching pair of metallic crimson Jaguar and Jazzmaster in Chicago last year -and for a great price- and they both sounded fabulous (he with the Jazz, me with the Jag). We didn't pull the trigger because of the color. Now, with the benefit of hindsight, I regret it. And they would have looked (and sounded!) great on stage...
I do have one plank: an '04 Aerodyne Telecaster. Carved top, creme binding, Txs Spc bridge p/u, P90 neck, rosewood board, painted peghead -and I love it. Years and years of searching has delivered me my KEEPER guitars. Ric 360V64, 1997SPC/VB, Tacoma C1C Chief, Gibson J100 (maybe a keeper), my Danos, and the Tele. A new Gretsch is being shipped to my shop for me too... fingers are crossed.
Oh, my bandmate has a MIJ Vista Series Jagmaster which sounds great -'course he put soapbars in it. Love that look though. The Jagmasters are nice with their Strat bridges/tremolo, Jazz bodies, etc.
nOel
My bandmate and I found a matching pair of metallic crimson Jaguar and Jazzmaster in Chicago last year -and for a great price- and they both sounded fabulous (he with the Jazz, me with the Jag). We didn't pull the trigger because of the color. Now, with the benefit of hindsight, I regret it. And they would have looked (and sounded!) great on stage...
I do have one plank: an '04 Aerodyne Telecaster. Carved top, creme binding, Txs Spc bridge p/u, P90 neck, rosewood board, painted peghead -and I love it. Years and years of searching has delivered me my KEEPER guitars. Ric 360V64, 1997SPC/VB, Tacoma C1C Chief, Gibson J100 (maybe a keeper), my Danos, and the Tele. A new Gretsch is being shipped to my shop for me too... fingers are crossed.
Oh, my bandmate has a MIJ Vista Series Jagmaster which sounds great -'course he put soapbars in it. Love that look though. The Jagmasters are nice with their Strat bridges/tremolo, Jazz bodies, etc.
nOel
Shaking the floor of Heaven
-
jingle_jangle
- RRF Moderator
- Posts: 22679
- Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 6:00 am
- Contact:
Noel, I know this is a Rickenbacker Forum, but could you post a pic or link to your Tele?
Soapbars on the Jagmaster will be my next mod.
Which Gretsch are you awaiting?
Interesting tidbit: The Jagmaster looks like the old Jag/JM body shape, but it is NOT the same. I've got some Jaguar parts left over and they do not fit. Besides, the Jagmaster has a better vibrato, which is half the battle right there!
I know what you mean about doggy performance. My own '66 Jazzmaster took some serious setting up when I got it in '80. (Imagine previous owner playing a doggie for 14 years...) In the end, I learned to love it despite bridge buzzes. To switch back and forth between the 22 1/2" scale Duo-Sonic and the JM was a brain drain! Fortunately I'm still trainable.
Soapbars on the Jagmaster will be my next mod.
Which Gretsch are you awaiting?
Interesting tidbit: The Jagmaster looks like the old Jag/JM body shape, but it is NOT the same. I've got some Jaguar parts left over and they do not fit. Besides, the Jagmaster has a better vibrato, which is half the battle right there!
I know what you mean about doggy performance. My own '66 Jazzmaster took some serious setting up when I got it in '80. (Imagine previous owner playing a doggie for 14 years...) In the end, I learned to love it despite bridge buzzes. To switch back and forth between the 22 1/2" scale Duo-Sonic and the JM was a brain drain! Fortunately I'm still trainable.
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
Here is a mid res image, Paul:
http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/33/33903/pages/607317/at335.jpg
As for the Gretsch, I recently A/B'd just about every common model available; my verdict was that nearly all models had more MUD than MOJO. The two best sounding models were the 6120 and the import Electromatics. Same body dimensions on both. Still uncertain about crossing over to Gretsch, I opted for the low rent Electromatic.
I'm thoroughly seduced by the Country Gentleman's appearance still...
Noel
http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/33/33903/pages/607317/at335.jpg
As for the Gretsch, I recently A/B'd just about every common model available; my verdict was that nearly all models had more MUD than MOJO. The two best sounding models were the 6120 and the import Electromatics. Same body dimensions on both. Still uncertain about crossing over to Gretsch, I opted for the low rent Electromatic.
I'm thoroughly seduced by the Country Gentleman's appearance still...
Noel
Shaking the floor of Heaven