Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Don't get me wrong. I love my 660, but the fretboard definately took some getting used to. I think that if one is used to playing Gibsons, the 650 may be easier to adjust to.

I assume the 650 sustains longer due to the string-through-body bridge. Is this correct?
The guiitar I'm currently playing has a laquered neck which I like, but big frets so bending is easy.

Noel, when you say the Hi-Gains "grind" nicely, I assume you mean with distortion, right?

I was hoping to compare these to a Gibson Blueshawk Saturday, but the 'Hawks just sold out..

Mark

Mark, the Hi-Gain's are fine for bluesy tones.
It might take awhile for you to find the perfect settings but they can surely play the blues.

I can't really comment on the sound compared to other guitars since I don't own any other...

The neck pickup (and the middle one since I have a 370) has so many different achievable tones because of the fifth knob. It's a bit difficult to explain but when the knob is completly clockwise you get softer cleaner tones, and when you crank it completly counter-clockwise you get a louder, distorted (depending on the amp settings), warm tone.
It's very different from say a Strat from what I've heard of them on records and all that.

Oh, and the bridge pickup can get a whole different set of sounds, sounds almost Les Paul-ish, but still very different, not as tiny and scratchy.

I found that turning the tone completly down on the bridge pickup and adding a little gain on the amp will get a creamy type tone that is still useable. Of course other people may not think the same.

Anyways hope this post isn't too much blah blah blah.
I just finished drinking my two cups of coffee's in my Ric forum mug.

Patrick: I love to hear Rickenbacker "blah blah" and "gah gah." Hopefully my baby talk is over for the day.

Mark, the hi-gains are superb with overdrive, as are the older 'hot' toasters. Not so convinced about the 7.4 scatterwounds.....

'Noel, when you say the Hi-Gains "grind" nicely, I assume you mean with distortion, right?'

Yes Mark, through a barely dirty amp, you can get a good biting, grinding natural distortion with the HiGains -I always kept mine set so I could back off my attack and be clean again. The lead/solo tone of the HiGains is nice too... very useful and with as much sting as you want.

This is the info I was looking for!

Perhaps the 620MB will be the one.

Mark

"The neck pickup (and the middle one since I have a 370) has so many different achievable tones because of the fifth knob. It's a bit difficult to explain but when the knob is completly clockwise you get softer cleaner tones, and when you crank it completly counter-clockwise you get a louder, distorted (depending on the amp settings), warm tone."

Correct me if I'm wrong - The 5th knob is a redundant volume knob for the neck pickup. The only difference being that it won;t quite completely close off.

It would be interesting to do a blind experiment where in subjects compared tones of guitars adjusted with the 5th knob as opposed to the regular neck volume knob. I really wonder if there is any sonic difference or if any perceived tonality differences are a result of the placebo effect.

John, I think your summary of the fith knob is not doing it justice. It is in fact a mystical, all powerful goddess of a control, that makes controlling the overall tone of different gtrs through the same rig, in a live situation, an absolute breeze.

I use mine all the time...it's a fantastic & very useful tool to have at your disposal at gigs.