Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

My own experiences suggest to me that Rickenbackers are in fact great lead instruments. So, as inaccurate as the perception clearly is, I'm incredibly happy that it exists.

It keeps the great unwashed away from the coolness of Rickenbackers. I love Rics for their build quality, great sound and stunning looks...but also because owning one makes you part of a select few. An exclusive club if you like.

I'd be gutted if I went to some festival and EVERY band was playing Rics - they'd lose some of their enigma.



Swap for a Strat? Nah....

Years ago, I broke a string on my Strat and borrowed a 330 from a friend in one of the other bands to complete my set. I had trouble playing my solos the way I was used to playing them.
Having recently purchased a 330, I am finding that I can play the solos the same way, but the tone and feel of the guitar are leading me to play differently. I am working more 'chord solos' in as opposed to the single string wailing I am accustomed to. It's probably making me a better lead guitarist!

I think part of the confusion among the great unknowing is that when they hear the word “Rickebacker” they immediately thing “12-string.” And when they think “12-string,” they think “rhythm.”

I also, have had great experiences with Musician’s Friend. (And, as mentioned in another post: with Music123.) However, if you hate Guitar Center, I should probably point out to you, in case you were not aware, that GC owns MF: http://www.guitarcenter.com/about/90s.cfm

I actually meant 660/6 in my last post...oops

There are folks who play lead on 12's! Not many, but they are around.
Music is ABOUT creativity, so if you want to play your leads on a mandolin, or uke, or whatever, just do it!
Worrying about what some blinkered person thinks about your choice of guitar is a waste of your time. Let the uneducated waste their time worrying about the choice of your guitar

Of course different guitars sound differently, but a lot of the tone comes from the hands, at least as much as from the guitar. I can play the same guitar as someone else & it will sound totally different, unless there are a lot of effects masking the tone.

Marty Willson-Piper plays epic, majestic, and ripping leads on his 370/12RM.

I've knocked a few flat with my Rics here and there too

There are Stratocaster devotees which I call Stevie Ray Vaugnabees. Some of them are wholly unaware that Dick Dale, Buddy Holly, George Harrison, and numerous others used those surfy planks to great effect long before SRV.

An instrument's history can be a double-edge sword.

As I've told others (regarding non-guitar issues):

'inasmuch as our past defines us, we are not slave to it'

...and "The modern-day Pachuco refuses to die."

>>Of course, a Strat sounds like a Strat, an LP sounds like an LP, etc.<< And anything played through a Marshall sounds like anything played through a Marshall. Funny to think that Who fans bought a lot of Les Pauls and 4 x 12 cabs in the 70s but when they listened to Who albums, more often than not, they were listening to a Gretsch through a Fender tweed. Perception is not always reality.

OK I have heard all the arguments before that you can't play lead on a Rickenbacker. I dashed this off very quickly just a few minutes ago just to show that you can actually play Clapton style leads.

This is essentially "dry" through my Peavey. There is a small amount of both onboard chorus and reverb. I used a Fender mic into my mixer and then into the Creative SoundBlaster. There are no post recording effects at all.

http://s6.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3RGLNUOHYVGO10O20FAL8QCZ0F

Brian, You sold me... but then again I knew better.

Actually, that tone reminds me of Freddy King, with a little grit & chorus thrown in!
It's a nice, bity sound. Lots of brilliant high end, good definition.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down.
Clarification.
I NEVER said one could NOT play lead on a 12! McGuinn does it all time time. (Ever hear 8MH?)
What I wrote was that in my opinion, it was the SIMPLETONS quoted in the original messages who were only associating Rics (12s) with rhythm.

As Buscemi says in Fargo: "Are we square?"

I thought we all understood that you were fully "on our side" in this, Mark, and just quoting some uninformed boob who's probably never even picked up one of those Ricks hanging in the store.
After all, you own a Rick, therefore are "enlightened"!

Kevin,

Thank you for such a stunning comparison to Freddy King. I am beyond words and almost speechless. I only posted that sound byte so people on the forum could hear for themselves that a Ric could get the job done.

I was not fishing for that sort of compliment. But I thank you for that. You have made my day.

Modesty is the key... oh well... i didn't say that!
A nice example, indeed!