Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

admin wrote:Steve: Yes I agree. It applies to open strings but there are a fair number of classic sounds that involve open strings. Two of my Rickenbackers, my 350 and 480 have 24 frets and I love their sound. There is, however, a chime that I find comes with instruments with 21 frets that I particularly enjoy. Additionally, I find the 21 or 22 fret instruments easier to play. I appreicate that latter is a function of my limitations.

My 24-fret Rics chime particularly well on the open strings. If Ric ever made 21-fretters as standard issue, or an option, for the 330 and 360, then I could have a chance to know what you are talking about !

Steve: My 350 and 480 chime too with the latter having high gains. My comments are highly subjective. Comparing a Model 1997 reissue and a 24 fret Model 330, both toaster equipped, will reveal the differences in sound that I am trying to convey.

I do not mean to suggest that one is better than the other, only that my preference is for the 21 fret models for both tone and playability. There is plenty of chime with high gains and with 24 fret models.

Perhaps this is a case of the "grass is greener" for me. While I consider myself fortunate to have the Rickenbackers I do, I hope that a 21 fret six string will be in my future at some point. The Model 1997 reissue would seem to be the likely candidate.

Now, to add more complexity to the issue is the difference in tone within and between both toasters and high gains with varying KOhm values.

Yilin - with the selector down, you've set your guitar to the bridge pickup (should sound nice and chimey). Selector up, and you've got the neck pickup (or neck AND middle pickup if you have a 3-pickup model). Middle setting will include all pickups, and this is where I like to live

Howdy,

Hi-Gains are fine for anything from clean rhythms to raunchy leads and riffs. I enjoy playing my stock MG 360/6 through my red knob Twin clean and slightly overdriven with the 25% power switch on. For serious raunch, I put "Blondie" through my '68 Vibro Champ, turn the volume up to 7 and fire salvo after salvo.
Hi-Gains are sort of a P-90 "lite" and that's great for playing anything from "Johnny B. Goode" (That's Chuck using a P-90 equipped ES-350T, btw.) juuust beyond clean to "Get Off My Cloud" played at higher volume through my old Vibro Champ. Stock 330/360s can get into Casino territory tonally, but with slightly better sustain and better looks to boot. Hi-Gains are under-rated for raunch.
I'll rant here: If Eric Clapton had followed the same herd who would relegate Rick 6 strings to clean rhythm duties, he'd have never recorded with an ES-335, since they were "only good for Jazz", with the PAFs!

I don't think they are that close to the P-90s. Both have a thick single coil sound, but they sound completely different.

Peter, I was thinking about what you wrote: 21 and 24 fret guitars.

I think that it also has something to do with what key you play in the most: if you play in E a lot, a 21 fretter might be better for the pickup's position (although obviously you won't be able to play the highest E on the 24th fret), if you play in G a lot a 24 fretter might be better. Then again it depends what position you use for those keys.

Ivan: An interesting thought, however, I suspect I would be changing guitars so frequently that I may need a roadie!
Perhaps there is someone reading who has a Model 1997 with high gains. I would be most interested in their comments regarding the tone of their instrument relative to the toasters.

Another subject to consider when discussing the high gains is the KOhm rating. While the 7.4 KOhm toasters are outstanding on my Rickenbacker 12 string, I much prefer the hot toasters in the middle and bridge position on my model 350 which are in the 12-13 K range.