Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I bend like mad on my Ricks and use a straight .010-.46 set. My 381/6 is my main gigging guitar these days. It is slightly easier to bend down than up, but I think it might be that way on guitars in general. I'll even bend on my 381/12, but it has light strings: .008~.42. I started doing more bends onthe 12 after seeing one of the gents from Crowded House doing bends on his Danelectro 12. I figured he was either incredibly strong, had lighter strings, or perhaps both. I went with ligher strings and bending on the 12 was quite easy.

10's and adjust the strings up just a bit....

I was thinking full step bends, half step bends are easy anywhere on a 6 string 330.

I suppose those of you who bend on the 12 strings only do half steps (1 semitone), right?

Agreed, Ivan. Full step bends can certainly be a challenge, at least for me.

I have found that using a 12 and 16 in B and G strings, respectively, is helpful and the change in gauge does not have serious repercussions with regard to tone.

The last time I did significant bending with my 12 string was with Pyramid strings which ended all bending for me for the next six months. Can you spell, A l e v e?

Howdy,

I manage to play along with "Get yer Ya-Ya's Out" adequately using my stock MG 360/6. I do Keef's leads on the Chuck Berry numbers fine. Having said that, I can do them with less finger exertion on my ES-335 and LP Special. The Gibsons sustain better as well, having stop tailpieces.
The tone is nastier than one might expect from a Ricky, though! Rickenbackers enable me to sound like, well..me! When playing my ES-335, i feel that I sound like somebody else. It's all in your hands and your heart. Forgive me for being cliche, but I feel strongly about that.

Eggman