Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

You know it's always difficult to describe the tone of a pickup...compared to the hi-gains in my 330 I would say the humbuckers scream! I use my 650s for fat, distorted lead work and that is what they are good for. The Hi-gain-pickups sound much 'thinner' and there's almost no distortion if you play them on the clean channel of some amps, but if you plug in the 650 you get distortion immediately...
So I use the 330 for clean and some overdrive rhythm work, and the 650 for the powerful sustaining solos. I'm saying it: It sounds like a Les Paul, but it doesn't weight a ton, and it's a Rick!
Great to see Joe Walsh in the 650s club.

Chip: Joe Walsh plays a 230GF as far as I know. Certainly he did on the Drew Carey show that I saw.

Peter M.,
Thanks for the correction. If that is what he used on the Drew Carey Show, it's probably the same. From the way-up-balcony, it looked the same. But the style looked like a 650, all black and such. I'm not even familiar with the 230GF and if they're similar enough to be confused with each other.

Peter,
Thanks for the description on the 650's humbucker tone. I'm used to the toasters in my 1997, and I thought the Hi Gains distorted a bit in my 480. If they are they really that driving, even on the clean channel, that might be too hot for my taste buds. When on the clean channel, I like that Rick chime. Then when I punch in my Rat distortion, I want that growly distortion, but not too saturated. I've always kinda dug that garage band sound.

I play a 650 Dakota, and it really gives a great Rick sound, despite having humbuckers. I strung it with Pyramid Rounds 010-046 I believe, and it sings like a bird! Really has a classic sound to it, and I feel Rickenbacker should get more props for this model. Really well done.

For those who'd like some extra Ric jangle, you can pull the 'buckers off, pull the foam loose and you'll find a little terminal board with five wires. Terminal no. 5 is the earth to the cover, the others are two pairs of red and white wires. I think 1 and 2 are one coil, 3 and 4 the other. If you check with a DMM you can work it out fast. Now, wire either a SPST switch or a push-pull pot in, and you can get a 7.4k single coil that sounds meaner than a vintage toaster (with no feedback probs) or a 15k humbucker that grumbles! They were designed to be easy to hotrod according to Mr Hall.

Really increases versatility of the instrument and liberates some great tones. I have my neck wired hum, and my bridge wired s/c because it makes a great combo. The like a Tele but cleaner and more powerful - not as thin. Still great crunch from the neck, scream from the bridge.

I love my Dakota and am considering moving to a 380 Laguna only because it offers piezo-acoustic capability.

I also have a 650, an Excalibur which I believe is now called the Frisco, has African Vermillion body. I think it was discontinued in early 90s. I wonder why they renamed it Frisco? Got it used, great condition, last year for $425 with nice case.

Amazing sutstain, relatively light, Tom Petty neck, the mini-humbuckers overdrive my Fender Champ and Super Champ very nicely. I agree, the 650s are definitely underlooked guitars, real gems. Has that humbucker growl, but not muddy and super dark like some bucker guitars. It is nice having a guitar that not everyone has!

I used the 650 Dakota recently for some homerecording stuff, played some clean arpeggios, big surprise that it sounded 'typical RIC'. Some natural Chorus in it, really byrdish. Amazing.

Okay, I know I am resurrecting a nearly 7 year old thread. I recently aquired a virtually new 650c in turquouse manufactured in 2002. Are they still being manufactured with a maple body? It will be interesting to see what changes are in store for the 650 series.

My '03 Turquoise C has a walnut body.

I would have mistaken it for a "D" model by the photo.

Peter, do you still feel the same way about it now, 7 years on?

sloop_john_b wrote:My '03 Turquoise C has a walnut body.

John, Why did you remove the turquoise finish?

clearblue wrote:

sloop_john_b wrote:My '03 Turquoise C has a walnut body.

John, Why did you remove the turquoise finish?

Same reason they climbed Everest...


It's there!

clearblue wrote:John, Why did you remove the turquoise finish?

Didn't, bought it that way. It's still on the back of the neck and headstock.

Wow Peter,
Sounds like you got a couple really nice 650's - BUT how about some pictures I'm drooling just thinking about them....