Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The best Rick for blues = the one you own!

That's right, Kev!

Oh, and from the "I Shouldda Known Dep't" Roger McGuinn already beat me to it, playing the blues on a RIC 12 string. Listen to his St. James Infirmary Blues on his "Limited Edition" CD. And I'm not certain which guitar he's playing on "James Alley Blues."

JimK

It's probably just a matter of what you're used to but I have a 330FG and I just don't like the way it bends a string(s). I'll admit that I don't use it for Blues - even though I entered into my Ric-Relationship with no preconceived notions. I was always a Strat fan and then acquired a LP. My personal preference for the blues is either one of those "other" guitars for blues. But I'm certain the Ric could be properly trained with time. Is there anything inherent about a 330 that makes it not as good for bending/blues as opposed to other models?

Uhh, check that last post...I just went back and read the Trott testimonial on the 330. Any dude who can garner that kind of praise on that kind of SRV song is good enough for me! Maybe I'll give the ol 330 another go.

Personally, on my 330 I cannot achieve bends anywhere near the standard for hard blues. Sure, I can bend notes. Just not Albert Collins or SRV territory, whereas I can on other guitars like Ibanez, Strat, Les Paul (with 10's or 11's). I feel it's a limitation of the 330's neck - not enough room.

But a qualifier: I currently have flatwound 12's on my 330. I don't know if a change to roundwound 11's would significantly improve bendability.

I have a friend who went to those shows at the venue in the above pictured flyer (Desparados), I'll show it to him and ask if he recalls the use of that Ric and if it was like Stevie's later playing.

You just answered your own question - it's not the 330's neck thats inhibiting, it's your flatwound 12's! Put on a set of roundwound 10's and tell us what happens.

I think the narrow neck and the smaller frets inhibit most players who might play blues on a RIC. I'll be using my 350V63 tonight at a jam for blues. It is easier for me however to use my 1989 230 since it has a wider neck and taller frets, or to use my Strat, or Epiphone Dot. The wider and flatter neck and taller frets of the Dot makes it a favorite of mine for blues. It can be done on the RICs, it just requires a little more practice and patience I think.

A Rick for the Blues? Any 650. This is what everyone seems to tell me.

'Nuff said, end of thread.

I have roundwound 10's on my 330. I'm pretty much convinced it's just what you normally play. In messing around (w/ blues) on the Ric just over the last day, it's already easier to get the bends I want - and thought I couldn't get.
The narrower neck "was" an issue but you overcome that as well.


I presume the sprung bridge on a strat lends itself to bends as good as any. Having said that, a LP does a darned good job w/o springs.

Variety - the spice of a guitarist's life!

And oh, btw, what kind of hand exercises does one do to be able to bend 12's? I used 9's for so many years that my recent change to 10's was nearing the excruciating.

Sorry for the multi-posts but there must be a delay in my stream of consciousness. How many slide players out there using a Ric? I'm entering the Guitar Center's, "King of the Blues" contest and have decided to do a slide number. Sorry, but I've settled on the LP. But if I were to alter the action on the 330, I'm sure it would work.

Well I used the 350V63 for a blues jam last night and convinced one of the better players there to try it out too. He loved it! A lot of players on the crowd were surprised that a RIC can sound so good too. Its not really surprising to me because most guitar players are pretty conservative and don't step out of the herd to try something new and different. (Or in the case of many of the most sought after RICS, old and different) It takes a while to get used to the differences between guitars, but once you're used to the narrow neck and smaller frets, a RIC works as well as anything else for any type of music, and in some ways, better!

Ha! Another 350 for blues convert! That's great news Greg. In addition to my 350 Liverpool, I also use my 360v64 as well. The 360v64's are superb guitars and probably the most versatile guitar that I have tried so far in my 40+ years of playing blues or blues based riffs.

I'd never question how one sounds doing blues riffs. I'll rethink and recalibrate my hand and give it another try. I wouldn't want to appear locked in some kind of box!