Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

After a couple of years of backlog reduction, it's nice to hear that there might be something a little different in '09.

firstbassman wrote:Interesting ... there are about four different threads in the past few days that mention the Italia Rimini 12-string.

Look, there are several members of this forum (including me) who own Rimini-12s. They are very decent guitars for the money and a necessary "evil" if you will for those of us who are neck-width challenged.

Other Points:

The headstock is no longer than any other non-RIC 12-string. (Ever see that Fender 12 that Johnny Winter used to play!?)

I don’t see a resemblance to Rickenbacker instruments … other than yeah they’re both guitars … they have strings, etc.

JH has stated many times that the cats eye sound hole is not a registered unique design to Rickenbacker. It is of “German origin” I believe he has said.

The Wilkinson Humbuckers would not be my first choice on a 12-string guitar but with the tone turned all the way to Treble and the bridge pup only selected, the tone is just fine. RIC, after all, installs hi-gains on their 12s, not Toasters anymore.

The headstock may be "no longer" than any other 12-string, but due to the silly, purposeless slot on the treble side, it looks longer to the eye. The Fender 12er has a terribly-shaped headstock--like a cucumber with a droopy sock stuck on the end.

I think the body's general proportion, rounded top edge, and "ramp" at the tailpiece end, scream "Rickenbacker". The two horns are slightly longer. but the profiles are real close. The new burst finish is very similar to AFG, too.

This "borrowing" from Rick is nothing new from Rimini...they made (make?) a 4005 bass knock-off, too, though it's a Europe-only instrument.

I would not term the sound-hole "cats-eye". It really doesn't know what it wants to be, so it sits there looking silly, too--half "F" hole and half "cats-eye".

I thought they were more fun when they were sparkly. They shouldn't be so serious with real burst finishes--people expect whimsy from the Italian manufacturers.

Dusty, I hope you feel better soon!

dpowell wrote:If you really want an imitation Ric 12, there is a more attractive RIC-licensed option:

http://www.chandlerguitars.com/555.html

You say these are licensed? Also they're $2500

kiramdear wrote:Dusty, I hope you feel better soon!

Thank you, I'm actually feeling quite a bit better already, although the stone hasn't passed as of yet. They ran an IV with IV pain medications on Monday, and that helped get my pain to a place where we could keep under control with medication that wasn't as strong and has left me feeling more like myself again. Thank you again though, I appreciate the well wish!

firstbassman wrote:Interesting ... there are about four different threads in the past few days that mention the Italia Rimini 12-string.

Look, there are several members of this forum (including me) who own Rimini-12s. They are very decent guitars for the money and a necessary "evil" if you will for those of us who are neck-width challenged.

Other Points:

The headstock is no longer than any other non-RIC 12-string. (Ever see that Fender 12 that Johnny Winter used to play!?)

I don’t see a resemblance to Rickenbacker instruments … other than yeah they’re both guitars … they have strings, etc.

JH has stated many times that the cats eye sound hole is not a registered unique design to Rickenbacker. It is of “German origin” I believe he has said.

The Wilkinson Humbuckers would not be my first choice on a 12-string guitar but with the tone turned all the way to Treble and the bridge pup only selected, the tone is just fine. RIC, after all, installs hi-gains on their 12s, not Toasters anymore.

OK.
I can see this is directed at me.

Regardless of the look or sound of the guitar, my main bone of contention with these models is the blatant use of the Rickenbacker name on advertising.
I've seen it online (Ebay), and I've seen it in shops (Sound Control - now Reverb in the UK).
The advertising has worked to some degree, as I normally wouldn't have looked twice at such a guitar as the styling is certainly not to my taste, and after playing one in a shop, it offered me nothing on the sound front either.
But then again the advertising also works against them as they could never compete with a Rickenbacker like for like.
If these guitars do indeed have any good points, why don't Rimini and their distributors concentrate on advertising those, rather than the fact that it may (or may not) look like another make of guitar?

Just my opinion.