Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

steverok wrote:Yeah but the songs that shine on the Ric-12 will outshine all else. It's not a matter of ratio or reason. In my opinion, every guitar player should have one at the local bar gig, so I would get to hear that sound more often !

Agreed, Steve. I do. I use my 330-12 for about ten songs a night on bar gigs, and I never see any other guitarists using Rick 12s on their gigs. It seems most guitarists want to carry as few pieces of equipment as possible these days. I'd rather bring another guitar and be distinctive and unusual. The excuse I hear from other guitarists is, "I can apporximate the 12 string sound with my effects pedals. I'm not carrying anything else."

The easy way out...

Time to bring back the convertible?

steverok wrote:Yeah but the songs that shine on the Ric-12 will outshine all else. It's not a matter of ratio or reason. In my opinion, every guitar player should have one at the local bar gig, so I would get to hear that sound more often !

Steve...A few weeks ago on one of my gigs, a guy came up to me and told me he had never seen anyone in a bar playing a Rick 12-string before. The guy was almost speechless. I didn't know quite what to say except, "Thanks. I'm a big Byrds and Beatles fan, and it sounds good on the early Who stuff too." Come to think of it, I don't think I have ever seen anyone playing a Rick 12 in a bar either.

drumbob wrote:Come to think of it, I don't think I have ever seen anyone playing a Rick 12 in a bar either.

In the mid-90s there was a slightly popular band called There Goes Bill on the L.A. bar/club circuit. The rhythm player slung an old beat-up 620/12 JG exclusively.

(Interestingly, the bass player of that band later became a balding, Rick-obsessed R.A.S. sufferer -- the type of gear junkie who becomes devoted to one guitar manufacturer and frequents message boards populated by like-minded hooligans...)

...and of course that guy wouldn't be you, now would it Michael? Nah....I thought not.
JimK

As far as the 12-strings are concerned, take a lick from Porsche: "There is no substitute".

There are a few cheaper 12-string electrics that can approximate, with A LOT of effort, the sound of a Ric 12, but even a Ric 6 sounds gutless by comparison, never mind using an ocatave or other pedal.

As for buying a 12 and then removing half the strings, you may as well buy that Porsche, remove half the exhaust and move that whole dashboard to the right a half step. It will never feel right, even if it sounds OK. The whole idea of buying a Ric is to have the best sounding, easiest-to-play instrument on the planet that can be adjusted exactly as you want.

I have my 620.6 FG ..

and have bypassed a number other guitar toy purchases... as I throw quarters in my RIC 12 string collection jar

and will play.. 620/12... 330/12... ( my friend has a new 360/12 ).. 660/12.. and if one is available.. a 360/12c63 .. would even love to get my hands on: 350/12v63..

... cause there is no substitute.. for a RIC 12..

Ric_MEL wrote: ... cause there is no substitute.. for a RIC 12..

+1
JimK

libratune wrote:Although perhaps a statistically imperfect sample, a quick check of the Register indicates the following instruments:

2061 12-strings

4121 6-strings

3366 4-strings (3365 basses and one tenor guitar)

The 6-string to 12-string ratio of 2/1 is incredible. I would venture a guess that the industry average would be in the neighborhood of 20/1. It tells me that if I can only have one 12-string, it will be a Ric!

I LOVE my 330/12 and I love it more with the toasters I put in.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p68/ ... ick001.jpg

But there's a 360 6 string at my local shop that's been calling to me for MONTHS. Half of me wants someone else to buy it and the other half wants to buy it NOW!

Nothing sounds like a rick 12. The more people who have never heard one through a good amp are left speechless.