Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

If you are a recording artist or a top-flight live player, and you want to get a vintage sound, then vintage is the way to go. If you're playing live 95% of the time at small to mid-size venues with average security, or want a more modern sound, a vintage Rickenbacker is probably not at all appropriate.

I am always amused at how some musicians are focused on detailed aspects of tone that are totally lost due to the crummy sound system/inadequate mix/average acoustics of their typical venue. On top of that, the vast majority of the audience isn't listening for that last 10% of whatever tone is being sought, and they will forget the sonic nuances of the performance as soon as they step out into the night air.

antipodean wrote:If you're playing....at small to mid-size venues with average security, or want a more modern sound, a vintage Rickenbacker is probably not at all appropriate.

So, you're saying I shouldn't bother bringing the 4005WB to the dive I'm playing this coming Saturday evening?

Yeah, just ship it out to me. I'll take good care of that old piece of junk...even if it is Jetglo...

cjj wrote:I'll take good care of that old piece of junk...even if it is Jetglo...

I hope you and Tony have the same, "My Ricks have turned Jetglo" nightmare" tonight. Starring me with a can of black spray paint!

jps wrote:

antipodean wrote:If you're playing....at small to mid-size venues with average security, or want a more modern sound, a vintage Rickenbacker is probably not at all appropriate.

So, you're saying I shouldn't bother bringing the 4005WB to the dive I'm playing this coming Saturday evening?

YOU'VE got a 4005 WB?

jingle_jangle wrote:

jps wrote:

antipodean wrote:If you're playing....at small to mid-size venues with average security, or want a more modern sound, a vintage Rickenbacker is probably not at all appropriate.

So, you're saying I shouldn't bother bringing the 4005WB to the dive I'm playing this coming Saturday evening?

YOU'VE got a 4005 WB?

Nobody at the Dive will ever know.

jps wrote:

antipodean wrote:If you're playing....at small to mid-size venues with average security, or want a more modern sound, a vintage Rickenbacker is probably not at all appropriate.

So, you're saying I shouldn't bother bringing the 4005WB to the dive I'm playing this coming Saturday evening?

Jeff, everyone knows that any venue ceases to be a dive if you're playing there!

Especially, when I wear this.

And play that gold-glitter-encrusted WB4005!

Talk about class...

Got a picture of it, Jeff?

Where I live, you cannot buy a Ric locally - When I sold my 360 recently, I'm pretty sure that's the first time anyone in my area could get their hands on one without driving a long distance (Or ordering online). So, when I got the 360, it was the first Ric I had ever touched. My hero, Peter Buck, once said the modern Rics are better than older ones because they just build them better. I would generally agree that vintage anything is better sounding, though.

That being said, I would love to own a vintage anything - The only antique I own is my Gibson made in '76 - Not really a known year for the company.

I'm definitely in the old camp. I've got a BUNCH of vintage ricks and I went through a bunch of modern ones only to find out that the vintage ones are the way to go. Something about the wood...

Even the solidbody ones sound killer, I've got a 450/12 from 66 that is to die for...

How's the 12 treating you Billy?

Abso-freakin-fantastic I cannot imagine for the life of me what you were not getting out of this guitar?? A complete head turner and ear turner everywhere I play her. I just plug it in to the Vox and POW! Instant classic. I do play the music of the 60's on her. Were you trying to get something else out of it? I guess one mans meat is another man's poison as they say. Fortunately she is holding fast in terms of condition and playability. I use TI flats and the band tunes to Eb so that prolly helps a lot.

Like I said, if I didn't have two at the time, and didn't need a new car, I wouldn't have sold it. Unfortunately the one I kept developed a neck issue 2 weeks later. I've been 12-string-less ever since. But it will be coming back within the next two weeks, refinished, new frets, neck reset.