Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

If any of you remember, in June I posted asking for advice on Rics...ie 650s, a 620, & a 360. I went to a local shop in KC & fell in love with a FG 360 & bought it at a great price..then I returned it 2 days later & bought an AMerican Strat at the same place. The 360 was the best constructed, fastest playing guitar I ever played...but, string-bending was a chore & since I am predominantly a blues player & classic rocker, that was a problem. The Fender has worked out great. A super neck and wonderful tones. I absolutely love it, but...I couldn't get Rics outta my mind. So...I sold a rare vintage 1959 Bear Kodiak recurve bow to generate funds for another guitar. I bought the 650D after driving to the MF distro center store in KC & playing one fresh out of the shipping carton. The action was a little high which I instantly took care of, though not as low as on my strat since I will use this one for slide too.
The Dakota is of course beautiful. I love quality woods to look at. The wide neck is no problem at all since I grew up on Gibbies. The tone is awesome! This baby honks like nobody's business & gets me the Clapton "Beano" tone that I love. I can also dial in a classic Ric chime on my Pod by using the AC-30 model. I played it live today at church on 4 songs and was impressed with the sustain. Creamy, yet articulate, no mud at all. The pups are the quietest I have "never" heard on any guitar ever & I 've been playing for 25 years. The only thing I'll change on the guitar is the edges of the nut...they're really sharp & need a few swipes with some sandpaper. Other than that I couldn't be happier. I also got a GREAT price on it.
It isn't hard at all going back & forth between my Strat & the Ric...I spent the afternoon A/Bing them on my Pod & setting up specific models for my Ric. I love to just look at this guitar...I do want to oil sand the neck a bit smoother. This guitar puts an end to any silly idea that you can't play blues with a Ric. It is actually easier to bend strings on this guitar as oppossed to my Strat with the same string gauges on both guitars. I am loving this!
You guys were right...

Mark

Congrats, Mark! Welcome to the happy club of Rickenfans!

I play my Rics on a worship team, too--there is no sound more "heavenly" than the jangle of a Ric, IMO!

Ditto, ditto and ditto!

Thanks for the welcome!
I do love playing on a worship team with quality musicians...though I am looking to start a local blues band again...been a long time...

Mark

But blues be da devil's music.

"Local..." Where are you located, Mark?

I am in Sedalia, Missouri.

Noel,
Blind Willie Johnson, Rev, Gary Davis, Son House, Rev. Dan Spence, Skip James Fred McDowell, Glenn Kaiser, Larry Howard, Darryl Mansfield, etc. etc. play/played blues for God all day long...but I know ya already knew that! To quote a Christian song: "Why should the Devil have all the good music"?

Seriously, that is one thing I really dig about blues...it speaks to the human condition like almost no other medium...I mean David wrote 71 Psalms of "complaint" to God...one of the original bluesmen, I would guess!

Cool, Mark--My hubby and I are huge Glenn Kaiser fans! Sometimes a tinge of blues finds its way into my own compositions.... I love that stuff.

I know, Mark. Not all bluespickers went to Johnson's crossroads.

IFC recently ran a film featuring some of the heavweight blues unknowns (R.L. Burnside, T-Model Ford, etc.). Wish I could remember the name!
Anyway, one of these old bluesmen said just that:

'Blues be da devil's music'

Of course, Grant McLennan said:

'You can use an instrument if it helps you find you soul'

cheers, Noel

Hey, I was just listening to the Go-Betweens on my way to work... nice Grant McLennan quote, Noel!

Mark, Congratulations on the new guitar! I like my Dakota a lot too.

Agree with all, Noel!

MB,

Glenn Kaiser is a supreme blues player...be it acoustic or electric. I really love his music.

Congrats from me too, Mark. Another fan of God's own instruments!!