Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The Ric 12 string "sound" is legendary. So at the risk of sounding like a true neophyte, what does a Ric 6 string "sound" like in terms of tonal quality? (I can generally pick out a Strat or Tele, but I don't know if I've ever heard a Ric 6. Ok. Don't shoot!)

I would love to hear some MP3 downloads from those of you who own 6-string Rics. Any takers? Be sure to let me know which model you're showin' off, too!

Seth, I've owned ONE Ric twelve and SIX Rix six-strings. Rickenbacker six-strings can be crystalline clean or richly overdriven. One quality I like is their attack; on both solid and semi-hollow Rics, the attack is immediate but followed with a sweet natural decay. You'll note a very present resonance on Rics, but nothing tubby like on a jazz box. Most Rics twang nicely if you want. They can be surfy -but never as thin as a Fender.
One thing which always happens when I play is that people compliment me on my tone. It is a testament to the Ric character of always cutting through the mix.
I can get a very Les Paul tone from my Rics -think of Les the player rather than the typical Les Paul/Marshall sound.
Rickenbackers have a harmonic purity which I don't hear on many other models. They can go as low or as high as you like. For me, they are the only Do-All instrument. All others are only temporary flavors.


http://www.myspace.com/pyramidbuildersunion

1.All The Stars - 1997SPC/VB on E-bow, solo, and rhythm (bandmate's 70s Strat on the Andy Summers part ).

2.Chachapoya - 1997SPC/VB on main electric, bends, lead - 360V64 on wah parts

3.Shoreline Gold - 1997SPC/VB on bent chords, harmonics, slow lead, one rhythm track

4.Nightfalling - 1997SPC/VB on rhythm and crunch tracks

http://www.myspace.com/noelchristianriddell

1.Seaside - 650A/VT on main electric (with bends), 1997SPC/VB on lead

2.Sand (intro) - 1997... on crunch (with Dano Longhorn ) and staccato single notes, 650A/VT on deep space liquid lead bend

3.Double Argent - 1997... on spy licks and double stops, 650A/VT on slide and lead

4.Desert Ship - 1997... on non-chirpy rhythm, Ebow, harmonics, tremolo washes, and crunch, 340 (desert gold) on leads (dig the bright, cutting tone)

http://www.myspace.com/thefoglifters

1.The 13th Step - 1997 main theme guitar, rhythm

2.Palace Gate Apts. - 360V64 sliding chords

3.Sleight Of Hand - 1997 main guitars (Tele lead, sorry)

Wow.... I was going to say EXACTLY what Noel said, but he beat me to the punch and said it very well.... (actually a whole lot better than I would have)

The tone from my 360-6 is simply superior to what I can get my other guitars (fender, epiphone, gretsch) and also more versitile. "Sweet" and "rich" and "full" might be a few words to decribe why). Through the VOX AC-15 I (with a couple of simple boxes) I can get all sorts of tones from clean twangy to a slightly overdriven chrunch.

For death metal or something like that I'd probably look elsewhere (done ask me where) but for everything else, the Ric produces the best sound I've ever heard.

My 650 with 'buckers is the most versatile guitar I've ever owned. It will chime, sing, & flat-out rock. The 360 I briefly owned could produce a lot of tones as well.

Noel
Thanks for the links! You're all right about the sound. Crisp, clean, cool. So now I may have to add a 6 string to my collection. Which one...

360... ya just cant go wrong with that (unless it happens to be *yuck* turquoise).

Between 330 and 360, you really can't go wrong. Two of my favorite classic ric sounds that I can think of are on these songs:

Sleater-Kinney - Start Together
Lush - Etherial

Ya gotta problem with turquoise, Brammy??? Them's fightin words!!!

Aitch--go gettum!