Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Several post quote Pete Townshend as using flatwound/tapewounds to get the "jangle" sound out of his RIC. I uncovered a Guitar Player article circa 1968 in which Mr.Townshend states he uses "regular Fender strings" or "Sonomatics". I know this is just adding to the confusion.

BTW:There is a great picture of him playing a 360/12 MapleGlo.

Thanks Edmond. I don't consider that this is adding to the confusion at all. It is a good bit of research on your part. Lennon had sonomatics on his 1958 Model 325 at one point as these were popular strings during the 1960s. Any chance on sending in a scan of that 1968 photo?

Peter: I don't have a scanner, but will go about trying to borrowing one. It would be my pleasure to send a scan.

In an interview printed in Richard Smith's book on Rickenbacker, Townshend emphasizes using "tapewound" strings. His quote: "It's important." But he fails to explain why. I think it was also more in reference to Ric 12-string guitars, and this is why I first used flatwounds after getting my 360/12V64. I purchased a set of Pyramids and they worked fine. But a couple of years ago I was directed to try a custom set of Thomastik-Infeld roundwound Power Brights. There was a noticeable difference in the jangle output and I don't think I'll be going back to flatwounds on my 12-string anytime soon.

No disrespect to Pete, of course...............

I've got Pyramids on my 620-12, and it nails the early Who sound - Can't Explain, The Good's Gone, The Kids Are Alright, etc.

I use tapewounds on my 325. No tuning problems, no intonation problems. 13-58, they feel great and sound terrific.

Ted, Tracy & Jeffery: Your comments are interesting. It would be great if we could compare flatwounds on RICs with Hi-gains vs toasters & solidbodies vs semi-hollows.

Peter- I am still working on getting that photo of Mr. Townshend scanned.

Edmond-- The comparisons you suggest would be greatly interesting. My participation would be limited in that both of my Ric guitars are 300 series with toasters. But I would love to hear from others who have solid bodies AND a 300 series instrument with the various pick-up combinations that I don't have access to.

I started out with a 360/12 with hi-gains, and switched to a 620/12 with hi-gains (it had a better-feeling neck). I was able to do a side-by-side comparison of the two, and overall, they sound very similar. The 360 had a little less bite and more mid-range. I then switched the pickups in the 620 to toasters that I unwound to vintage specs (approx. 7.5k Ohms). That brought greater clarity to the sound, especially with the neck pickup. They sound a bit thinner when heavily distorted (the hi-gains sound fantastic with heavy distortion), but they definitely have the jangle when played clean. My next project is to unwind the toasters on my 370/6.

The nylon tapewound strings are the 'fix' for short scale Rickenbacker guitars. I didn't care for them on full scale models. Check 'em out and you'll see what I mean.

I have owned a 330 fitted with hi-gains since 1985 into a 1961 AC30 and had never been able to get the jangle until now!
After reading lots of posts about vintage toasters wound to 7.4k I decided to unwind the neck hi-gain on the grounds that if I messed up I could order a vintage toaster to try. The pickup started off at 22K and after about two hours and removing about 2/3 of the wire I ended up at just under 8K. I plugged it into the normal input of the AC30 and guess what, I Can Explain! at last. The only other modification to the guitar is that I had previously added the 4n7 cap in series with the bridge pickup. This made a subtle improvement to the tone