Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've been looking through so many older clips (60's) on Youtube, Myspace, etc. that have performances with Rickenbackers. I am very surprised to see many of the sounds I thought may have been 12 string Ricks are actually 6 string Ricks. We all know the the obvious tracks with 12 string Ricks, but I am amazed at how close the Rick 6 string can sound in so far as the tone. A Rick really sounds like a Rick, 6 or 12 string.

Another thing I noticed is that even if a Rick is plugged into a Marshall, a Vox, a Hiwatt or whatever, you still get that sweet Rick tone coming through. It really is unique. Remember I'm talking the 60's. Nowadays, I've seen many artists using alot of processing or loads of pedels that can take a bit away from that tone, but, you can still hear that Rick tone.
I really like those early tones with a Rick through the amp with the volume turned up on the amp. Even with a few pedals used subtlely, you can really get that Rick tone.
I know you guys have probably been over this a thousand times, but it still rings true to me.
Long live Rickenbacker.

Amen.

You said it all Richard...I mean Rick.

That is probably one of the main reasons most of us are here.

Funny you should bring this issue up. I was thinking about asking the exact same question.

About three years ago when I was young, innocent and naïve. (OK, I wasn’t young.) I wanted to obtain that RIC 360 look and sound. So I went to my local authorized RIC dealer and asked to see a 360. I plugged in the six-string, tuned up and played a little. Sounded ok but it wasn’t what I was expecting. I thought I was doing something wrong, or at least, didn’t know the right tricks or techniques to go after the the “jangle.” So I finally got up enough courage to tell the salesman that I liked the guitar but it didn’t sound like I thought it should sound. He took another guitar off the wall, plugged in and played the opening riff to Turn. He said “Is this what you mean?” “Yeah,” I said, “that’s it!” It was the 12-string, of course, that he was playing. I immediately bought it and the rest, as they say, is history.

So the question becomes, if the 12-string is a big (biggest) part of the jangle, then what would it be about a six-string RIC that makes it a “RIC sound?”

To be honest, I’m hoping my anniversary 330 does NOT have the jangle. I already got that covered. I’m hoping that (with the HiGains) it is a screaming bluesy/rocking monster.

I think, above all, the Ric sound is musical. I have a couple of Fenders, an SG, but the Ric 6-string always sound the most pleasant when I play. For some reason, they play in tune the best for me, and always produce a balanced, warm, chimey, and pleasant sound that is musical. That doesn't happen for me with your run-of-the-mill instrument. I would say the same for the Ric 12-string, but let's face it, they are a little tougher to play musically. I was doing well with mine, until I started playing so much acoustic guitar, my calloses have gotten so thick, and my fingertips so mashed up, I am having difficulty getting re-acquainted with my Ric 12, fretting it cleanly.

What makes a Rick six-stringer sound like a Rick? Construction, pickup position & specs, and a .0047 capacitor in line with the treble pickup which is responsible in no small measure for the so-called "jangle". Remove said cap and cram said pickup full of wire, and the "jangle" will be virtually gone.