Are Rics Good Enough?

ajish4 · Post by **ajish4** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 9:52 am

Hey David,

That is a tough one. The harder you push, the more likely he will go the other way ESPECIALLY if he is THAT good.

I know I HATE it, I mean REALLY HATE IT when I'm asked "don't you have a Jazz bass" by almost everyone I play with. I'm a stubborn old man and when someone tells me that, it gets further and further from being a reality.

One of these days, I will probably get get a nice vintage jazz bass but not because everyone keeps telling me to, it's just because it's another classic sound that I'd like to play around with.

I love my RIC's and my Alembic. I feel that between them, I can get MOST any sound out there.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 9:52 am

Maybe something like a 650 Dakota, Sierra, or Colorado would be more up his alley. These guitars are catered to lead guitar playing, and feature a wider neck and RIC humbuckers. I think the frets may even be taller.

bitzerguy · Post by **bitzerguy** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 9:57 am

You can't. He doesn't get the mojo, and is not yet ready for Ric magic. He requires more time and maturity of style to step into Ric lead-dom.

Seriously Dave, from the clip I saw, you guys are great no matter what makes you are playing. If he needs his non-Rics to get his magic out, and you want to keep him, don't try to get him to switch. At some point, when all the rest of the band refuses to play non-Rics, he'll give it another shot.

Get him to try a 620 if you can. It can nail both the Santana and Satriani vibes pretty good through decent tube amps. The small frets may be what is spooking him. It requires a bit more finesse of technique and finger power to not fret out on bends, but it is not impossible, and is actually quite rewarding.

In fact I feel very, very strongly that the technique adjustments I had to make to play our covers on my Ric 620/6 has made me a much better player over all, and on all my guitars.

But I was ready for the mojo...

...Dean

squid · Post by **squid** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 10:04 am

I honestly don't think you can. It seems like he has a "sound" that he likes and instruments that he trusts and enjoys. It's tough to fiddle around with that. The only possible solution I can see is a guitar equipped with Ric humbuckers, which certainly do have some "heft" to them. They're what I use when I want something chunky and full.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 10:23 am

Why bother? Some people just like to be pursued. Me, I'd give up and let him play a Steve Vai Hole-in-the-Head, megasustainmonster that looks like a WMD. It's his upbringing, or maybe poor prenatal care...

325 pickups are "too soft"? Maybe he needs to plug it into an amp...then you turn the volume UP. Instant loud, guaranteed.

steverok · Post by **steverok** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 11:16 am

I have many friends who have played my Ric's, and remain unenthusiastic about them. Their attitude is "you like that thing, huh ?". They are more accomplished than I am, but at the same time, they love to play a million notes, and play some stuff that sounds really ear-piercing or harsh for my tastes. I like the friendly and pleasant sound of a Ric, and that's what I use them for. My friends consider them to be a foreign object, in their hands, which can't help them achieve the standard, cliche'd sound and feel that they are used to.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:00 pm

If he doesn't get it, he may some time, but there's no sense in pushing him. He loves his Ibanez & everyone has to respect that.
That's not to say that you shouldn't encourage him to try other guitars, of course.
Everyone has their own path to follow & who knows where it may lead eventually.

The Ibanez does look out of place between two vintage style Ricks, though.

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:01 pm

John is right about the 650 frets being taller. They are comparable to Gibson jumbo frets. The HB pickups do not have the gain of a Gibson. I felt they are a bit muffled so I lifted a ground on one of the pots to give them a little more open sound. Later I put on a set of modded high gains. These are a little more to my liking. The thing is I like the sound of traditional toaster equipped Ricks along with high gain equipped ones. That being said I still think that the Gibson and Fender sounds have their place too. I would rather have one of each than three of one. Hopefully in time your lead player will get the itch for the sound of a Rick and add it to his arsenal.

This is what he needs:

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:15 pm

I can understand "too big". I have owned 3 semi hollows that size and don't feel that they are comfortable. First was Heritage H535, then a 360V64, and then a Lucille. These are now all gone.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:32 pm

He may come around.
Give him time, since he's a very good player, he probably has a very good idea of what he wants.

I've only met one guitarist who only owns one guitar (a refinished Gold Top), & has for quite a while.
All the rest go through an astounding variety of instruments when the mood strikes.
Anything from an '80's Guild solid body (X-12???) to a 1964 Jaguar.

longboard_ric · Post by **longboard_ric** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:52 pm

Keep at him. Just get him to try another Ric then tell him he has tone to die for. That will make any lead guitarist feel good.

Looking at your repertoire there is a place for a Ric, and playing different guitars can only help him develop as a musician, and get the "killer" tone for each song.

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:19 pm

I would vote for the 650. The larger frets are great for string bending. Also the wider neck is closer to his other guitars. Since Rick pickups all have the same footprint the are easily interchangeable for your preferred sound.

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:42 pm

C has a tradtional Rick finish on all Maple with chrome hardware. Some, including mine, have Walnut headstock ears.

D has Walnut body wings, oil finish, and chrome hardware.

S is the same as a D with gold hardware.

E has African Vermillion body wings and chrome hardware.

A has turquoise body wings with a natural Maple neck through the body.

F has African Vermillion body wings and gold hardware.

Go here and click on models it shows them all.

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 3:38 pm

The C, D,& S are the only ones still in production. The Cs are more expensive due to their finish. The S is a little more than a D due to its gold hardware. I not sure what pricing is for new. I think they average around a grand with a molded case. Besides the modded pickups on mine I also have a gold TRC and pickguard along with a silver RI case.

kelly · Post by **kelly** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 6:24 pm

Has anyone mentioned that he will just flat-out look a lot cooler with a Rickenbacker? I mean honestly - an Ibanez? I play my 660-12 through a Marshall, it sounds great. In the 650 range I would try and find a used one. They pop up on eBay for easily under $1000. Good luck though - I've never met anyone who plays an Ibanez who would consider a Rickenbacker. Those people are just plain different.