Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I guess that every guitarist has his or her own way to employ their guitars in music.

Rickenbacker guitars are known as "Strummers" great for rythm tracks and artists like John Lennon, Pete Townshend and Paul Weller have used Rickenbacker guitars to great effect in that role.

Rickenbacker 12 string guitars are known for their jangle, that typical chimey sound they have. Famously used by artists as George Harrison and Roger McGuinn.

But let's talk about the people who employed Rickenbacker guitars in a different way than those I mentioned above. There are no shredder guitarists who are using Rickenbackers put through a Mesa Boogie triple rectifier stack. Nor will you find Bluesmen wailing away on one. But there ARE plenty of ways to employ a Rickenbacker guitar in a different way.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=hnJ9AhRBNmM
U2 "Even better than the real thing"
The Edge for example uses his 330/12 through moderate overdrive a Pitch shifter and a lot of delay through Vox AC30 amps and even employs a slide for the solo. Not exactly "Jingle-Jangle"

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=gPjQZ4_92Aw
U2 "She moves in Mysterious ways"
On this one The Edge employs an envelope filter to give his 330/12 that extra punch.

There are no shredder guitarists who are using Rickenbackers put through a Mesa Boogie triple rectifier stack.

Kurt Ballou of Converge, Thomas Erak of Fall of Troy, etc.

Nor will you find Bluesmen wailing away on one.

Hubert Sumlin, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Johnson, Darren Trott, John Mayall, etc.

This kind of close-mindedness is exactly the reason why Rickenbackers are "typecast" the way they are.

I'm not a famous player like Darren Trott, but I quite enjoy playing creamy blues or blasting my 370/12 through a filthy distorted amp. Jingle jangle be damned!!! (Not you Paul W.)

As do I, Steve! We can only hope to someday be as famous as Darren.

I posted a thread like this a while ago. The Rick is prone to misconceptions based on its history. I can slam out hot rock 'n roll, blues and much more on my 360.

I was at Alto Music yesterday in Middletown, NY, and the guitar dept. manager, who is extremely well-versed in guitars in general, even said, "Rickenbackers are great rhythm guitars, but the frets are too low. Mix that with the lacquered fretboard, and you have a guitar that can't stand up to a Gibson or Fender as a lead instrument."

I disagreed, promptly picked up a black 360 and rattled off "Born To Be Wild" and "Born Under A Bad Sign" plugged into a Fender amp on the dirty channel. Maybe I changed his mind a little bit.

One is limited only by one's imagination and limitations as a player. A good guitarist can make any guitar sound acceptable. Stevie Ray could have played a Teisco Del Ray and he would have sounded like himself.

Don't let preconceived ideas of what is right or wrong influence what instruments you play. Be creative, like The Edge.

"...Mix that with the lacquered fretboard, and you have a guitar that can't stand up to a Gibson or Fender as a lead instrument."

Huh? What about all those millions of maple fingerboard Fenders out there? Alto Music is one music store that will not get my money.

From what misinformed ding dongs do these quotes arise?!

I love a lacquered fretboard on any guitar! I rather wish a couple of my Gretsches had them, but hey, at least all of my Rickenbackers and a few of my Fenders do.

Sort of like King Leopold's alleged critique of Mozart: "Too many notes."

Oh, I see. Low frets + laquered fretboard = poor lead guitar playing. I'll have to remember that. And regurgitate it.

Can't rock 'n' roll on a Ric 12 string? Oh really?

Dig this from a dude who ain't exactly known as a hard rocker, too!

JimK

John & Steve, please don't confuse "famous" with "notorious". The great guitarists are known for their musicianship. I'm well known for my behaviour!

As for the low frets and laquered board...

It's all personal and subjective really...

personally, tiny frets are harder for me to play lead on, because I really get under the string when I bend, and it feels a bit harder to do on ANY vintage sized frets. one reason I got rid of the Casino really.

As for the lacquer, I do feel that Ricks have WAY too much on the fretboard, to a point where it seems to built up around the frets, which sortof leads tot he same problem I have with small frets.

Not saying it's impossible, I've done it, and will do it again, but they are far from the perfect rock/blues guitar...

then again, find me a guitar that is!

Well, Nick, I know it's been said before, but you need to hear our own Mr. Trott channelling SRV on a 381...

As for bending, we have different bending styles and I have no trouble on any of my Ricks or Fenders, because I bend sideways but not "under". I didn't set out to do things this way; I think it was an unconscious adaptive sort of move.

And, yep, on Rick fretboards the varnish does creep up the fret sides. The frets also feature flat tops, which makes 'em buzz sometimes when played unamplified but can't be heard otherwise.

you can surf on Ric!

Paul, you've just answered one of life's mysteries for me.

The use of flat topped frets explains the slight "metallic" ring I hear every now and then. You learn somethin' new every day. I can stop worrying now. Thanks for freeing up a few brain cells!

OK, now I can sleep peacefully.

Whereas, you've just risen...