Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I would like to hear you opinion on the difference in tone that you notice between the solid body Rickenbackers compared to the semi-acoustic models. Of course, there are so many factors to consider in making a comparision including the pickups and their configuration, the construction of the guitar and the amplifier, to name but a few.

With these brief comments in mind, what fundamental differences in tonality have you observed between the Rickenbacker solid body versus the semi-acoustic models?

I think there's something odd with the title Peter. Shouldn't it read "solid body vs HOLLOW body Rickenbacker guitars"?

Feel free to remove this post.

Thanks Manuel. I should have said sleepy hollow body! Thanks for the correction.

In my opinion, the biggest tonal difference is the reduction of the mid range frequencies in the solid bodies as compared to the hollows - regardless of amp.

But I guess that would be the case with any comparison between the two types of electrics.

I agree with Manuel's comment above. For me, there's a lot more "spank" in the solid bodies. You can hear the attack much more clearly. By way of comparison, I've got a 380L and a 650C. Same pick-ups in both guitars. The 380L is pretty mellow. You can get it to scream but the note fundamental always sounds a little fuzzy. Maybe it's better to say that it sounds richer, with more overtones. In the 380L, the humbuckers sound "dark". There isn't a ton of sparkle. (This is with the piezo out of the equation.) By contrast, the humbuckers in the 650C sound very bright, much brighter than I ever expected. I actually have to dial out a little of the treble on my amp. You can get really percussive with it and lead lines really cut through even when seriously distorted.

I've noticed more high end sparkle in my 660 vs my 360 or 370, plus a lot more sustain. I haven't found a need to compress the 660, like I have the others.

this is bit off topic but i observed that i am constantly watching myself in the mirror with hollowbody .
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I am probably a little off topic also, because I have never played a Rick solid body and cannot comment on the sound differences, but I find the body on my 330 so comfortable and well balanced that I don't know if I would really like a solid body. I would like to try a 650 someday though, preferably standing up.

Howdy,

I've had two Ricky 12's: a 620 and a 330. The 330 had less treble and sustain than the 620. That is, the 620/12 sounded closer to what Roger McGuinn achieved with the Byrds. McGuinn, of course used a treble booster and compression with his 360/12 on those classic Byrds recordings.
Now the tone of the electronically unaided 620/12 didn't "nail" McGuinn's tone, but it sure came closer than what I achieved through my unaided 330/12. I was surprised by this observation. I'll just bet that a 620/12 with chrome bar P/Us would come very close to McGuinn's tone, even without a treble booster.

Eggman