Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm very curious on how to nail the sound of the Who from the "Maximum Mod" phase ('64-'67). What effects will I need? I know for sure I want a Ric 1997SPC VB and a VOX AC-30 handwired for the main setup, but I want to know what pedals, etc can help me out. Will a Janglebox and a Fuzz Face be all I need? That's pretty much all I want for pedals, but if I need anything else, I want to know. Thanks to Paul Azpeitia, I know how to get the right amp settings I need to nail the Who's hollowbody feedback, but still wondering about the pedals.

What strings on a Ric will help nail the Who's "Maximum Mod" phase sound?

D'Addario Chromes will do the trick. Flat wounds go a long way. I'd say that much of the sound can be nailed simply with the amp as a lot relied on the amp's natural drive whether it's a Marshall stack or a Vox.

What gauge of the D'Addario chromes? My local music shop only carries the 11s, so I'm wondering if I should go ahead and order TI flats instead...

11's should be good. I don't think flats are absolutely necessary for the sound though.

Townshend has said that the strings were a big component. I use .10's on my 1997 and they sound the part very well.

lennon211 wrote:Townshend has said that the strings were a big component. I use .10's on my 1997 and they sound the part very well.

Lets just say the the AC30 is more important than the strings. That's what I was trying to suggest (not very clearly).

Wasn't Pete specifically talking about his Rick 12's and tapewound strings?

sloop_john_b wrote:Wasn't Pete specifically talking about his Rick 12's and tapewound strings?

I know which quote that is. It's another one of which I'm thinking. I'll try to track the quote down. IIRC it was in general about the strings that were being used.

I do agree though, that the AC-30 is the biggest component in re-creating the sound.

Someone said that Pete used "thick strings" on his Ric 1998 (with Gibson tailpiece), so I'm guess 11s will help out a good bit.

I only use one effect and I think it makes me sound great all the time - alcohol!

Jake, check out "Who Tabs" on the internet, as they have a complete breakdown of what was used when, and tabs to just about every Who song.

I visit Whotabs frequently, and have learned a number of Who songs from there. For strings on Pete's Rics, it says he used Ric flatwounds, which Ric does not make anymore. I'd say Thomas Inkfield flatwounds are the next best thing.

Here is the exact quote from Whotabs:

1964–1967 – [Flatwound] Rickenbacker strings
For Rickenbacker guitars, Pete likely used tape-wound Rickenbacker guitar strings.

Likely configuration for 12-strings:

.010/.010
.013/.013
.020/.010
.026/.013
.034/.020
.042/.026

Likely configuration for 6-strings:

.010
.013
.017
.026
.034
.042

For effects in those days, it says he used a Tone Bender, whatever that is. I'm thinking a Dunlop reissue Fuzz Face will be just as good as the Tone Bender, if not better.

I read somewhere on Whotabs that before he moved to the Marshall stack, he used a VOX AC-30 onstage, but because of John's use of the stack, he wanted to be just as loud if not louder than John.

A Vox Tone Bender was the first pedal I ever bought, back in 1972. It had a special sound. You should find one on EBay when they come up.

I would think you'd need roundwounds for some of the six string stuff; aren't there pick slides in "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere"? Can't do those with flatwounds, so far as I know.

Thanks for the compliments Jake. Glad to help out.

paologregorio wrote:I would think you'd need roundwounds for some of the six string stuff; aren't there pick slides in "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere"? Can't do those with flatwounds, so far as I know.

Thanks for the compliments Jake. Glad to help out.

There were pick slides (pick scrapes, I call 'em) done on a 360S/12 OS. I dunno how Pete did it with flatwounds, but he did.