Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

For blues, what is your setup using a Ric as your guitar ?

Here's mine: 650 Dakota >> Cesar Diaz Texas Ranger (treble/gain boost) pedal >> Mesa/Boogie Subway Blues amp.

Cool David. Just for grins & jollies, I'd really like to make a serious attempt at playing the blues on a Rick 12. There seems to be some suggestion out in cyberspace that it can't be done. I don't know why.

There's a song on Roger McGuinn's "Limited Edition" called The James Alley Blues that I would like to learn. I don't think the fills are played on a Rick 12, but rather another guitar.

I've seen a Youtube video where this fellow is demonstrating 12K toasters on a Rick 12. And he plays a blues riff or two through the overdrive channel on his Crate amp. Pretty convincing to me that it can be done.

JimK

I use my JG 360v64 that has been modified with a boost/gain circuit, a pickup phase selector micro switch and a master volume control among other a few other little circuitry mods. I don't use the boost/gain circuit at all. My go to amp is a Peavey 212 Stereo Chorus. I use a small amount of on board chorus and reverb. I don't use any pedals except for a Wah on rare occasion.

With the amp controls set precisely to my satisfaction I get all the simulated tube distortion that I need to give me susutain that makes this guitar a joy to play. The amp has tons of headroom so it can be played efficiently and handle the peaks at any volume level.

David and James (sorry this may be a double post=the first one may appear also),

I am the guy on Youtube. I was switching between clean fulley dimed gain channel but the volume on both was only about 2 1/2. I like the sounds also of the FYLNN AMP
website under booster-Rory Gallagher, and the LENAHAN booster on Youtube. I wonder if a RIC 12 can get harmonically overdriven.

Anyway, also check out the Youtube:Rory Gallagher Lonesome Highway - no video, but VERY RICish tones from a miked resonator. It also shows in his lead how to stay "bluesy"
by hammers and note selection without big string bends.

In the spirit of Leadbelly, lets get this electric 12 blues thing rolling. Who says octaves can"t "weep" too?

Speaking of Rory, some of you already know this but I toured with him in 1975 here in Canada.

Hey Donnell, glad to see you hang out here.

JimK

Also, Brian,

I remember on a previous post in "its the Blues" that you worked with Rory at some time. Didn"t he occassionally mess around with a 12? I know he used a Danelectro Sitar for
some things. I only wish I had known more about him at the time to see him live. I have NEVER (Hendricks and Clapton included) seen anyone have so much delightful partnership with and mastery of an instrument as he did. He also (Youtubes) smiled at lot instead of being some gothic menace to his audiences. He wanted to have us "share" in the fun, and not watch a "show off".

I think he is a great lesson to us all that the blues doesn't have to be heavy and dour. I'm sure even Leadbelly would approve of the "kid" from Cork with the energy of a
mischieveous Lepracaun. What say you?

I take one of these ('60 345F) .....or one of these ('60 360 Capri) ...and add one of these ('66 Fender Super Reverb)

..... and I've heard the two combinations. Awesome!!

Brian, again,

I just saw your post. 1975 would have been just about a year after the Rory classic "Irish Tour" which my wife was kind enjoy to get me for Christmas. He sounds (as I review his blues work from the Taste days to 1974), absolutely on top of his game. If Rory had used a RIC 12 on say Cradle Rock with his sometimes "shortly" glass slide that fit on the ring finger so
you could also do chords, it would have been amazing. Or how about Bullfrog Blues on a RIC?

So, to all of us: watch Rory and Youtube and sling some of that on your unique RIC. Even if we can't get all the phrasing exactly, it sure is fun to hear how a RIC says it.

Donnell,

Rory was a delight to be around. He was a very shy man that really opened up on stage and his talent knew no bounds. He was a very content individual and Lord knows he loved playing and listening to the blues. He particularly enjoyed sharing his passion with those who came to see him in concert. Live shows provided him with a motivation to keep playing. It was what he did best.

He did not have a twelve string with him when I toured with him in 1975 btw. I know he owned a number of guitars but the only guitar that he played the entire tour was his trusty Strat. IIRC correctly his backup instrument for that tour was a Telecaster.

Rory was revered by many blues and rock artists alike for his abilities and his delivery of the blues. I feel fortunate that I not only toured with him but I got to play guitar with him, albeit all too briefly. I did have an opportunity to play in his band on a more permanent basis...........but that is a whole other story. He was a great man. His life was far too short.

I've heard Darren play also and I have had an opportunity to play live with him (and a number of othe forum members from Melbourne) where he played his Rick and I played his RM 1999 bass and on a few other occasions Howard's 360v64...........Darren's SRV like fretboard gymnastics and the tone he obtains are both phenominal.

My dad and my friend who knows everything about the blues played my 1997 (with neck pickup only) through his '63 Gibson amp (I don't know what model it was or anything) and it sounded beautiful and bluesy.

A Capri would be my choice for da blooze