Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'll bet a few folks here do this well. Assuming you have a Rick as start point, what strings, amps, etc. do you use? I love my Rick sounds but don't have that classic Sgt. Pepper sound in the arsenal.

Start with a 4001V63 and add flats, either TI Jazz Flats or, as I do, D'Addario Chromes.

I've been thinking about putting TI's or D'Addario Chromes on either my V63 or my '73 4001 to get the classic flatwound thump on one of my Ricks. I don't need them all to have a roundwound string sound. I can get a tone close to McCartney's with rounds, but I'm sure I could get a much closer McCartney tone with flatwound strings.

TI flats on my '63 do a fine job. I play finger style normally but to get his tone, I play with a pick.

It's a good thing to be able to do both.It open a new range of feels,and riffs,especially whit RIC basses.

Michel.

My Rick V63 with Rotosound nickel flatwounds and just barely touching mute would give the same sound as "With a little help from my friends" and for the proper clarity, I played with a pick as did Paul. I find the sound of stainless flatwounds to be too bright to be an accurate representation of the "Sgt. Pepper" sound.

Gotta be Pyramid flats with a compressor. TI Flats are too floppy, and I don't like the gauges of D'Addario chromes. The Chromes are actually higher tension overall than the Pyramids, mainly because their G, D, A strings are .045, .065, .080, respectively. Whereas Pyramid's are .040, .055, .070. Also, Pyramids just sound better to me.

1965 wrote:...I don't like the gauges of D'Addario chromes. The Chromes are actually higher tension overall than the Pyramids, mainly because their G, D, A strings are .045, .065, .080, respectively. Whereas Pyramid's are .040, .055, .070. Also, Pyramids just sound better to me.

I use a custom set of Chromes by replacing the D string on their Super Soft set so I end up with 40-55-75-95, works very nicely on my V63.

jps wrote:

1965 wrote:...I don't like the gauges of D'Addario chromes. The Chromes are actually higher tension overall than the Pyramids, mainly because their G, D, A strings are .045, .065, .080, respectively. Whereas Pyramid's are .040, .055, .070. Also, Pyramids just sound better to me.

I use a custom set of Chromes by replacing the D string on their Super Soft set so I end up with 40-55-75-95, works very nicely on my V63.

That sounds interesting, I'll have to check that setup out sometime.

I have TI flats on my 4003, and I don't think they are at all floppy. I had pyramids before the TIs, and I can tell the TIs have lower tension, but they don't feel floppy.

I love the TIs.......on my Pedulla. The Maca sound for me is palm muted 4004 or Hipshot tail,palm muted,Fender flats,on a 4001. Oh... and must be played through a tube amp. Ampeg B25B or Traynor YBA200 into Webber neo 12s for me.

fireglo wrote:I have TI flats on my 4003, and I don't think they are at all floppy. I had pyramids before the TIs, and I can tell the TIs have lower tension, but they don't feel floppy.

+1. The difference is in the lower strings - the E and A. The gauge is actually a tad larger than the Pyramids for the D and G strings. I actually like both the TIs and Pyramids and had TI JF344s on my old C64. It really nailed down that old McCartney tone, IMHO. To me it's all about the palm muting, which is a bit tougher to do with the horsie but can but done just the same; just takes time and practice. I also like a fairly heavy plec and use a Dunlop Jazztone 205 which gives a nice click but doesn't sound too bright due to it's stiffness. I can really capture that tone spot on with my Hofners. As Wes stated earlier, a compressor is a must have as well, especially with the Rick. I've an old MXR DynaComp that I'll use but would really like to score a Demeter HXC-1 rack unit in the future.

For me, 4001S(left-handed of course), Dunlop pick, GHS Precision Flatwounds(NOT Brite Flats), Yellow Submarine Bass Preamp, Ampeg B100R.

Love those earwig picks, Ronn

Most important part: play high up on the neck.