Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hello:

I recently found an late 80's Rickenbacker Hi Gain bridge pickup and I'm going to put it into one of those new Danelectro "Dead On '67" solid bodies. I know it won't sound exactly like a 660, but what other changes should I make to the electronics/wiring to make it sound as Rickenbacker-like as possible?

Thanks!

Bob

660s have toasters, Robert. So, maybe you're hoping for that 620 sound...it'll be interesting to see if this works, but there are lots of other factors to consider, too...like scale length, strings, and pot values.

But, let us know how this turns out!

jingle_jangle wrote: but there are lots of other factors to consider, too...like scale length, strings, and pot values.

Right! This is the stuff I'm looking for-- what are the right pot values in this context?

I had an 80s Fender 12 I stuck a high gain in, and found it to extremely un "Rick" like. I've had a Danelectro 12 for about 10 years that has undergone a few complete component and wiring changes, and while they have all sounded good, none sound anything like a Rickenbacker. I have not found any spot on simulation of the sound-even from Line 6s Variax patch that is a liscensed emulation of Rickenbacker 12 strings. I don't think you will find what you're looking for with pot values and pickups, but you may get close with compressors and treble boosters.
The Rockman compressor/sustainor actually has a very good treble boost and compression circuit in it, and until recently, you could buy them cheap all day long. They seem to be somewhat collectable now, but you can still find goos deals on them, and there's an online service that revamps and repairs them as well as all of the other Tom Scholz stuff.
Oh, and no, they don't make you sound like "Boston"
Going to the RIC Corporate website will allow you to find out all of the values of components used on Rickenbacker instruments. Keep us posted on your progress!

Thanks for the input... I'm thinking of a new course: I have a line on one of those cheap Gretsch Electromatic hollowbodies. Maybe put the Ric PU in the bridge of that? Being a hollow body, might thatt one might sound a little more Ric-like?

Ain't nothing cheap about those Gretsches except the price (and $500+ is not exactly cheap, either). Now I'm wondering what the goal is here--to create a Rick sound but on a budget?

Be sure you don't end up with the guitar version of this:

I've been sitting on this one for a while, but its been my experience that what makes a Ric sound like a Ric, more than any other single piece, is the bridge and bridge plate. Rics routed for humbuckers still sound like Rics. Ricks with a TOM bridge don't sound like Rics, at least to my ears. There is very little in common, really, between ALL of the pickups that ric has used over the years, but they all sound like rics. Even the DeArmond equipped combos. I mean an HB1 and a horseshoe are about as far apart as you can get. I've never been able to really save a bad sounding guitar with pickups, but I've saved many by swapping bridges, tailpieces, and tuners. Some pickups are lousy, but usually this is really obvious (think squeely, "I-can-talk-through-my-guitar-amp" microphonic pickups). Ever notice how a rickenbacker sounds different than most other guitars, even when its unplugged?

customxke wrote:I've been sitting on this one for a while, but its been my experience that what makes a Ric sound like a Ric, more than any other single piece, is the bridge and bridge plate.

Interesting theory - but how does that explain the 650? It undoubtedly sounds like a Ric, but has a completely different bridge...

I don't think these really sound like Rics, but thats just me. I think they sound good, but don't have that "bbbrrraaaannnngggg" that I associate with Rickenbacker guitars. I also don't think 380/Lagunas sound very Ric-ish, but are also fine sounding guitars. Now 650/380L owners...please don't hate...this is just one man's opinion based on his own observations. I really do love you all.

The bridge/bridge plate idea is interesting... something to think about. Lennon's Ric had Bigsby bridge, I think... but, still, I think there is something to the bridge idea. I'm sure that the true Ric sound is the sum of its parts. But I have this great pickup and I want to put it to good use!

Personally, I've always thought that the non-laminate maple body and the distance of the strings from the body had the greatest impact on tone. But I could be wrong...

I think what make a Ric hollowbody sound like a Ric is the actual body construction-----thin top/backside. Hollowed out from the back instead of bent sides like a Gibson etc.


Course that doesn't explain the solid models, but it's certainly a combination of things (including the bridge, I also think).