Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Has anyone tried one of these with a 6 string Ric?
I'm looking for a nice clean tone (something warmer and different to the Janglebox) for a few of our songs and I'm wondering how this pedal shapes up.
I use a modern Vox ac30 cc2 amp.

Cheers.
Rob.

I'm curious about this pedal as well. I've watched all the demos on Youtube, and still have the same questions. How is the clean sound? How does it sound plugged straight into the board? I would also like to know how it stacks up against the Tech 21 Character Series pedals.

Yes, and just got rid of it 2 days ago. I tried to get a good clean out of it, but it all had at least a hair of grit, no matter which guitar I used. I was really hoping to get a sweet Fender Deluxe sound with my 330FGVP, but it wasn't what I was hoping for. The reverb and trem sound good, but in the end, it sounds like a modeling pedal, not a Deluxe. This was my experience anyways.

My friend brought one to our jam to try. as the above poster said, the overdrive is not pleasing. I would suggest trying the Tech 21 Blonde or Liverpool.

Well, that's about what I figured.

whojamfan wrote:Yes, and just got rid of it 2 days ago. I tried to get a good clean out of it, but it all had at least a hair of grit, no matter which guitar I used. I was really hoping to get a sweet Fender Deluxe sound with my 330FGVP, but it wasn't what I was hoping for. The reverb and trem sound good, but in the end, it sounds like a modeling pedal, not a Deluxe. This was my experience anyways.

Thanks for that Mike.

If you ever find a sweet clean pedal then please drop me a line, I'll be all ears!

Thanks again.

Rob.

You don't like the clean sound of the amp Rob or? Please clarify, I might be able to help.

whojamfan wrote:You don't like the clean sound of the amp Rob or? Please clarify, I might be able to help.

I can get some lovely clean sounds out of my AC30, but when I'm gigging I have it set to a fairly neutral setting which sounds a bit dull and flat, but I then make it sound wonderful via a couple of pedals.
I really don't want to start messing about with the settings on the amp mid gig, hence the desire for a clean pedal.

Any advice greatly appreciated here!

Thanks Mike.

Have you ever experimented with EQ pedals? That might give you some clean tone options.

Clint wrote:Have you ever experimented with EQ pedals? That might give you some clean tone options.

Great idea, and definitely worth looking in to.
I used to have problems switching back and forth from my Les Paul to my 330 and 360/12,(both fitted with toasters), because of the output and tone structure. I first threw a set of Seymour Duncan Alnico Pro 2s in the Les Paul in addressing these issues, and this did help considerably, but still changes or sacrifices had to be made to both the pedals and the amp. It was always sounding better for one than the other if I didn't do this, and we know what a pain it is to have to fiddle knobs and swtitches when you just want to play.
Since Rickenbackers,(IMHO), can sound great clean even plugged direct in to an old boombox, I thought I would work on getting the clean sound for my Les Paul dialed in on the amp. Les Pauls can get "clunky" set clean if you're not careful, so dialing that sound in can be a chore. I would get a great clean sound finally, but the Ricks would have a nasally upper mid and muddy lower mid thing going on, and dialing that sound out would make the LP sound less than stellar.
So, I got an MXR 10 band EQ to see if it could help- true bypass, 10 bands, volume output and drive controls(not to mention a solid tank of a pedal), I figured it was worth a shot.WOW was it ever!
I can dial the LP in on the amp where it sounds great(to me), and turn on the pedal for the Ricks to tame the offending frequencies. With just a hint of bottom end boost and minimal top end adjustments, both the 330 and 360/12 sound like they have been optimized through a good mixing counsel, not run through a pedal. The pedal is dead quiet.
The added plus is that I don't have to change any of the settings on my pedals either, as the master volume on the eq allows me to match the output of the LP, therefore eliminating volume and tone changes I had previously had. The affect this has had on my fuzz/overdrive/distortion boxes is most noticeable, as the Ricks drive better(for me) now without having to futz around with them.
I would try this pedal with the output volume a little lower than when it's bypassed. This will clean up your sound a hair, and give you room to raise the levels of your favorite frequencies back up to what the volume is when bypassed. Basically, you will be lowering what you don't like, and enhancing what you do without adding any extra gain. This should help you get a more desirable clean sound without changing the tone or character of your guitar or amp.
Just be careful though, this pedal is really versatile and voiced right, you can sprnd hours running everything you own through it just to see how it sounds.
Hope this helps

Mike, that is marvellous!
I'm definitely going to give that a shot as its sounds exactly what I need.
I'll let you know how I get on.
Thanks ever so much for taking the time to do this, I owe you one!

BTW. At the other end of the spectrum, I've spent most of the day having fun with an Ibinez TubeScreamer I picked up cheaply.
My poor Vox AC30 doesn't know what hit it!

Cheers.

Rob.

I just acquired a Lovepedal Eternity and I must say - there are no bad sounds in it! Highly recommend with a slightly pushed tube amp.

At less than half the price of the Tubescreamer Rob, the Digitech Bad Monkey really outshines it through the AC30cc. It doesn't drop the bass out and gives you more tone shaping control all within that similar vein of overdrive. This of course, is just my opinion, but well worth trying. I'll see about unpacking mine(I'm moving) and asking her if she'd like to go on holiday to the UK

whojamfan wrote:At less than half the price of the Tubescreamer Rob, the Digitech Bad Monkey really outshines it through the AC30cc. It doesn't drop the bass out and gives you more tone shaping control all within that similar vein of overdrive. This of course, is just my opinion, but well worth trying. I'll see about unpacking mine(I'm moving) and asking her if she'd like to go on holiday to the UK

She'd love it over here, and she'd have her own room.
Let me know if she fancies making the trip.

Ok, lemme see if I can dig her up next time I'm home, happy to send her on a trip