Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Does anybody know the manufacturer of Rickenbacker brand strings? I already have broken a string on my 12-string (the G treble string). I replaced it with a D'Addario 10-gauge string (.25mm I think). Also, I would think that a 9-gauge string would be better in this position--G is 3 half-steps up from the E strings, which also are recommended for this position. Any thoughts??

The RIC set uses a 10 gauge string in this position. RIC doesn't state which manufacturer makes their strings, only that they're made by a well known manufacturer. D'Addarios are a good choice for replacements.

beatlefreak wrote:The RIC set uses a 10 gauge string in this position. RIC doesn't state which manufacturer makes their strings, only that they're made by a well known manufacturer. D'Addarios are a good choice for replacements.

+1

scotty wrote:

beatlefreak wrote:The RIC set uses a 10 gauge string in this position. RIC doesn't state which manufacturer makes their strings, only that they're made by a well known manufacturer. D'Addarios are a good choice for replacements.

+1

+ another 1

Rickygirl wrote:

scotty wrote:

beatlefreak wrote:The RIC set uses a 10 gauge string in this position. RIC doesn't state which manufacturer makes their strings, only that they're made by a well known manufacturer. D'Addarios are a good choice for replacements.

+1

+ another 1

yep, and the price is right as well

Mumpower wrote:Does anybody know the manufacturer of Rickenbacker brand strings? I already have broken a string on my 12-string (the G treble string). I replaced it with a D'Addario 10-gauge string (.25mm I think). Also, I would think that a 9-gauge string would be better in this position--G is 3 half-steps up from the E strings, which also are recommended for this position. Any thoughts??

if that is your ric in your avatar it looks like you could have a fake

Jerry: Plain steel is plain steel to my ear, and I suspect that most manufacturers get there stock from a short list of suppliers. With regard to the gauge, the 10s ring better than 9s on my 12 string and so I would stick with the 10 gauge.

Another vote to D'Addario's.

I've started to really like the Curt Mangan strings from POTR on my 360/12. Pure Nickel, or nickel wound, doesn't make much difference to my ear. The price is right.
JimK

In regards to the avatar: 'yes' it's a fake. A rather ugly fake. I'm using it since I have no pictures of my 360 yet and I couldn't use somebody else's Rick; it would be like living a lie. I like the irony of the Uglybacker.

The rickenbacker strings are compressed roundwound which in reality is somewhat similar to flatwounded strings I find. Of course this is not important with the 10s and 13s but the rest I would think can't be replaced with many other brands.
Actually I was going to start a new thread about this but I find it's within this threads limits so here I go.
Are there other brands who uses this compressed roundwound technique, I find that they jangle in a very different way than normally roundwounded and they are much more precise when it comes to tuning.

BTW I also find that a 10 is the best gauge of third string. Actually it goes for the all the double strings (again not the high ones), they are kind of heavy which must have impact on intonation in the good sense. I think a lot of thought have been put into the gauges on the Rickenbacker strings and the choice really is if yóu want the strings to last long or be in tune (ish, twelvestrings will never be perfect but that's also part of the sound) for not quite as long since they will break.

If you don't see what I mean then compare the D'addario gauges to the Rics. The first are 10, 10, 13, 13, 17, 08, 26, 12, 36, 18, 46, 26 while Rics are 10, 10, 13, 13, 20, 10, 26, 13, 34, 20, 42, 26.

So you see already from the 3rd string and down the strings in the Ric set is much closer in gauge based around a medium top and light bottom set (10-42). This is not a coincidence, I'm quite sure it's because the closer the gauge the better intonation. I do find that the Rics could be a little heavier on the 6th string as that one seems lighter than the rest but it does intonate quite well so I suppose they have given that some thought as well.
My guess is that the other string brands don't make guitars so they aren't as close to the 12 string intonation and frettings issues as Rickenbacker is and therefore put their sets more logically together gaugewise like what you mention using a 09 or even 08 for the 3rd string double etc. The problem is imho it's just doesn't work as well intonationwise, and the high tension of the octaves gives a lot more definition.

But are there Ric alternatives out there, I don't know

I misread that you broke a string on a 12-string! For a 12-string, I use mostly Thomastik-Infeld flatwounds, but I have an unopened pack of Curt Mangan's that I'm willing to give a go soon. Heard CM's are the best for rounds, while I believe TI's are the best flatwound.

D'Addarios does the job fine for me too.

Love the Curt Mangan strings from Pick Of The Ricks. They perform comparably to the Rick strings and cost about half as much.