Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Jim K.,

I recall from an earlier thread that you use Curt Mangan strings. I just picked up a set from Chris Clayton himself at the Ohio Summer Guitar Show in Columbus. I chose nickel wound strings because I've grown accustomed to the bright sound of D'Addario XL150's. So far, I haven't felt the need to swap the hi gains on my 330/12 with toaster tops, and I was under the impression that round wound strings brought out the treble in the hi gain pickups. Do you have hi gains on your 360/12? Have you tried flatwounds? If so, do the flatwounds dampen the trebly edge?

Robert

Hi Robert
Yes, I do have the factory standard hi-gains on my 360/12. This being the first electric I've ever owned, I don't have enough experience to know the difference between flat wound and round wound strings. I've just been using whatever the Curt Mangan strings are.

When I bought the guitar, I also bought an extra set or two or RIC strings. And honestly, I couldn't tell you the difference sonically between the two. I keep the CMs because they're a couple bucks cheaper. Yeah, I'm a tight-wadded old Dutchman.
JimK

I use D'Addario Lights on all my acoustic guitars — including my Taylor 12-string — and love them. But D'Addario Lights on a Ric 12-string are waaay too bright and noisy for me. I use the new, improved Pyramids I got from Don Butler (the Tone Man) and they're fantastic on my Ric 12s. The old criticism that Pyramids are too stiff to bend has been resolved by the company, on both the pure nickel hand wounds and the round core flat wounds. Of course, who does a lot of string bending on a Ric 12, anyway?

"Of course, who does a lot of string bending on a Ric 12, anyway?"

Nicely said, Steve. Of course, then there's "Captain Soul"...

Yikes!!!

Christian

janglebox wrote:Of course, who does a lot of string bending on a Ric 12, anyway?

A certain Mr. Easter does such things...

A little anecdote about string bending:

When we were exhibiting last week at Summer NAMM in Nashville, a bunch of session guitarists came by our booth to try out JangleBoxes. Almost to a person — guys and gals — they were dazzling musicians with an array of blazing fast licks (and stunning technique) that made my jaw drop. I pointed out to a few of them that the Tele they were playing was a B-Bender. Each of them then proceeded to play licks, runs and bends that I previously thought were possible only on a Bender. A couple even showed me some behind-the-nut bends that absolutely blew my mind. Not ONE of them wanted, or needed, to use the Bender device.

John Sebastian (who also came by our booth!) wrote about "thirteen hundred and fifty-two guitar pickers" in Nashville, each able to play "twice as better than I will." Sebastian waaay underestimated the number of incredible pickers down there . Seeing those players up close cutting loose was beyond awesome.

Steve,

Interesting what you said about strings. Does your guitar have hi-gains or toaster tops?

Robert

Folkie wrote:Steve,

Interesting what you said about strings. Does your guitar have hi-gains or toaster tops?

Robert

All of my Ric 12-strings have toasters. I brought my brother's 360-12 to Nashville and it has high gains and D'Addarios. For whatever reason, the D'Addarios don't sound quite so brittle with the hi gains, but they're still not my cup of tea for a Ric 12. Pyramids sound more full and warmer to my ears.

mcd220 wrote:"Of course, who does a lot of string bending on a Ric 12, anyway?"

Nicely said, Steve. Of course, then there's "Captain Soul"...

Yikes!!!

Christian

More important, "What's Happening"
A great Crosby tune.

fatcat wrote:

mcd220 wrote:"Of course, who does a lot of string bending on a Ric 12, anyway?"

Nicely said, Steve. Of course, then there's "Captain Soul"...

Yikes!!!

Christian

More important, "What's Happening"
A great Crosby tune.

And "Why", which has some great 12-string bends. But still... why do you think he invented that Martin 7-string?

Roger also purportedly taught Mike Bloomfield how to bend strings when they were both at the Old Town School of Folk Music back in the day.

Great comments guys.

"Why?" has always worked for me, one of my fave solos in fact, and the bending is a bit more economical here, and of course, not really in a blues veign, but rather a Raga one. On "What's Happenning?!?!", I've always thought that Roger's low notes "Mean more" on this tune.

When he goes up the neck on that song, it just has that "Trying to squeeze blood from a turnip" kind of thing happening to my ears. One could also say that the solo in "Everybody's Been Burned" (Which is a very fantastic & inventive piece of work) suffers from the lack of a 12 saddle bridge, when Rog hits the highest coupla' notes.

But, like one poster mentioned, there are ALWAYS exceptions, and check out Glen Campbell from the first Byrds Shivaree show!!
http://www.facebook.com/craviola990?v=a ... 5997986990

If you are unable to view it, please feel free to download it here:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/ejwxze

Best, Christian

"The Byrds Video Depot"
http://www.youtube.com/mcd220