Do you play differently on your Rickenbacker?

[deadllama]

Hey everybody. I got my first Ric, a 620, about a month ago. I love it, but in adjusting to playing it I've noticed that it makes me do some things differently, especially with my fretting hand. It's a lot less forgiving than my SG Classic or my Strat. I think it's just because the SG and Strat have taller frets (the Strat has jumbos, which I'm not crazy about) and I'm just not used to the smaller, "vintage" frets on the 620. The neck profile is unlike anything I've ever played, too--very comfortable, almost U-shaped to my hands.

Whatever it is, I love this guitar, but I'm definitely noticing that I can't play it exactly the same way I play my other guitars, technique-wise. I knew Rics were different, but I think it's been the last month of playing one regularly that's really driven that home. Am I the only one? How do you play your Ric differently?

[eljayski]

In a word, no. When I purchased my first ric, I anticipated some differences because of the ric's narrow neck. Doesn't seem to be the case, however. Maybe I'm not good enough for such things to impact my technique.

Rock on, eljayski

[deadllama]

In a word, no. When I purchased my first ric, I anticipated some differences because of the ric's narrow neck. Doesn't seem to be the case, however. Maybe I'm not good enough for such things to impact my technique.

Sometimes I think the opposite is true: those with a good technique don't have much trouble going from guitar from guitar. I'm self-taught and I know my technique is (technically speaking) terrible, and I think maybe the fact that I've been winging it since I was ten accounts for that...

[jdawe]

I have a 620 and a MIK Fender Telecaster HH with jumbo frets. I don't think my technique varies that much between them, although the Tele hasn't been getting much playing time lately. The main difference is that I am more likely to do full-note string bends on the Tele, while on my 620 I tend to stick more to half-note bends. Lead stuff is in some ways easier to play on the Tele's wider neck and jumbo frets, but on the whole I prefer the feel of my 620's neck, small frets and lower action (probably because it's what I'm used to), and think it suits my playing style.

[Pumpkinhead]

Yes but my only Ric is a 12 string, so it's very much different to my other guitars, for obvious reasons!

What I didn't expect is that when I play another guitar, particularly one with jumbo frets, they feel so unfriendly and "spiky" compared to my new 660-12.

Also (and it's probably because it's a 12 string), I'm starting to pay a lot more attention to chord inversions/voicings and hearing the individual notes change within even simple diatonic changes. It's almost like learning to play again - I can happily sit bashing out variations on a G-C-D change whilst grinning like an idiot.

I'm now convinced that what are often cited as "problems" with the Ric design (e.g. low frets) are simply differences and that there may be something to be said for a guitar that, while not so easy to do the blues-rock "widdle-widdle" thing, might encourage me to explore new, more musical, ways of playing.

[jdogric12]

best... avatar... ever!

[collin]

best... avatar... ever!

+1


I play differently on every type of guitar---from Gibsons to Gretsch to Rics to Telecasters, each has a very different feel and sound, so I play them differently.

I will say that a proper 12-string Ric with low action will help you reinvent the way you approach chording. They can be a chord machine.

[Pumpkinhead]

best... avatar... ever!

Thanks. It's not that good - just killing time with an idea in photoshop. Full-size version:

[scotty]

love that avatar
do i play differently on a rick? No. Simplez.......
im a 300 series player the 600 series makes me look like fungus the bogeyman....

[woodyng]

Well,this has been all Guitar oriented,but i find i tend to play better on my RIC basses,mostly because they just feel great,and i suspect the neck profile has a lot to do with that. I don't find running up to the upper register a hindrance,like it can be with Fender-type necks.

[fabandgear]

Unlike my other guitars (Gretsches, Ovations, Gibson, etc.) the nails on my fretting hand have to be REALLY short to properly play a Rick. It may be the frets, I don't know. Other than the short nail thing, my Rickenbackers seem to play themselves. They seem to have the greatest overall action of any guitar.

[Halbert]

I think maybe it has changed the way I play other guitars-- but not in a bad way.

BTW - Brendan, I liked the old "You're a Good Man Albert Brown" Avatar, but the new one is cool too.

[Lefty4003S8]

Not really......I can play just as bad on my Rickenbacker as I do on any other bass!!


Lefty4003s8








Do not drink from the toilet when taking Lyrica

[paologregorio]

best... avatar... ever!

+1!

Jake must have fallen out of his chair when he saw this one!

On to the question: Nah, I prolly abuse every one of my guitars the same way. Now as to how the shape of different guitars affects one's on stage acrobatics, well, that's a different story. . .

[JakeK]

+4. I agree with Jdog, Collin and Paulie...best avatar ever!

I play differently on every guitar. The harder rocking stuff is given to the Strat (and it shows!), while easier rhythms are given to the Tele or the Ric 6'er. The 12-string gets pretty much anything that was played on a 12-string.