Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hello All

I am now the proud owner of a 620/6 Midnight Blue, what a guitar Started to learn how to play in January after 20 years of thinking about it, and I now have the 2 guitars I always wanted, the Other being a Gibson Les Paul.
So I was thinking about treating myself to a new amp but have no idea what to partner a 620 with. I currently own a Vox Night Train 15 and cab which I really like, so any ideas guy's.

Thanks

Congratulations. I would take a Vox AC15 for a test drive.

I own a Vox AC15 with an Alnico Blue speaker, and it sounds sublime with my Ric 12-strings and also my Strat and PRS. It's versatile enough for blues, jazz, R@B, folk-rock, what have you. Even with the stock Greenback speaker, you can't go wrong with a Ric and a Vox.

I don't think there a very many amps that won't sound good with a 620. All depends upon your taste. Voxes, tweeds, blackfaces, Orange, even my 5150. The H&K Puretone sounds really good, especially with a little clean boost. The only thing I've found that doesn't seem to like high gains is my H&K Tubemeister. It's very tight and 'punchy' and it just gets too 'punchy' with the high gains.

They're very versatile guitars. Maybe just a phase, but my 660 and 620 are pretty much my favorites right now (edging out several 300s and a 350v63 in my basement).

Congrats on the purchase. You can run it with about anything.

Wait a minute. You just started to learn how to play...and you already have two guitars...and they are a Rickenbacker 620 and a Gibson Les Paul?!?

Friend, it's all downhill from there. Most people climb the mountain. You started at the summit.

Congrats, John, and welcome to the Forum!

Although they are not being produced now, you could try a used Kustom '36 Coupe:
I think that they are great for all guitars (all tube, 6L6 power, Accutronics reverb, dual switchable channels ...).

Fender tube amps like the Twin Reverb are also great with Ricknebackers as well as with other guitars.

doctorwho wrote:...with Ricknebackers...

I didn't know these really existed!

That's a great way to start a 620 Rickenbacker and a Les Paul.
The Vox AC15 or 30 can't go wrong with those Amps perfect
match for either guitar. Now let the fun begin

Tommy wrote:Wait a minute. You just started to learn how to play...and you already have two guitars...and they are a Rickenbacker 620 and a Gibson Les Paul?!?

Friend, it's all downhill from there. Most people climb the mountain. You started at the summit.

I know what you mean Tommy, I started to learn on a battered old Yamaha I got for 20 quid the plan being after a couple of years get the Ric and the Les Paul. I seam to have started a mid-life crisis and got my guitars a bit earlier than planned

barnsleyjohn wrote:

Tommy wrote:Wait a minute. You just started to learn how to play...and you already have two guitars...and they are a Rickenbacker 620 and a Gibson Les Paul?!?

Friend, it's all downhill from there. Most people climb the mountain. You started at the summit.

I know what you mean Tommy, I started to learn on a battered old Yamaha I got for 20 quid the plan being after a couple of years get the Ric and the Les Paul. I seam to have started a mid-life crisis and got my guitars a bit earlier than planned

IMHO after a certain mileage of years a man should stop wasting time with interim solutions.

- So a Rickenbacker and a Les Paul are a good place to stay.

The VOXes are normally more "rough" (what I prefer for "british sounds"). I play through an AC30VR and an AC4C1 with an external cab. A pure joy.
I am only thinking about a Fender tweed amp for these fine and warm ringing clean sounds. Maybe these tweed amps are worth a try for You, too.

BTW if I have had a better axe in my early days I would play better today. Why? A good guitar brings more pleasure and I practise more with good instruments.

Jangle on!

Hotzenplotz wrote:IMHO after a certain mileage of years a man should stop wasting time with interim solutions.

Very true.

Had barnsleyjohn been a teenager starting off with a Rickenbacker and a Les Paul...that would be cause for World War III. But, if as you say barnsleyjohn has "mileage" on him, then you are correct: why waste time with First Act guitars?

And, yes, you are correct. A top guitar to start out on, definitely makes one a better player. I was given a Fender Stratocaster as my very first guitar. Incredible top of the line instrument. I never even held a guitar before and was given a Stratocaster. Because that guitar was so special (and it was a gift) I made darn sure that I was going to learn how to play it and play it well.

I'm not by any means trying to discourage you from getting an AC15, but if cost is a concern after your recent guitar-buying binge you may want to also consider the Vox modelling amps -- they do remarkably good impersonations of a bunch of cool amps at a small fraction of the cost of the real thing. Purists may scoff, but digital modelling really has come a long way.

Thanks All

My brother has recentley bought a Vox AC30, so I can try that out the next time I visit. In terms of budget, a AC30 is at the top end but as I have my Vox Night Train I can take a bit of time to make a choice, looks like I have a few choices.
In terms of my guitars I bought my Les Paul in March and have not been able to put it down, looks like I now have the same addiction with the Ric, so certainly getting plenty of practice in!! although I think my Guitar Teacher thinks I have lost the plot

Some (admittedly not all) guitar teachers should observe that real progress on an instrument comes with a passion for it - there's no better way to be passionate about music than to love the guitar you play!

Ash

Congrats on your Rickenbacker acquisition, John ! !
I agree with your comment that since you have a Vox Night Train, you can take your time shopping around for amps.