Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Someone quite special, albeit fairly new in my life, put a question before me today:
'How can I tell when I'm hearing a Rickenbacker guitar?'
She's heard me wax poetically about mine a bit and understands there is clearly some mystique, some mojo that Rics have.
She's not a guitarist, as it were.
Can you put into words a description of the Ric sound? It's more than Roger McGuinn and George Harrison (no disrespect there, I bow low to those icons).
I'm formulating ideas. Clean, clear, chime, broad midrange sweep, sparkle...

Any input will be appreciated.

Cheers, Noel
*I've logged an hour on my 1997SPC/VB already today.

a clear pretty sounding guitar, or a shimmering sound. Or on the other hand a raw raunchy sound like Steppenwolf had. Always clear and can be heard in the mix even when distorted.

Unmistakable jangle that can't be duplicated on any other guitar.... Tonal qualities that can only be described as "angelic." Overdriven they can be a little harder to spot in a recording, but they do always cut through the mix well.... They do have a certain clarity.... Let her listen to you play, and she'll "get it" in no time! Even the acoustics have a tonal quality that is undeniably "Ricky"..... BTW, Noel, has your Comstock come in yet?

Bob.....

"Shimmering".....whoa!! That hits the nail on the head!! Good call!

Thanks for all the answers. It seems that ears are the real answer, while those of us who already know can understand the terms angelic, shimmering, chiming, etc. as they apply to our guitars.

And as Melissa points out, once you get it...

Cheers, Noel

*Melissa, no Comstock for me; I was counselled by my dealer (who was counselled by RIC) to cancel my order due to circumstances. Hopefully the opportunity will arise again. And soon.

With all respect, but I don't think McGuinn's sound is really representative for pure Rickenbacker.
That is: without any effects of course

clear and bright would do I think, maybe adding 'natural', as to me, Rics don't sound as 'electric' as a Fender for instance.
I always thought about it as the standard tone for an electric guitar, since the amplified sound isn't that much different from the acoustic (to my ears that is)
I read somewhere they called their pickups 'true tone' and that's the best way to describe it (for me)
Maybe Hi-fi would do too.(not considering any hum)

Noel, I am sorry to hear that about the Comstock.... it has got to be one of the sweetest sounding acoustics in the world. If you ever get the chance to buy one outright, do it. I hope RIC resumes their production of them soon. It would be a crying shame if they dropped the line....

I have a Comstock 12 on order. Is there a problem? I knew that I'd be waiting a very long time, but I'm concerned that others have been told to cancel their orders completely.

As for describing the sound of a Ric, that's a really tough job. I think everyone has pretty much nailed the description of the twelve string sound, but as for six string Rics, these words spring immediately to mind: crisp, punchy, precise ...

Acoustics are most certainly not being dropped but one of the growing parts of our production although I had hoped we'd be producing more units by now.

I don't think we've "counselled" any customer to not buy something but rather honestly pointed out the long lead time so that there are not any undue expectations.

Chris, I didn't make up "shimmering" I stole it somewhere, I don't remember where I read it actually but it is perfect for the sound.

When you buy the 'Concert for George' DVD expecting to hear a Rick and Gretsch being played, because George Harrison was a noted player of both, that is NOT what a Rickenbacker sounds like. If you need a negative frame of reference that is, because none were played. Now go listen to the old Beatles albums and hear the difference. That's a Rickenbacker. Or Gretsch.

I tend to think of my 330's sound in terms of a flavor.. . . it's the best way for me so far. This might seem like a weird comparison, but my 330 sounds like a Jolly Rancher tastes but in a really good way. Sweet and clear, but with a lot of aural "tanginess" and bite that makes it addicting. I am generally a bottom feeder when it comes to tone - I love bass in everything. The rick is more trebly, but the only trebly type of guitar that I really really like.

On recordings. . . yeah, we all know the sound. Describing it is the tough part.

For me, the Rickenbacker sound is characterized by a scintillating treble tonality that chimes with a bell-tone clarity. The development of the toaster or chrome-bar pickup has been one of several under-rated accomplishments by F. C. Hall that has historically set Rickenbacker apart from all the rest.

for me the Rickenbacker tone is the Ric bass ... with both of the pickups closer to the neck than most basses you don't have to roll off as much treble as you do with a jazz bass ... but you still get the bass response ... the high gain bridge pickup is nasty, growly, aggressive, and a little distorted, and with a toaster in the neck this adds smoothness and clarity ... this adds up to an awesome sound