Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Yesterday I discovered one of the best lead tones I've ever heard, and it was coming from my 330!

Here's what I did. 330, hi-gain neck pickup, a little fuzz from my Fulltone '69, into my practice amp a Tech21 Trademark 10 on the "US" Fendery setting. It just came alive! Full, rich, woody, articulate, sparkly, and agressive but not too processed. Just the way I like it.

Anyone else have a secret for getting a great lead tone out of their Rick?

Ethan, I agree. You can get a very nice lead sound from a Ric. When I play lead, I use the front PU and bring the blend knob the entire way back counter clock-wise. I use a little compression from a boss compressor, but I do set the output pretty high. For basic rock, boosting the signal helped the most. It then goes into a Boss blues driver set at moderate overdrive. For a guitar solo, I stomp on my EQ pedal set with the mids up a little and it cuts and sings just fine. By the way, thanks for asking this question. I was beginning to wonder if I was the only who used a Ric for a lead guitar.

I think toasters sound awesome with a little drive. I've always been told that Rics aren't good for leads and that's a bunch of ****. That's like saying you can't play blues or jazz on them. I have no problem ripping a lead on a Ric, And I have the ultimate 'scoffed-at' Rickenbacker for playing leads : A 325 with flats.

I think the secret to a good Ric lead tone is all in the neck pick-up. I put mine (which is attached to a 381) through a Menatone JFET compressor and either a Frantone Hepcat or a Fulltone Fulldrive 2. I bias the blend knob towards the neck pick-up, but not all the way. It then goes into an 18 watt Class A/B tube amp with a single Celestion greenback. Sounds great. Deep and mellow, but with plenty of spank and growl when called upon.

We all have our own little gear quirks, but I don't think you need a lot of clap-trap to do it effectively. Just a neck pick-up, an overdrive pedal of some sort, and a good, low wattage amp.

Any Ric at all through a 100w Marshall stack will compete with any other guitar when it comes to soloing, either live, or in the studio. I use a variety of Rics through a 1970's Marshall amp c/w 2 4x12 cabs. OK, I'm English & we like our Marshalls, but I promise you...it works!

I actually prefer my 660/12 to my 330 for "lead" tones. . . it's HUGE. I've never been a big bender so the 660 does not pose that many new limitations on me. With moderate OD, Single note runs on the lower four courses have that grinding, raunchy, yet shimmering quality. On the high E and B it's like the best chorus ever, but more organic and less processed.

John, a guitarist in my band used to use a 620/12 & he used to solo on it through a Rivera combo. It sounded superb dirty or clean. I am a big bender, so it would be no good to me, but I totally agree with you that 12s are good soloing machines.

Yeah! A 660/12 through a Fulltone Fulldrive! Distinctive sound!

Yeah! A 660/12 through a Fulltone Fulldrive! Distinctive sound!

I like my 360 just fine for lead. I have three Strats, a Mustang, and a Les Paul. So its not like my first guitar I've used for lead either.

Because of this I decided to do a couple of solos on my 450/12 at a gig last night. It was fabulous & I could even do some bends. I am not sure that it will ever replace my 360's, but it is certainly going to get more use in that department. I use 12's in the studio to play 'constructed' solos, but this was just 'whatever'.....great stuff!