Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I got a set of "Rickenbacker Compressed Round Wound Medium, 10-13-17-26-34-42" strings with my new-to-me 360/6. Since it came with flatwounds installed and those don't work well for the string bending I do, I put on the Ric strings. The action is super stiff, comparable to .011's on a Strat. That doesn't make much sense to me, since a Ric has a shorter scale length, so theoretically it should be easier to bend strings on.

So what's up with this? Are the Ric strings just higher tension than normal strings, or is a stiff action part of owning a Rickenbacker?

I don't understand this Sean, because I have gone over to Ric compressed roundwound strings 10-42 on all my gtrs & have no trouble at all. I bend every second note when I solo (330/360). Compressed round wound do have a higher tension, which is why they come with 42 bottoms instead of the more usual 46. I used to use 10-46 round wounds but didn't notice any difference in 'bendability' when I moved over.....some of my bends are wild too!

You know, I've been thinking it over, and I think it may have to do with the slim neck. I have fairly large hands, and I think the fatter necks I'm used to give me more leverage to bend with. I'm sure I'll get used to it, it'll just take time.

Sean,

When I installed the Vib-Rola tailpiece on my 381V69 last Thursday, I only had a set of D'Addarios in the proper gauge to restring it (until my special-ordered Ricks come in, that is...) So I strung it with the $4.00 strings.

Tone on my bridge pickup is much warmer.

I can bend to high heaven, whereas the Rick strings felt "tighter" somehow.

I'm going to play the Ds a bit longer and then try the Ricks again and see how accurate my observations are.

So you're not alone!

I have obviously been playing Rics for too long, because I honestly didn't notice any difference. It could be as you say Sean, a question of time. I really like the sound of the compressed round wounds, much more than any string that I have ever tried. It really adds to that definitive Ric sound IMO.

BTW Paul, your vibrola equipped 381 is looking so superb....great work.

Thanks, Tony. Mods is mods--when you mess with the "Formula", people either like it or hate it.

Well, there's a third option--"Why bother?" Lots of people think that about mods, too.

Paul, I know that we all have our opinions on 'mods'. But I think that your mods have been very much in keeping with the 'spirit' of Rickenbacker & is something that a Ric custom shop may offer. I like it very much, as apparently, do most others.
BTW, you have mail.....

Gotcha, Tony. And Thanks for the kind words!