| Author | Message | ||
     Noel Christian Riddell (Longhouse) Senior Member Username: Longhouse Post Number: 259 Registered: 04-2003 Posted From: 68.217.134.174 |
On a 21 fret Ric, isn't the neck pickup situated right where the 24th fret harmonic would exist? Thus making for an extra bit of chime and note bloom when played there... Noel | ||
| Steve Carsello (Steverok) Intermediate Member Username: Steverok Post Number: 65 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 136.182.2.221 |
Wow, I have a 24-fret with hi-gains and another with toasters, they have so much chime, I couldn't imagine much more. What I don't understand is how some people think that toasters work better with 21-fret necks. Then wouldn't hi-gains be better with 21-fret necks also ? Of course, "better" is relative and subjective, I am just trying to understand from people with more experience. | ||
| Peter McCormack (Admin) Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 3512 Registered: 04-2003 Posted From: 142.166.105.220 |
Steve: This is such a subjective experience that it is hard to know how different the sound might be between these two configurations. As no two guitars are identical, regardless of the model number, a proper AB is not possible. To my way of thinking, however, if you want to reproduce the sound of a certain era, then you need to have the same conditions in effect today as they did in yesterday. Is this possible, Not really but I consider you can get closer to the 60s sound with a 21 fret model and toasters than you can with a 24 fret and high gains for example. | ||
| Anthony Carey (Tony_carey) Senior Member Username: Tony_carey Post Number: 584 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 81.157.62.5 |
Steve, the reason that toasters sound better in 21 fret necks IMO, is because toasters have slightly less bass response than the more powerful hi-gains. The positioning of the neck p/up being further down the body on a 21 fret neck helps to add a little more bottom end when using both p/ups together & balances the tone very nicely. I have had 21 & 24 fret gtrs with toasters & the 21 fret has a lot more 'warmth' to it, but still retains the jangle. I had a 1997 with hi-gains, but the hi-gain/21 fret neck was a little TOO warm (muddy) for my tastes! | ||
| Steve Carsello (Steverok) Intermediate Member Username: Steverok Post Number: 66 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 136.182.2.221 |
Thanks for that feedback. Not that this is a very rigorous A/B comparison, but I have a 330 with hi-gains, and a 360/12 with toasters. While both offer that distinct Rickenbacker chime we love, the tonal ranges are quite different, I would describe the toasters on a 24-fret as more crisp, with less bass, while the 330 with hi-gains seems a little smoother and creamier, fuller perhaps. It may be, however, that the toasters offer a more uniquely disctinct Rickenbacker sound. Who knows, I do believe that the toasters seem like a good match for a 12-string. | ||
| Steve Carsello (Steverok) Intermediate Member Username: Steverok Post Number: 67 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 136.182.2.221 |
Anthony, these are great points, again, I'll probably never know. Makes me wonder, however, why they don't put toasters on a 620 as the default configuration. If it's as you describe, the sound of a 620 with hi-gains might be muddy compared to a 330 or 360 with hi-gains. | ||
| Anthony Carey (Tony_carey) Senior Member Username: Tony_carey Post Number: 586 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 81.157.62.5 |
Not the case Steve, as you are comparing a solid body with a hollow & you would expect the solid body to be a little 'harder' in sound! | ||
| Steve Carsello (Steverok) Intermediate Member Username: Steverok Post Number: 68 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 136.182.2.221 |
Gotcha, I personally love the sound of my 360/12VP, I might agree that the tonal range is not as great as with the hi-gains, but for the sound it makes, it is great. I have never played a Ric solid body, I'd personally be very curious as to how a 360/12VP sounds, compared to a 660/12. That is comparing a semi-hollow 24-fret to a solid-body 21-fret, both with toasters. Kind of hard to write about sound, huh? | ||
| Kent Fletcher (Brammy) Senior Member Username: Brammy Post Number: 135 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 24.25.246.85 |
did Ric ever make a 21-fret 6-string 360? | ||
| John Williams (Jwilli) Senior Member Username: Jwilli Post Number: 947 Registered: 04-2002 Posted From: 24.168.222.248 |
Sure, up to about 1970. |
