Rickenbacker

[just strum]

I was just curious about folks here that own one or more. I never really see any posts about them.

People don't like them, too expensive, what's up?

[Rocket]

I've got a '66 375 & '68 360-12 as part of my stash, along with my '60 Kay Silvertone, '58 Gretsch 6120, and '54 Zephyr Regent, (among others.)
I've never really used the Rics. They're permanently retired and stored with our other collectibles.
I don't have feelings about them other than being a decent investment. They're not for sale so don't bother asking.

[just strum]

I've got a '66 375 & '68 360-12 as part of my stash, along with my '60 Kay Silvertone, '58 Gretsch 6120, and '54 Zephyr Regent, (among others.)
I've never really used the Rics. They're permanently retired and stored with our other collectibles.
I don't have feelings about them other than being a decent investment. They're not for sale so don't bother asking.

Before retiring, did you use the Ric's often? I have a friend that has one, but he seldom plays it, usually opting for his ES335 (I can't argue playing the 335), but other than retaining value, I never hear anyone get worked up over them (limited ownership would certainly play a role in that).

58 Gretsch 6120 - -hmmmmm!!!

[Rocket]

Before retiring, did you use the Ric's often?

Nope... they're just an investment.

Rockette has two also... a 360-12 and a Ric bass she inherited when her brother died. (He was also a gigging musician.)
I don't know her feelings toward them and I'm not gonna ask today.

[Suhnton]

I almost bought a Rickenbacker 330 about 15 years ago. I'm still kicking myself now for not doing so. Everything about it was great: low action, thin neck, great sound (I borrowed it on "test loan" for a week and played it thru a cranked Hiwatt), and it looked fantastic. If I ran across some cash to buy one now, I would.

[just strum]

I almost bought a Rickenbacker 330 about 15 years ago. I'm still kicking myself now for not doing so. Everything about it was great: low action, thin neck, great sound (I borrowed it on "test loan" for a week and played it thru a cranked Hiwatt), and it looked fantastic. If I ran across some cash to buy one now, I would.

You caught (edited) my joke before I had an opportunity to post (330 years ago - man that would be a collectible).

My friends is a 12 string that he runs through a Hiwatt (100 watt) and it certainly sounds nice, but all I hear are the Byrds. I'm partial to his 335, so I don't pay much attention to his 335.

You don't see them much on stage or at least I don't notice them. A guitar with such a reputation and value, you would think you would see more of them.

[Rocket]

You don't see them much on stage or at least I don't notice them. A guitar with such a reputation and value, you would think you would see more of them.

I think they stopped feeling the need to play keep-up with Gibson, Fender, & Gretsch to bribe pros with free gear. That game can get expensive.

[pes_laul]

I've played two to date: My bass player in my band plays one and it's possibly the nicest bass I've played. then In another band the bass player had like a bidget model which aint nothing great but still good

[duhvoodooman***]

You don't see them much on stage or at least I don't notice them. A guitar with such a reputation and value, you would think you would see more of them.

Catch a Petty & the Heartbreakers concert and you'll see plenty of Rics, played through Vox stacks. Sure sounded good to me, but those guys are certainly not your average band....

To wit:

[just strum]

They are on VH1 classic as I type and Ric's in abundance.

[marnold***]

I've always thought they were kind of ugly (I know, stupid reason for not liking a guitar). Having said that, somebody playing a Byrds riffs on a Rick 12-string through a Vox does sound awfully nice.

[wingsdad]

I think I've posted often about my cherished '82 360-12BWB, which I ordered thru a mom n' pop dealer in suburban NY back then in a non-standard finish, Autumnglo. It came thru with a 'birthmark'...a maple birdseye on it's upper bout. The ingenius headstock design makes re-stringing a challenge, but worth the aggravation; the neck is incredibly narrow and thin for a 12-string, since it's actually a 6-string neck. It's great for smalll-handed, thin-fingered players, but for average or larger hands, forming chords in the first position often requires coming up with new shapes. But the 360-12 shines best not as a chord machine, but as a melody siren. Mine's also wired to play mono or stereo, with 'Rick-O-Sound' sending the neck & bridge low-gain single coil toaster pickups to their own ouputs. The smaller 5th knob is a 'blender', operating differently in mono and stereo::


It was a major tool for me in my working days, one of just 3 guitars I hung onto after retiring from the deadly grind, and to this day, it gives me chills with its tonal pallette. Neck-thru-body design was intended for strength and stability, but has a ton to do it's ringing resonance with the hollow chambers on either side.

Strummy, if all you hear is Byrds...the string setup -- root string preceding the high octave in the 4 lower courses -- yields the characteristic 'jangle' unlike 'conventionally strung 12's before them and was introduced to the world by George Harrison, since owner Frank Hall of Rick launched the new model into the limelight by presenting him with one soon after they landed in NYC for their 1st US tour & Ed Sullivan. George was so infatuated with it that it was practically his main guitar for 'Hard Day's Night' and that sound was infused into so much of the Beatles' material in '63 & '64. It was that sound that grabbed folkster Roger McGuinn's attention and inspired 'the Byrds sound'. Of course, John Lennon's rhythm work with his 'shortarm' (short scale) Rick 325 was instrumental to the early Beatles sound. Pete Townsend used Rick 330's a lot in early Who stuff.

'Vood's already pointed to TP & Mike Campbell making major use of Rick 12's. Years ago, Rick issued limited edition Petty, Wilson, Towsend, McQuinn and John Kay (Steppenwolf) models:
Tom Petty 660/12TP
Carl Wilson 360CW & 360/12CW
Pete Townsend Limited Edition
McGuinn 370-12
John Kay 381JK

New Ricks today are relatively not more expensive than $3,000-5,000 Gibson LP's or 335's, so I think their scarcity is more a matter of limited production. Other than certain models designated for limited annual runs, they're practically made to fill dealer orders. Sort of like Heritage guitars, another brand of superior quality you just don't see many of.

And you don't see many Rick model clones like you do Strats, LP's and 335's because unlike Fender or Gibson, the company assiduously protected (protects) it's body style designs.

[just strum]

Wings, besides John's infamous Ric, I didn't realize that Ric's were more prevalent in their music. I read the history on the Ric site and was surprised to see that it was used more often and I wasn't aware of it.

I didn't realize you still had one although I recall it mentioned before. As for 12 strings, you know my feeling there. I like the sound, but I don't want to change the strings.

[ibanezjunkie]

everyone from the beatles, to the Clash all the way up to motorhead have used Rickenbacker basses.

i personally love them, how they look and play.

if i hav £3,000 is buy one over any gibson les paul custom.

[wingsdad]

Strummy, I just went back & edited my post... to mention and add links to a number of significant Rick-player models from the Ric site you've checked out. Note the list prices these articles state and the dates of the articles. Mine was 'pricey' in '82, costing me about $735 at 35% off list...my '81 'hot-rod' STRAT was $635 from the same dealer...when new standard Strats were around $350 and a new Gibson LP Custom was around $450 street.

So, I also bumped today's price range to $3K-$5K...Ricks cost a bit more than their American competitors back when I got mine, and they do now. They're not 'cheap'.

I know you're squeamish about restringing a 12...and typical acoustic or electric 12's take more hand & finger strength to play than their 6-string counterparts, but....you might acquire a taste someday.

[ibanezjunkie]

rickenbacker guys, answer me this

WTH is 'Rick-o-sound' ?

[Rocket]

See Subject: 5.2 What is Rick-O-Sound and how do I use it?:
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/music/guitars/rickenbacker/

<snip>
Subject: 5.2 What is Rick-O-Sound and how do I use it?

Some Rickenbacker models include a 1/4" stereo output jack
which separates the signals coming from each of the pickups.

In the case of three-pickup guitars, the stock wiring circuit
combines the neck and middle pickups onto one channel, and
the bridge pickup is on the other channel.

There are three ways to use it:
1. The official Rick-O-Sound adapter
2. A stereo Y-splitter available from Radio Shack
3. Use a stereo guitar cord (you may have to build one yourself)

This allows you to use different amplifiers, effects, and/or
equalization on each channel resulting in some very interesting
possibilities to create new sounds with your instrument.

[email omitted]
<end>

[Suhnton]

You caught (edited) my joke before I had an opportunity to post (330 years ago - man that would be a collectible).

My friends is a 12 string that he runs through a Hiwatt (100 watt) and it certainly sounds nice, but all I hear are the Byrds. I'm partial to his 335, so I don't pay much attention to his 335.

You don't see them much on stage or at least I don't notice them. A guitar with such a reputation and value, you would think you would see more of them.

Here's a "Rickenbacker" band that you certainly won't mistake for The Byrds.

Fugazi

[just strum]

Here's a "Rickenbacker" band that you certainly won't mistake for The Byrds.

I think I detected a sampling of Turn Turn Turn