And there is very limited versatility. Bridge or neck PU or both . Tone knob topped out or bottomed out . It doesn't matter . You sound like a Rickenbacker .
@@rossgill7462 I checked one out in 1969. Did not like it. But more to the point I could buy a Fender, and posibly a Gibson uor the same money if I shopped around.
Visited the Rickenbacker corporate offices in Southern California on a whim several years ago because I was in the neighborhood and it was like stepping back into time. It's in a nondescript industrial office park, complete with lots of concrete, warehouses, asphalt and palm trees. The only way you could tell it was Rickenbacker was by the logo graphic on the glass next to the front door. Everything looked like it was out of the early 70s. Shag carpet. A couple of couches. Dark wood paneling and framed Beatles newspaper articles on the walls. Smelled of smoke and wood and was honestly just what I thought it would be. There was a sweet older lady behind the front desk who acted a bit surprised and uncomfortable that I was there unannounced/uninvtied. I told her I didn't want anything. I wasn't selling anything. I just wanted to thank them for making such fantastic guitars. She relaxed a bit and called a guy from the back to talk to me. We chatted a little about guitars. Kansas City (where I'm from). The company. The Beatles. Tom Petty etc... It was a very brief, yet pleasant, conversation. After that I thanked them again. Shook his hand and left. For me it was like stepping into church. A holy place for the history of rock -n- roll. I loved it. Let me know if anyone wants to see some photos and I'll pass them along.
I’m sure it was an awesome experience,..they give a tour of their factory in a RU-vid vid (not hard to find) very cool, I recommend all Rick fans (like me) to check it out, good luck and God bless.
@@johnbatinovic6593nothing really confusing about it. People’s conjecture about it is what makes it confusing. It’s more or less just a 2nd volume control for the neck. When both pickups are being used, it’s useful to blend how much neck you want mixed in with the bridge pickup, as simply just turning down the neck volume knob can create tone loss(like most guitars). It’s also nice for panning sound on models that have Rick-o-sound as one pickup is going to one amp, and the other pickup is going to the other amp. The one thing I do not like about the 5th knob is that it’s wired backwards for whatever reason, where you add more neck by rotating counterclockwise, which I find to be counterintuitive, but whatever I guess.
I've had a 360 for over 30 years now and thought that I'd outgrown it somewhat, until I started to do some jazz accompaniments recently. I found that I was able to use that blend knob to create some very subtle mellow tones (and in stereo) and it's a breeze to play. They're actually the opposite of a one trick pony - they're very flexible guitars.
People have always told me the same about my 4001. That it's a 'rock' bass. I can actually get so many subtle tones and articulation out of it. Truly a well made instrument.
Worth mentioning, they have never outsourced their production during their entire existence. Made today, as ever, in California. And a new Rickenbacker is every bit as good as a vintage one.
They actually got better and better, although the current “hi gain” pickups aren’t as hot as the toasters in my 1990 360, which is apparently the best era. I got lucky on this one.
i honestly think they aren’t that “popular” because to most every day guitarists rickenbacker’s feel completely unattainable. very few stores sell them, they keep all their prices a secret, and when you do find out the price it’s quite rich for something that may not be versatile enough to be your one workhorse guitar. everyone would love to have one, very few people know where to start.
-ridiculous pricing considering the build quality -non existent marketing and availability -refusal to improve or innovate outdated designs I see nothing in these instruments outside of looks.
The 12-string sounds great, but it's fraught with problems, mainly the 6-string neck on a 12-string guitar. The Danelectro isn't as chimey but is a much better instrument and way cheaper.
If you subscribe to cliche's they are a one trick pony - rhythm, jangle, etc. - but I overdrive the hell out of them and they sound like an exotic, badass Les Paul.
Check out "Unknown Henson" playing a Jetglo Rickenbacker 620 solid body (with neck- through construction and hi-gain pickups) through Vox amps on you tube ("Voo Doo Child" (Sept. 1, 2000) and "Little Wing" (Nov. 23 2010)). The Little Wing Video is especially informative as it displays Henson's using the bridge pickup only, both pickups as well as (in the last solo of the song) the neck pickup only. He is also seen using the "mysterious 5th knob". This video exemplifies the incredible versatility /sonic capabilities of this instrument. Its has its own unique voice which I find distinctive and articulate.
I think any real musician will agree that the only real limits on what a guitar can play is the at of hands it's in. While different pickups will pick up frequencies in different ways, the same is true of different ways to fret and attack a string.
@@alflemon2783 😂 😂 brilliant. But hey guys! but really! I've never heard / seen a piece of wood with strings on it make a noise! An actual piece of wood! I didn't realise you could work it like that! Whodve thought it! A piece of WOOD with some METAL STRINGS on it, MAKING A NOISE!! My god, I can't believe it!!
Chris Buck is really good at this. I get the impression from watching his eyes during the narration that he's not reading from a prompter or cue cards but actually has retained the information from his research. If this is the case he is an extraordinary talent not only as a musician but as a historian and presenter.
Like a quality player, KNOWS his stuff rather than just narrating/playing written text/music. Maybe Rics have been pigeon holed by the unique sounds that many of their most notable players make famous. THAT hard days night chord, the jangle of the byrds and early REM, the Searchers and Gerry Marsden twang, The Jam's early frenetic stabbing chord sounds. Marr's beautiful arpeggiations (is that a word...)... I wax lyrical... as Chris demonstrated Rics are not limited to the above genres. Maybe the instantly recognisable visual style makes people think - "oh a Ric- jangle jangle twang kerchang" OK you won't get "a '59 burst tone" from one - but what guitar REALLY does? Build quality and finish on their Standard models exceed Gibson and Fender $ for $ IMO Having had experience of Les Paul standard (though not Bonkers custom jobs) SG standard (admitted a bit cheaper) and custom shop tele and strats. I wonder in terms of manufacturing hours to produce a finished instrument which see the most attention?
I have NEVER heard a Rickenbacker sound so incredible! Beefy, powerful and soulful - I always thought they were more "tinny" and "jangle-ey." Did not realize they were used by so many players. Opened my eyes and mind to the incredible depth and utility of a Rickenbacker - Thank You!
I owned a Rickenbacker and wished I still owned it. There was no tinny sound in it. It was not as loud as a Gibson, but the clarity and the tone were just perfect. Not like a Fender or a Gibson.
That little "fifth knob" on the Rickenbacker is a pan pot...in the middle switch position you can blend the neck and bridge pickup to get the perfect sound
I found it strange that he didn't spend the 3 to 5 minutes that it takes to look that up. Thanks for typing out the explanation for other viewer to see.
Always found it very handy on mine. As you say, in the middle switch position... I can add a little "meat" or "warmth" from the neck pickup, without adding so much that it overpowers the jangle and sparkle of the bridge pickup.
I had a Rose-Morris version of the 330 in 1972 and the explanation of that pan control was given to me by the seller. It was WELL-KNOWN at the time, though perhaps not in 1964 when George Harrison first got his.
That's what they said about Graham Coxon, give him any guitar and he'll sound like Graham Coxon. And Keith Richards, he's got a thousand guitars but he said, give him five minutes and he'll make 'em all sound the same.
Saw them live Oct 83 at Beverly Hills Theater, front row. Just amazing. We were soul-infused by Murmur, and Buck was air-bound most of the time. 7 or 8 months later, in NYC, in a much larger Beacon Theater, it was the Reckoning or other record that just came out - - and not so good. Stipe was in a chair, having busted his leg in a fall from the stage. Meh. I thought they only had one other really great album, Life's Rich Pageant, and many so so or weak albums. But always appreciated Buck using a Ric!
Expensive compared to Gibson? Compared to custom shop Fenders? Compared to Novos? Rickenbackers are made in relatively small factory compared to those..Labour intensive production. I think they are fairly priced. Excellent quality and great guitars!
@@riogrande163 Some Gibsons are much more versatile. So one guitar does more. Rick's tend to be more of a one trick pony. You can't play metal on one. It just doesn't sound right. I am surprised they never gained popularity in country music. I kind of think they would be good for that.
One of the best clean tones I've ever gotten was on a 325c58 with toaster pickups. They're breathtaking instruments, with impeccable quality, but they're an acquired taste. That's what's cool about them, in my opinion. Back in the 50s and 60s, every guitar maker had their own designs, including their own pickups, that were unique to their guitars. Since the 70s, everything has mostly been a Gibson or Fender derivative. Only a Rickenbacker is a Rickenbacker.
Same here. Townshend would have been my favorite player of all time if not for his proclivity for instrument destruction. Never have been able to get past that.
Townsend accomplished nothing by smashing his high-end instruments. How special that he kept his collection of kiddie porn in pristine condition…for research purposes only. I would take out a court order to keep him away from guitars that I built.
If I had closed my eyes when hearing that opening riff and asked to name the guitar being played... A Ric wouldn't have even been on the list, bravo on your ability to get unique tones from unusual sources
Came because of my love for Rickenbacker, but stayed because I adored both the opening and closing jams-so much so that I subscribed. Outstanding work all around. Thank you.
I watched a band in Baja, Mexico couple summers back, and after the gig asked the bass player about his Rick. He proudly told me he'd had it a good 30 years, and it wasn't going anywhere :)
I've always found Rickenbackers to be pretty guitars, graphically striking and the distinct logo stands out nicely on the headstock. I suppose they've found a niche or sweet spot in the market place and their business model as well. They're not cheap guitars but they have enough of a following that they sell well and at a price point that maintains profitability and allows for a quality product. They could source their production to places with lower labor costs to lower the price and increase volume but it could cannibalize the sales of their more expensive US made guitars. Plus there is the risk of setting up a foreign factory and maintaining standards and potentially tarnishing the brand's reputation. Growth shouldn't necessarily a goal unto itself. Simply maintaining a well run respected business with an iconic product is a worthy outcome.
I heard the Rickenbacker factory is at max production due to limits placed on them from the state of California. Apparently it has something to do with how much pollution they can create when painting. They could continue to make the wood but then outsource the final painting to an additional shop in another state, but they are content with the limit and a full order book. They just aren't interested. I wish they'd evolve into making a new line, like a Modern Plus. It would have all the styling and sound of the classic stuff, but come with a new version of the one thing Rickenbacker owners complain about the most - the neck.
Isn't this called sustainability? 70 years later despite the vagaries of fashion RICs are still here. The list of ambitious yet failed companies that would LOVE to be able to say that wouldn't fit on this hard drive.
@@robertthurman3743 I Think they could get around the paint issues with a newer paint booth. There are much cleaner booths on the market now, but they do run into six figures.
I'm a big fan of the Beatles, the Who, Tame Impala, and lot of Brit pop, so as you'd expect my Ricks are my go-to guitars - a 330/12, a C63 360/6, and a Lennon-ized 325C58. Only a Rickenbacker sounds like a Rickenbacker.
Funny thing is even if I know nothing about the subject I listen to every word because Chris makes it so bloody interesting... almost as good a presenter as he is a player
Rickys are just part of a rig when it comes to sound. Guitar, amp, effects. It can be jangly, but I can get my 1989 335 Gibson to sound bell like, much like a Ricky. Step on a box and a Ricky can sing with great harmonics. The neck? Yep some people hate 'em. Others love them. I'm in the middle. But I had a Paul that was like playing a baseball bat, and a LPDC that was like thee neck.
Who would have thought a Rick’ could sound like that ...? Chris is such a unique and immensely talented player ... you could give him a Dyson vacuum cleaner and he’d get a tune out of it.
Rickenbacker's two biggest "problems" limiting their popularity: 1) Their price is higher due to being made in the USA. 2) You can't walk into a guitar shop and hold one. You can't sit down and play one to see if you "just have to have it". You have to order one, pay for it, wait...wait...wait, and then receive one and only then can you finally touch one. Most people aren't going to order a US$3K-US$5K guitar without knowing what it feels like to hold and play. Pleasant video. Please either hold a massive weight in your right hand or have someone tie it/handcuff it to your chair leg off screen for future videos. Thanks.
I think that's the thing, they are middle upper end cost for an American guitar but are a bit more of a specialist tool in alot of peoples eyes. myself i have not had the chance to tinker with one so i cant say
What I like about Rickenbacker. 1. The name reminds me of some gothic Count from Upper Meclenburgh, Vlad The Impaler's brother in law. 2. Particularly with chrome bar pick ups I think they have a European Bauhus style. 3. They have crescent and cresting the wave bodies and all they've done a couple of times is vary their overall dimensions. 4. The model range is simple, for example: 330, dot markers, unbound; 360, triangle markers, bound. 5. The colour range is simple, available across the range. 6. The finish matches on each part of each instrument and across the range. 7. The guitars have matching pick ups. 8. The scratch plates basically follow the shape of the instrument. 9 The two tier scratch plate levels things up and cause the contols to appear that they are in a separate panel. 10. The controls match and are arranged in the same manner across the range. 11. If it says 4 that's a third pick up. 12. If it says 5 that's a tremelo arm. 13. The accent tremelo arm is a masterpiece of minimalism. 14. Lennon, Harrison, Marsden, Townsend, Fogerty, Weller, Smithereens, Lemmy, Hoffs, Alistair Parker...... 15. The twelve string is strung logically. Big things always come first and the little one's after. 16. They can be clearly identified on a stage a quarter of a mile away when drunk. 17. The 325 is a masterpiece of compact design. 18. The 325 has thick strings and doesn't seem to go out of tune no matter how much I abuse it. 19. They're easy to buy. Denmark Street is two hours away and I can have my pick of thirty on any given day. 20. They're cheap. Lots of guys save up and buy one then decide to sell. Because their less popular it's a buyers market. 21. The light show has to be the most inventive gimmick on any guitar, perhaps any product. 22. Necks aren't screwed on. 23. The twelve string head is ingenious. 24. They come quickly. The longest I've ever waited was 6 weeks. 25. Reputation for rhythm. If there's not a rhythm guitarist I don't think it's a proper group. 26 The slash shaped sound hole follows the shape of the body and looks more modern than old f holes.
@@Meddled If you think Chris is generic, then I’m not sure what you’re listening to. He’s one of the most exciting guitarists I’ve ever heard. I saw him first playing with Slash, who’s a big fan of his.
No matter which guitar Chris picks up they all sound unmistakably like... well... Chris himself. It is the signature trait of every great guitar player which Chris truly is. In his guitar tone I hear the same smoothness and breathiness that can be heard in his own voice. And his phrasing is as eloquent as his narratives. I've never heard anyone sound quite like Chris, both when he speaks and when he plays. Pure gold :-)
Rick always seems like the guitar you get if you have all your other bases covered. Every time I've considered one my mind says "yeah, but for that you could get a ...."
Your right, once I had around 6 guitars I then thought I’d like a Rick, but hadn’t really considered one till then. Ended up with two, the 360 12 is still my favourite.
Funny you say that. I found one (used and in perfect like new condition) that I fell in love with but only after I bought a Strat, a Tele, and a Gibson J45. The Ric is a remarkably versatile instrument. It’s rep as a “jangly” instrument is limiting. It can scream, but nicely. It can be mellow as a warm cup of tea, and then turn on a dime and give you the business when pushed.
I think it's important to note that a huge part of the signature sound of Creedence Clearwater Revival was John Fogerty's unique styling on a pair of Rickenbacker 325s (including their entire set at Woodstock).
I think Fogerty just had the one main 325 with Gibson pickup and Bigsby bar. It seems that he was the first to use single-single-humbucker. The other guitar of his you saw at Woodstock was a '69 Les Paul Custom.
I hope not , he already has fender , and yamaha. That's already a lot of work to do, along with social media, and victory . To busy , and the playing may suffer. Not worth the risk. Lol
As someone who first learned on an acoustic, one of the primary reasons my first electric guitar was a Rickenbacker 330 was that it felt more like an acoustic than the solid body guitars I was considering at the time. I could even rest my forearm in the same spot. That plus the great sounds I heard from Pete Townshend and Paul Weller.
I don't actually know if the company is thriving or "on borrowed time"...but...they have stayed true to their origins and commitment to quality over the decades...I seem to remember back in the 80's that California mandated a bunch of regs re: emissions for manufacturers...and the nitro finishes that Ricki uses were under the gun...they were faced with a choice...move out of sunny California ...OR... make a huge investment in "scrubbers" and even pay fines ANNUALLY to the state for continued use of the beloved nitro materials...they chose to stay...make the investment...and still to this day I believe pay the state to be able to continue their commitment to the Ricki heritage...THAT my friends is a company that is rare, rare, rare ...
They’re popular with me, but they’re hard to find and there are always a couple of other guitars I prioritize apparently. But I’d kill for a good Rickenbacker. And yes, especially a 12 string.
Play one first, if you haven't already. That neck/nut width really is something to deal with. I put a micrometer on mine and it measured 1 19/32". With the 12-string, you'll need fingertips the size of pencil erasers.
@@robertthurman3743 : Hahaha..., I played a couple of them and I didn’t have a problem with it when I tried that. However, I had slender fingers back then. I haven’t played Rickenbackers for at least 10 years now and since then I became a lot fatter and I noticed my fingers are fatter as well. The rings I wore on my index fingers or my middle fingers are now on my ring fingers or on my little fingers. So yeah, I can see why this could be a problem for me now. But again, it wasn’t a problem for me back then and I don’t think me getting fatter ever got in the way of my playing on other guitars. And I own a bunch of different guitars as well as a ukulele. When I scream into the emptiness of my wallet, I can hear by the echoes that it’s not very likely that I’m going to buy a Rickenbacker soon, unfortunately. 😊
John Fogerty used a Rick 6 string on several of CCR’s greatest hits. His two main guitars were the black Les Paul Custom and the 6 string Rickenbacker 330.
@@larrypower8659 Definitely a 325, it's rather a famous guitar because of the story of Fogerty losing then regaining it. www.guitarworld.com/artists/john-fogerty-reunited-his-ccr-rickenbacker-after-44-years
The cliche - "You just can't solo on a Ric." Chris: "***YOU*** just can't solo on a Ric." I can't begin to understand why so many people in the comments think they're ugly. This post is literally the first time in my entire life I've heard anyone assert that I think they're the most beautiful creatures in the entire electric guitar family. And sorry, Fender folk, they don't have the sustain of a Gibson LP or 335, but they absolutely nuke Teles and Strats for low gain cleans. The secret is to slap down the cash for the vintage toaster pickups instead of the silly high-gain pickups.
Couldn't agree more, a good old school rickenbacker is up there with the likes of a nocaster and '59 LP on the pantheon of guitars I want but will never be able to get. love the style they have.
I got the RB600 fire glow colour, great for the price, sanding block to the fret edges, perfect after that! The black and white one looks awesome too! Worth checking out 🙂✌
My mother assembled John Lennon’s, 1964 325 C-64 “Miami” Rickenbacker Guitar. My mother... Dorothy J. Tandle "Dotty" was working at (RIC) Electro Strings Rickenbacker Guitars back in February 1964 in Santa Ana California. There was only 10 employees at the time and two woman. Mom was the first woman factory worker hired at Rickenbacker. Francis C. Hall, CEO of Ric had the idea to meet with the Beatles when they came to do the Ed Sullivan Show and give them some new guitars. Mr. Hall gave Harrison a new twelve string guitar when he met them. (assembled by Dotty) When Francis C. Hall got back from N.Y., after talking to John, Paul and Ringo he had a new guitar made for John. F.C. Hall presented Lennon with a new 325 to replace his road weary 1958 one during the group's first trip to New York City. Rush shipped to the Hotel Deauville in Miami where it was used for the second performance in "Ed Sullivan Show" on February 16th. Nicknamed at the factory… “Miami Special” John used the new guitar on The Beatles second Sullivan appearance and on the group's subsequent tours and albums. The phone rang at our house at 6:10AM with the GM of Ric Ward Deaton asking if my mom could come in ASAP to work on a special rush order guitar My mother was asked to follow Lennon’s Custom guitar from start to finish. This was the Black & White semi-hollow bodied “Miami” model (serial number db122, d=1964, b=Feb.). After the wood-shop cut out the body, she sanded the body, then worked on the neck & fret board, then she assembled the guitar after the finish was applied. She did all the work herself. She did the same for many custom orders at that time. She was trained in all areas except the wood shop and finishes. She did all the sanding, fret board assembly, hand cut the pick guard, electronics soldering and put all the other pieces on John Lennon’s Custom 325. John’s 325 was the first one with the fifth black tone knob. Mom said she was surprised at how small the guitar was and asked if it was a child’s model because it is so little compared to the Ric Bass.. She liked John’s guitar because it didn’t have an f hole or edge binding to fuss with. I don’t know how long it took to assemble the guitar, but I know she said it is all that mom worked on that day in February 1964. After finishing the guitar, she gave it to the tuner/inspector. He was a good friend and gave mom a ride home three times per week. He asked my mother “Since you built it, what song would you like to hear?” My mother said…“Peanut Butter And Jelly”. That was a song she wrote and the tuner knew the cords. My mother sang the song as it was being played. SO… The very first song ever played on John Lennon’s famous 325 was a song my mother wrote about the messes I made as a child. There is a “GREEN” check mark inside the guitar. The guitar assembled in February 1964 by Dotty custom made specially for John to replace his 1958 model 325 “Capri“ was dropped and the head was damaged, later repaired.. It now hangs on display at the Rock N Roll HOF. It is priceless. Reply
I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on Danelectro too. I feel like they have a lot of unique elements as well but for a fraction of the price. I picked my Wildthing up 2nd hand for £200 and the lipstick pick-ups really have a tone of their own
""Call" for price? That means I'd have to take out a loan to buy a Rickenbacker. No thanks. Although my R.E.M. albums wouldn't sound as good without one.
Rickenbacker is a low volume shop in Southern California. It takes a long time for them to make an instrument and California regulations don't make it easy for them to produce more guitars. I believe you have to special order and wait many, many months to get one. Might be part of the reason they are not that popular. They just don't produce that many.
Historically, Rickenbacker's legal department has aggressively pursued companies making knockoffs. So, you'll see the odd one here and there, but not very many at all, because cease-and-desist orders would quickly block any further production once a cheap imitation was discovered. One of the results of this was that, unlike Gibson and Fender, that allowed imitations to be produced for so long that their trademark rights could not be successfully defended in court, Rickenbacker has never had to chase after the low-cost market with a "budget" or entry-level line, the way that Gibson and Fender did with their various "economy" models and product lines. Yes, Ricks cost a pretty penny, but so do Gibson and Fenders...if one is ignoring their budget product lines.
Spot on comment. Rickenbacker has resisted outsourcing their production to cheap labor locations, meaning they only have one guitar line - a premium line - all of which are made in USA. They've intentionally chosen to stay in that one California location rather than move to bigger facilities in different locations. This, of course, means their production runs are at a lower volume than their competitors. And RIC is totally OK with that. They are well-built, fabulous sounding guitars. Price wise, they are competitive with the Japanese-made Gretsch professional line (another brand I play and love).
@@ScrewballMcAdams The modern MBA graduate seems intent on building an ever-expanding "empire". I don't know if that's because of what they are taught, or because of who goes to business school. This stands in contrast to more traditional approach to business of having an enterprise that simply aims for sustainability; you carve out your market niche, you serve them well, develop good production and service practices, and they will, in turn, reward you with their business, without hunting around for better bargains. Gretsch did that for years, but eventually went over to "the dark side", when they were acquired by Fender and started producing a budget line. I may be wrong, but I suspect not quite as many are "saving up for a Gretsch" the way they did when George Harrison or Neil Young was sporting one. My sense is that the more affordable something becomes, the more replaceable it becomes in the mind of the consumer.
@@markhammer643 The good thing about it is that musicians starting out, short of money or from less developed and developing countries get a chance to try out a guitar from a brand like Gretsch, which wouldn't have been possible decades ago.
@@ScrewballMcAdams But there's nothing premium about them, they're fundamentally outdated designs and even the build quality isn't that amazing. Go watch any repair video featuring a rick, you'll see what I mean
@@anyoneelsebutme5757 Absolutely. When I think of the "budget" instruments available to me in the mid-to-late '60s, for roughly the price of two weeks' part-time wages, the build quality of entry-level instruments these days is head and shoulders above. That said, sticking the name of a company known for flagship guitars on economy models might raise the perceived profile of budget products, but diminish the profile of the better models, or at least make them seem overpriced, by associating the brand with cheaper instruments. My sense is that it plays into consumers' expectations of what a "good" guitar should be or cost. But like I say, even cheap guitars are built and set up better than what one might buy for even MORE money, fifty years ago.
I always thought Rick Ocasik was a good rhythm player. Watching video's of The Cars I started really paying attention to his playing. He seemed pretty solid as a rhythm player.
Love your playing! You did that 330 justice. I've always been slightly mystified by the way people pigeonhole Rickenbackers and think of them as niche and unobtainable. When I bought my 330 years back, it was brand new AND the limited addition color of the year for 2007 (Amber Fireglo), and yet it wasn't much more expensive than an American series Strat or Tele, and it was definitely cheaper than a Gibson at the time. So, not insanely expensive at all for an American made guitar. And even though they're very good at jangly, that doesn't mean that's ALL they can do. I have a Tele as well, and I'd say I can get just as many, if not more, unique tones out of my 330 as I can my Tele.
I am with you STUFF. I got a 360 back in December and haven't touched my other guitars since. Don't Fear the Reaper, She Sells Sanctuary, The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly all sound great on my Ric. And Chris, you may or may not be related to Peter, but your last name is Buck. You MUST get a Ric. This is the way.
Chris, you're a treasure! I absolutely love the way you slide your fretting hand up and down the neck. I started bending and then sliding up because I liked the way sax players bend up to a note and then play a higher note (I realize sax players actually bend downwards, so when it sounds like they're bending up, they bend down first and then just return to the correct note) but you've done a lot more with your slides than I have. Brilliant!
Superb playing again, Chris. The way you blend backward bends with hammers and slurs is so expressive. Articulate is the word I keep reaching for, but I don't want you to think I'm only talking about your callisthenic technique. Sure, that's important, but your choice of notes and phrases is breath taking. You make that plank of wood speak.
An Australian band called The Mark of Cain used them extensively through heavily distorted mesa boogie amps. Seriously one of the best and most unique guitar tones I've ever heard. It's like they turned the monochrome sounds of power chords into full colour HD.
Chris you make any guitar sing , incredible talent no doubt honed by a lot of work and joy of the instrument Thank you for for always lifting me up with your craft
In 1968 I was in a college band, owned and played a cheap electric until it was falling apart, and could afford only one new guitar. I knew a luthier who restored electric guitars and he let me play several models for a week at a time--Gibson, Gretsch, Fender, Rickenbacker. I liked the tone of the Gretsch best but it was such a beautiful guitar that I couldn't even force myself to rock out with gritty leads, holding a Gretsch in my hands. The Rickenbacker was second for tone, played great, looked wonderful (in my opinion), and would rock like crazy when I pushed it. So I took the train to New York city and bought a 365. I've played it for 52 years and I've never bought another electric guitar since. I bought my Ric for its versatility, and I use it for absolutely everything. By the way, like John Knell below, I visited the Rickenbacker factory and met the same lady in the lobby. I think Disneyland is the second most important destination in Anaheim!
Their punchy bass tone not only endeared them to funk bassists, but also metal bassists throughout the 80's and 90's. That's where their success really was, that thick, chunky bass sound.
