Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

[NecroPolo]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

Rickenbackers? Worst guitars? What?

Someone saying that has no idea what a fundamentally bad guitar is, I guess.

My first guitar (used of course, literally for a couple of dollars). Basically, everything was wrong with it. It played as easy as fretting a tanker would be and the sound would cause permanent brain damage after 5 minutes of play... I mean, clamping notes as fretting a simple barre chord here was like lifting a car with one finger. If the first Broadcaster played and sounded as bad as this one Leo would have committed suicide. Five times in a row.

I must also add that to my biggest surprise I met this company @Musik Messe Frankfurt a couple of years ago and today they are making pretty impressive instruments.

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

They don't sound like Gibsons or Fenders. They don't play like Gibsons or Fenders.
Can''t speak to recent quality because I haven't played any new ones.
But they've always been kind of their own thing.

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

Sounds like they're made of cardboard. With rubber bands for strings.

[Sirion]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

Does this count? If so, it is my favourite Rick.



On a more serious note, I love the sound of their 12-string models. It isn't a guitar I could find much use for, but it has its place.

[NegativeEase]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

somebody kill this thread

Here is quick list of bands off the top of my head, that had at least one player using Rickerbacker as their primary instrument

Beatles
Rolling Stones
The Byrds
REM
Tom Petty
Eagles
Radiohead
Beach Boys
Paul Weller
Motorhead
Metallica
Queen
Ween
Deep Purple
Joy Division
Thin Lizzy
Misfits
Cure
Allman Brothers
Rush
Yes
Fugazi

List look familiar? yeah because it looks a lot like the greatest bands ever list.

[beaubrummels]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

somebody kill this thread

Here is quick list of bands off the top of my head, that had at least one player using Rickerbacker as their primary instrument

Beatles
Rolling Stones
The Byrds
REM
Tom Petty
Eagles
Radiohead
Beach Boys
Paul Weller
Motorhead
Metallica
Queen
Ween
Deep Purple
Joy Division
Thin Lizzy
Misfits
Cure
Allman Brothers
Rush
Yes
Fugazi

List look familiar? yeah because it looks a lot like the greatest bands ever list.

That doesn’t make the guitar great. It just means some people used it at some point.

I’ve only found 1 picture of John Deacon holding a Rick bass, and outside of that, I can’t think of any point in time when Queen used Rickenbacker as their primary instruments. Similar with the Allman Brothers.

Keep in mind I have 3 Rick guitars and a 4001C64 bass and I do use them from time to time. The make a particular sound I like. But I still can’t consider them great instruments.

[NegativeEase]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

That doesn’t make the guitar great. It just means some people used it at some point.

I’ve only found 1 picture of John Deacon holding a Rick bass, and outside of that, I can’t think of any point in time when Queen used Rickenbacker as their primary instruments. Similar with the Allman Brothers.

Keep in mind I have 3 Rick guitars and a 4001C64 bass and I do use them from time to time. The make a particular sound I like. But I still can’t consider them great instruments.

First, I never said the were "great" instruments -my list of greatest band is just saying that calling them "worst instrument ever" is ridiculous. kill the thread

Deacon played a Ric as his main bass in the early days.

All for Allman Bros -that may be dicier -I several pics of Berry playing one in the 60s -but yeah, that an overreach.

Lastly, I do think they are great instruments -especially the basses and 12 strings -not really a fan of their 6ers.

[beaubrummels]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

“Worst ever” was just the OPs terms. I still maintain that while they are neat guitars and make a good sound, they aren’t necessarily great musical instruments when in hand. They are not the worst ever. But they are boxy feeling and have an AM radio quality sound. The 4001 basses are an exception, sound wise.

[NegativeEase]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

“Worst ever” was just the OPs terms. I still maintain that while they are neat guitars and make a good sound, they aren’t necessarily great musical instruments when in hand. They are not the worst ever. But they are boxy feeling and have an AM radio quality sound. The 4001 basses are an exception, sound wise.

high five -we largely agree then. 4003 and 4005 are excellent too. I love their nasally bright tones for a 12 strings and adding color to a larger mix. and the 6 string tone is good for notey arpeggios but not chords -generally speaking.

[justFred]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

the Beatles used Rickenbacker guitars extensively in their recordings....even if you don't like the Beatles (I am not a big fan but have a great deal of respect for them and some of their music) their sound wasn't coming from the worst guitars ever and weren't chosen by amateurs who weren't aware of what was available...and of course as usual I am probably entirely missing the point of all this....