Any guitars that capture the Rickenbacker vibe?

Corbic

Corbic

New member
Hey all, been awhile since I posted a question about a new guitar, but after being on a bit of a Tom Petty kick these past few days (as well as for numerous days in the past), I couldn't help but fall in love with the sound of a Rickenbacker guitar.

Now, I've played a Rick before, and while the tone was pretty nice sounding, the neck and I didn't get along too well. I'm into baseball bat necks like the 56 boat neck on my Strat or the 59 profile on my Les Paul, and the tiny Rick neck felt like it was gonna snap in my hand if I played it too hard!

So, my question is, are there any guitars that capture the vibe of a Rickenbacker guitar, but with preferably a thicker neck, and also preferably a cheaper price, than an actual Rick? Rickenbacker-sounding pickups would be nice also, but if they aren't stock I'll go GFS or the Custom Shop. Also, would be looking primarily for a 12 string electric, but 6 strings are fine too. Thanks!

-Corbic
 
Re: Any guitars that capture the Rickenbacker vibe?

Yeah, a Rickenbacker.


Orville not only made good popcorn, he made guitars too.
 
Re: Any guitars that capture the Rickenbacker vibe?

haha, odie, you crack me up

i know agile used to make a rick copy. i dont see it on their website anymore though. thats about all i can think of im afraid. having never played a rick, im not sure what the vibe is to be captured

i think the agile version was called the rk500
 
Re: Any guitars that capture the Rickenbacker vibe?

Two guitars in particular within my small collection are a Ric 330 and a Telecaster. IMHO if you can't get it happening with a Ric the Tele does a very nice job. While the tones aren't identical, I've found that the Tele can do a real nice job for "Rickenbacker" kinds of things. Slap a bit of compression on it and you're happening.
 
Re: Any guitars that capture the Rickenbacker vibe?

Rickenbacker get stupid about anyone who even remotely copies their guitars (or tries to sell clearly labeled copies on ebay...)
 
Re: Any guitars that capture the Rickenbacker vibe?

I once put 3 Duncan SLS-1 Lipstick pickups in a Strat and in position 3, it got very "Ricky" sounding. That is a killer pickup setup... very chimey and you had to dial in the amp and volume knobs but it did sound very close.


I also have one of those Dean Boca 12 strings (which is an oustanding guitar for the money BTW) and it sounds and plays very much like a Gibson 335 12 string. I had a Gibby 12 and the Dean does a very good job for the money. It is a "player" 12 that you just need for certain tunes. It also fits like a glove in a 40 dollar MF case too vs. the 100+ dollar Dean case!
 
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Re: Any guitars that capture the Rickenbacker vibe?

Well, I know Duesenberg sure is TRYING to capture the Rick thing...
 
Re: Any guitars that capture the Rickenbacker vibe?

Corbic said:
Hey all, been awhile since I posted a question about a new guitar, but after being on a bit of a Tom Petty kick these past few days (as well as for numerous days in the past), I couldn't help but fall in love with the sound of a Rickenbacker guitar.

Now, I've played a Rick before, and while the tone was pretty nice sounding, the neck and I didn't get along too well. I'm into baseball bat necks like the 56 boat neck on my Strat or the 59 profile on my Les Paul, and the tiny Rick neck felt like it was gonna snap in my hand if I played it too hard!

So, my question is, are there any guitars that capture the vibe of a Rickenbacker guitar, but with preferably a thicker neck, and also preferably a cheaper price, than an actual Rick? Rickenbacker-sounding pickups would be nice also, but if they aren't stock I'll go GFS or the Custom Shop. Also, would be looking primarily for a 12 string electric, but 6 strings are fine too. Thanks!

-Corbic
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What the hell kind of ric were you playing? I've got a 330 and it has the sturdiest neck of any guitar I've ever seen. It's narrow but it's certainly not thin. If you've got large hands that means the string spacing might be tight for you, but it's very comfortable for me.

ricsmall002lc8.jpg


As for the ric vibe/sound, you won't find it from another guitar. It has nearly nothing to do with the pickups, it's the guitar's wood and construction. I've got a 16k Ric bass pickup in the bridge of my 330 and is still sounds distinctly like a rickenbacker. (It's humcanceling, that's why I did it.) Using semi-flat wounds also helps things along a good bit as well.

I'm pretty sure there's a rickenbacker sub company called "Electro" or something along those lines. They've not been made in a very long time, but they were the most faithful knock offs.
 
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Re: Any guitars that capture the Rickenbacker vibe?

I hate Rickenbacker guitar necks, the **** things are sticky as hell and feel like plastic. My variax's Rickenbacker tone is alright, although the guitar only works half the time...NEVER BUY A GUITAR OFF OF EBAY.
 
Re: Any guitars that capture the Rickenbacker vibe?

I have been gassing on their website for days. I never realized it before, but a lot of that jangle must come from the semi-hollow maple body. With the exception of a couple of walnut models everything is maple.
 
Re: Any guitars that capture the Rickenbacker vibe?

Duesenberg
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Yeh thats one brand (change the hum to GFS if you want to get closer or the maton 12 string is similar but nothing is a RIC.
Have you tried a 306V64 (the george harrison ones) the 360's are more playable then the 330's!
 
Re: Any guitars that capture the Rickenbacker vibe?

Thanks for all the replies guys! I checked out those Duesenbergs, and WOW, those are nice guitars! Unfortunately even more out of my price range than Ricks are :D

So, looks like I'll be saving up for awhile longer to try and get a Rick eventually in the future. Though I will have to look into that Schecter, oh if it only came in a 12 string format! I also recently found some Ricks on ebay for less than 1 grand, so maybe there is hope after all :scratchch

BTW, Mephis, I actually tried out a 330 similar to yours. But, yeah the neck felt really thin and not very sturdy when I played it. I'm going to try those 360s though, as well as the solid body ones. Thanks again for the replies guys, I greatly appreciate it!
 
Re: Any guitars that capture the Rickenbacker vibe?

Corbic said:
Thanks for all the replies guys! I checked out those Duesenbergs, and WOW, those are nice guitars! Unfortunately even more out of my price range than Ricks are :D

So, looks like I'll be saving up for awhile longer to try and get a Rick eventually in the future. Though I will have to look into that Schecter, oh if it only came in a 12 string format! I also recently found some Ricks on ebay for less than 1 grand, so maybe there is hope after all :scratchch

BTW, Mephis, I actually tried out a 330 similar to yours. But, yeah the neck felt really thin and not very sturdy when I played it. I'm going to try those 360s though, as well as the solid body ones. Thanks again for the replies guys, I greatly appreciate it!
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The 360 is going to have the same neck... Just a different shaped body.

If the neck isn't very sturdy, it's not a real rickenbacker. The neck on a real rickenbacker is 3 piece, a walnut center and maple sides.

It extends halfway into the body, very close to the bridge. Along with having dual trussrods. And if you think the neck is thin on a 300 series, just wait till you try the 600 series. Wider but much thinner.
 
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Re: Any guitars that capture the Rickenbacker vibe?

I think a Gretch sounds similar to a Rick. If you really want the rick sound then get that.
 
Re: Any guitars that capture the Rickenbacker vibe?

fusion101 said:
I hate Rickenbacker guitar necks, the **** things are sticky as hell and feel like plastic. My variax's Rickenbacker tone is alright, although the guitar only works half the time...NEVER BUY A GUITAR OFF OF EBAY.
Click to expand...



They're only sticky when they're new.

Mine has been played so much it feels slick as hell. The fretboard is slicker than ebony. You can't even feel it under your fingers.
 
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