I have GAS again talk to me about Ricks

[Securb]

Talk to me about Rick 620s. I think I have GAS. I am a humbucker guy but there is something about these guitars. The tricky thing is there are not a ton of Rick dealers so it is tough finding a lot of these to audition. I played one years ago and feel in love but it has been a while since I laid hands on a Rick.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: I have GAS again talk to me about Ricks

I have a few Ricks, both guitar and bass.

They all use essentially the same pickups (except for the horseshoe deal on the bass.) They are neat guitars, but not fine instruments. They are kind of like "the working professionals beater" as far as tone. However they are lightweight and lightweight construction and will not take a stage beating all that well. They have a very vintage high-mid AM-radio kind of frequency response that is perfect for certain things, but you'll need to surround them with a solid warm well-rounded band sound to give them enough musical context to use all the time for a career.

They don't work well as #1 go-to main guitars IME. But they will shine for that particular sound they make and will give that extra variety to your setlist; something like pulling out a sitar or a pedal steel. Can't use it all the time, but you can make good use of it as often as you need.

 

[9unslin9er]

Re: I have GAS again talk to me about Ricks

"Buy me instead!"

 

[Oinkus]

Re: I have GAS again talk to me about Ricks

Pretty much everything Beau said is my experience , great but special sounding guitars. There is a reason 8 Miles High sounds like that , 100% Rickenbacker. That special biting texture is a wonderful thing but it has it's time and place.

 

[Securb]

Re: I have GAS again talk to me about Ricks

I found a dealer that is somewhat on my path home from work. I think I am going to play a few this week.

 

[ExplorersRock]

Re: I have GAS again talk to me about Ricks

I have wanted a 12-string Rick for years and years! Oh, the GAS pains are TERRIBLE!

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: I have GAS again talk to me about Ricks

There is something more painful; changing all twelve string on a "R" tailpiece!

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: I have GAS again talk to me about Ricks

A couple of months back I was looking at getting a new guitar and it came down between a used teal Ric 360 and my Gretsch. I was really surprised at just how good the 360 sounded and playing it for a little bit I found I could actually get somewhat accustomed to the feel of them (not at all as bad as I originally read them to be and in the past the few I picked up didn't feel quite right). I guess it's one of those guitars that you learn how to play when you get what the tone is about.

They're definitely cool instruments and well worth it for that vintage chime and bite that you get with them. Lots of folks say they're limited instruments and I didn't find that to be true. I was able to get pretty jazzy tones out of the neck high gain, the middle position with the high gains gave a great rhythm clean tone and the bridge has that little bit of snarl to kick with some gain. I've found my tele and Gretsch do the same thing and that's why I appreciate all of them so much. If I were to criticize anything on the 360 it's that the Rick-O-Sound is a confusing concept. I had to play with it to get the full output from the 3 pickup positions and it wasn't anything that made sense like a center detent or one extreme or another with the pot. It was kind of a like a non-intuitive blend pot IMHO.

So, in short, give them a chance if you have a chance. However, make sure you try them before you buy them because you want to make sure that you've got a good sounding one and that it plays the way you're expecting.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: I have GAS again talk to me about Ricks

The 320 is a totally different beast than the 360.

I used to own a 360 and really loved it. I now have a 320, the exact one you have pictured. I think it is a great playing and sounding instrument, and much more versatile than many have said. I love the snap of those pups, and played with the "ric-o-sound" through two different amps it can sound huge and yet still articulate, with a very cool bite to it. Great for rhythm and lead work. Sounds good clean and with overdrive/distortion.

It took some time to get used to the neck, but it seems to fit the hand very nicely.

It's extremely fun to play, very unique, lightweight, and even sexy by some standards.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: I have GAS again talk to me about Ricks

"Buy me instead!"

TOTALLY different sound and feel than the 320. Similar color, but that's where the similarity ends.

 

[jtougas]

Re: I have GAS again talk to me about Ricks

Yeah, the recipe for Ricks is "start with a little bit of maple, add some more maple, a little more maple after that, then a touch of bubinga for flavor, then our pickups."

The Schecter isn't bad, but it ain't the same beast. Still, wouldn't mind getting one as a 12-string... put in some chimey pickups...