Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

[Thurisarz]

Tried another Rickenbacker guitar today the 330 model and i still stand by word that this is the worst sounding guitar ever. I don't play metal or hard rock i actually play Byrds and Smiths kind of music but this was just awful. The balance between the pickup was somewhere else and the drop in volume between the two pickups was yucki. There was no sort of characteristics in the sound of the different pickups. If i had to choose my favourite setting it was the bridge soloed with no tone and full volume it was ok but nothing i would pay for to own.

Rant over. Please fill in with your thoughts on these guitar. But i have to say, as a bassplayer there 4001/4003 basses is one of the best basses ever made.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

a fellow Who fan i know collects RIC's.... i hate trying to play them myself.... they feel like toys... but they have The Tone of the 60's....

 

[Dirt123]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

I dunno.. I know a guy whose main axes are Rics , a 330 & a 360 12. They sound great. He plays through a Vox AC30. I think they've got a great tone, once you learn how to drive them.

 

[phil_104]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

I dunno.. I know a guy whose main axes are Rics , a 330 & a 360 12. They sound great. He plays through a Vox AC30. I think they've got a great tone, once you learn how to drive them.

Big +1. A friend of mine has a 330 as his main axe, and with a little getting use to it, he makes it sound great.

 

[shaka]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

The one you played must be screwed up. When properly set up Rics are very good guitars.

Rics take some getting used to and metal guys always have a hard time with them. Rhythm guys tend to get the Ric thing. I love them for jangle rock and the unique recorded tone.

 

[Frankly]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

Some people like them, some people do not.

Chocolate chip...the worst ice cream ever?

 

[Closed Eye]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

I dunno, Guy Piccioto sounds pretty durn good playing a Rick:


Turnover


Mint Chocolate Chip is far superior to Chocolate Chip!

 

[phil_104]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

My vote is for chocolate chip cookie dough.

 

[timorousme]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

For all of the "I know a guy who plays a Ric, and it sounds great." A good guitar player can make a Goldfish sound good.

The fact is that Rickenbackers are overpriced. They were able to profit from the use of John Lennon and the likes of that sort. They aren't great guitars at all, they just have the name to sell.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

they're not terrible

just esoteric

nothin wrong with that

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

Rant over. Please fill in with your thoughts on these guitar. But i have to say, as a bassplayer there 4001/4003 basses is one of the best basses ever made.

No they're not.

When I was a kid I totally wanted one. I picked up an early 70s Mapleglo 4001. It was uncomfortable, unwieldy, the binding dug into my arm, balanced weird, and it sounded like garbage through every amp I used it with. I hung onto it for 6 years hoping I'd get used to it, but I finally sold it to get something that felt, played and sounded better.

I still think they're awesome looking instruments. In the right hands, through the right rig, they sound fine. Every time I see one I think about giving it a go- and shortly after picking it up I remember why I got rid of mine and why I shouldn't miss having it.

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

The fact is that Rickenbacker are overpriced. They were able to profit from the use of John Lennon and the likes of that sort. They aren't great guitars at all, they just have the name to sell.

Like that amp company which still rides the history that of two Jimmie playing it. Oh well, dont know about guitar but those basses are METAL !!!!

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

Regarding Rick guitars...

I've never played one I liked enough to own. When the Lennon sigs came out, I wanted one so bad, and a local store had 2 of them. I remember getting sweaty to try them out. It was dinky and plinky. I don't have big fingers, but it was difficult to play simple chords on.

The first time I recorded electric guitar tracks in a studio, someone let me borrow a late 50s Rick 12 String. It was cool.

A few years back, I was on a serious mission to check out the 660 (I think). Looked cool until I picked it up to play it.

Now that I'm thinking about this, no other guitar makes me excited to see it and want to play it and then lets me down like a Rickenbacker.

 

[timorousme]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

Like that amp company which still rides the history that of two Jimmie playing it. Oh well, dont know about guitar but those basses are METAL !!!!

Um... What?

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

Um... What?

I think Marshall got its popularity for the fact of Page and Hendrix playing them and looking so cool doing it, alas the analogy to Ricks and Lennon. Rickenbacker basses Lemmy and Cliff of Metallica, need I say more ??????????

 

[Imp]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

uh, yeah - the JCM800s and JCM900s proved very popular and well liked amps in their respective decades? i'd love one of either!

 

[Dirt123]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

...

The fact is that Rickenbackers are overpriced. They were able to profit from the use of John Lennon and the likes of that sort. They aren't great guitars at all, they just have the name to sell.

Actually, no, not for a hand built American made set neck guitar.

They may be "niche" guitars, but they do there own thing well.

Me, I always thought Les Pauls & PRSs were overpriced. Used utility Rics can still go for under a grand.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

Like that amp company which still rides the history that of two Jimmie playing it. Oh well, dont know about guitar but those basses are METAL !!!!

I think Marshall got its popularity for the fact of Page and Hendrix playing them and looking so cool doing it, alas the analogy to Ricks and Lennon. Rickenbacker basses Lemmy and Cliff of Metallica, need I say more ??????????

You're serious?

Marshall got their notoriety mostly from Pete Townshend and the Who. Their popularity was cemented by putting out quality amplifiers for the past 40 some odd years.

It's one thing not to like Marshall, however, it's plain ignorant to say Marshall has been coasting on the image of Hendrix and Page for the past 30+ years.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

Love the old Ricky Lap Steels, but I don't like Ricky guitars and never have. Don't like the skinny necks and don't like the tone I get. They're just not the guitar for me.

But I love the way the Byrds, Tom Petty and Beatles sounded using them.

Differant strokes....

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Rickenbacker - Worst guitars ever?

You're serious?

Marshall got their notoriety mostly from Pete Townshend and the Who. Their popularity was cemented by putting out quality amplifiers for the past 40 some odd years.

It's one thing not to like Marshall, however, it's plain ignorant to say Marshall has been coasting on the image of Hendrix and Page for the past 30+ years.

Nope, there are more than a few companies who were and are putting quality amps for pretty much the same number of years. JCM800 is very interesting "event" all those classic 80s tones were done with them .. but with generations of different and significant mods. JCM900 is ok but its just a good amp that's about it, comparing to a really good product that Marshall use to release in the 70s. Sorry but the fact is marshall has a lof "air jordan nikes" hype to it. Most of the "guitar gods" of blues/rock/hardrock/metal from early seventies and on mention Hendrix and Page as their influences with unprecedented frequency. What's ignorant is to call anybody who questions status quo - ignorant, ok buddiiee? Now, back to ricks, if you look into pop-top-40 kidna' rock sceen, the ricks pop with pretty good friquency i.e. the "lennon" factor.