NGD: Rickenbacker 1997 Rose Morris RI *Update

Kylef

Been dreaming of one of these guitars for a long time, whilst browsing a few days ago I found the dream version: first year run 1986, same year as Tom Petty's with similar fading too.

Arrived yesterday, quick clean up and restring and very much enjoying it. Love these 12k toasters, they have extra grunt over the scatterwounds (7.4k). It's a wonder why Rickenbacker don't make them anymore.

Anyway, here's some pics. It'll hopefully get its first run out at tomorrow's gig.

http://i.imgur.com/DtqrWkJ.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/p3AdH6R.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Q08WBRg.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/pd4jn6n.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/upPGTe0.jpg

Basher

Power-poptastic!

ICBM

Fantastic!

Kylef said:

Love these 12k toasters, they have extra grunt over the scatterwounds (7.4k). It's a wonder why Rickenbacker don't make them anymore.

Because guitarists believe that only the original vintage spec is 'correct'.

For what it's worth, I found that a 12K in the bridge with the vintage cap, and a 7.4K in the neck, was the perfect pairing. The cap does something really wonderful to the middle position (because it introduces a phase shift), but it makes a 7.4 too thin and shrill. The 12K neck can be a bit overpowering, especially on a 12-string.

You might think this is a joke, but the six-grommet mounting actually sounds noticeably different from the big foam rings they used later - it's more open and airy, although also more prone to microphonics - the foam ring dampens the pickup vibration.

Kylef

ICBM said:

Fantastic!

Kylef said:

Love these 12k toasters, they have extra grunt over the scatterwounds (7.4k). It's a wonder why Rickenbacker don't make them anymore.

Because guitarists believe that only the original vintage spec is 'correct'.

For what it's worth, I found that a 12K in the bridge with the vintage cap, and a 7.4K in the neck, was the perfect pairing. The cap does something really wonderful to the middle position (because it introduces a phase shift), but it makes a 7.4 too thin and shrill. The 12K neck can be a bit overpowering, especially on a 12-string.

You might think this is a joke, but the six-grommet mounting actually sounds noticeably different from the big foam rings they used later - it's more open and airy, although also more prone to microphonics - the foam ring dampens the pickup vibration.

I can quite believe it, I have a Tom Petty 660/12 and a 330/6 with the foam rings and can hear the difference in it. The 1997 sounds more acousticy.

ICBM

Kylef said:

I can quite believe it, I have a Tom Petty 660/12 and a 330/6 with the foam rings and can hear the difference in it. The 1997 sounds more acousticy.

I swapped the grommets for foam rings on my 381 because it was too microphonic - I'm one of those nuts who uses Ricks with distortion - and it noticeably thickened the tone as well as curing most of the problem.

scarry67

Now that's a handsome guitar. What strings did you use? I've never been quite satisfied on my 330 with regular 10-46...

ICBM

scarry67 said:

Now that's a handsome guitar. What strings did you use? I've never been quite satisfied on my 330 with regular 10-46…

In my opinion Rickenbackers need a wound G, especially with the Toaster pickups - the G is too clangy otherwise. I prefer 11s, but 10s are OK with a .020 wound G.

andrewaward

Great looking Ric, I love the RM models.............I owned a 2000 reissue, and the burst was quite pinky in the centre, ........and also here is a pic of a genuine 1998 (from 1964) which is very similar in shade to yours:

richardhomer

‘Wow’ duly awarded

pmg

Wow, beautiful guitar 

Teyeplayer

Stunning guitar buddy, congratulations on a fine acquisition.

Neil

That is gorgeous!

Always fancied a Ricky but never taken the plunge. 

Electro_Ham

Beautiful guitar there. Congratulations on your purchase.

guitars4you

@andrewaward - look cool don't they - Years ago I had one of each from the original 60's - can't even recall what I sold them for, but a lot lower than today's value - I think Tony from Antonnes in Hull purchased one from me for himself

andrewaward

@guitars4you - Yeah the originals are great (as are the reissues)..........I've had a few 60s 1998s (4 of them) and 2 1997s. I was struck by how light they all were..............of those 6 I had, only 2 had neck repairs, which was good going for these guitars.

Just need to watch when buying old Rics - make sure the bridge has some travel left, as many vintage Rics need neck resets to get a low playable action .

@kylef 's Ric is one of the nicest reissues I've seen - love the faded burst

Kylef

Decided to get some gold guards and a gold TRC for the 1997, very TP like. Liking the difference.

http://i.imgur.com/KAT09fU.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Z9XlnEC.jpg

tampaxboo

ICBM said:

scarry67 said:

Now that's a handsome guitar. What strings did you use? I've never been quite satisfied on my 330 with regular 10-46…

In my opinion Rickenbackers need a wound G, especially with the Toaster pickups - the G is too clangy otherwise. I prefer 11s, but 10s are OK with a .020 wound G.

i first tried a wound G (11s set) because i read in some article that John Lennon used to use a wound third and i was after that chuggy clicky early beat sound of his for a project. i don;t own a Ricky but it seems to be a Ricky thing. Maybe they came with 11s in the old days.

@Kylef congrats on your NGD. i like the little Rickies, like Viv Albertine used to play in the Slits and Kat Bjelland in Babes in Toyland, but those huge semis are way too big if you have tits, which maybe you don't. but i bet it sounds sweet. i always think of Rickies as having a Halo sound, esp through a Vox. classy and glassy.

ps. on the subject of strings, get some brass-barrelled strings instead of those sore thumb gay pride ones.

TonyR

I’ve always used 11s on my Rics - anything else just feels too light.

JezWynd

Lovely guitar. The wood grain on the top is outstanding. The gold guard is a definate improvement, looks excellent.

Neil

The gold plastics look fantastic.  Give it a nice vintage look.