Rickenbacker, Son Wants One so howabout a Harm?

[sunvalleylaw]

For New Year's Eve, we were at a friend's house. This friend plays in a local band (they did the DSOTM performance this summer I posted about), and his main rig is a 1987 Rickenbacker he ordered direct with 3 vintage toaster style singles, a small solid appearing body, and the longer scale neck. Kinda like a 350 I guess.

http://www.rickenbacker.com/model.asp?model=350V63

But his had the "R" tailpiece and was a lovely cherryburst (not red but really bing cherry colored)

Anyway, my son went downstairs and jammed on it (with permission) along with this guy's kid on drums. He told me later, "Dad, I would like a guitar like this".

He is playing on his Fully ST-3 right now, and would ultimately like a guitar with a bit more growl. His instructor, who teaches him and a bass player in a band setting, while covering the drums, likes humbuckers and has been influencing him. I had been thinking about helping him earn (matching funds to a point) an Agile LP for him.

But now I am wondering about one of these, since they are essentially based off a Ric 360, with maybe a p90 in the neck, and a humbucker in the bridge. Then he gets a bit of that p90 single coil thing he liked, but gets the humbucker bridge to rock on like his band instructor likes. Also, it is a little like Ol' Black that way too. What to youze guy's think? Any thoughts on these?

http://www.rondomusic.com/harm1semiblackp90.html

 

[Tig]

A bridge 'bucker in an Agile Harm 1 might make for a cool, versatile guitar, but it won't sound much like a Rick without the toasters.
I'd go with one of these for a Rick based tone: http://www.rondomusic.com/harm1toastbk.html http://www.rondomusic.com/product1610.html

The P90 Harm is sweet.

Now, where have I seen this look before?

 

[Perfect Stranger]

The Harms are EXCELLENT guitars. Fit and finish are amazing and the sound is outstanding!

 

[progrmr]

I'm really wanting one of those Harm's...Here's a YouTube video of a guy playing with 2 mini-hums:

 

[Eric]

SVL,

If you decide to get one of these, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts, whether it's pre- or post-honeymoon. Those guitars look pretty interesting, and I briefly tried out a used one in a shop once, but didn't have enough time to get much of a feel for it.

 

[hubberjub]

I just saw this on TGP. Maybe it fits the bill.
http://thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=826399

It even has a Bigsby.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

The Harms are EXCELLENT guitars. Fit and finish are amazing and the sound is outstanding!

One thing Derek liked was how light it was. Is it pretty light? Also, the one he played was the smaller 325 style body without the sound hole. How is this one sized, more like a 330?

 

[Perfect Stranger]

Weight is lighter than an LP. Size is smaller than photos appear. Look at video above for an idea.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Thanks PS. I looked closer at the specs online and the vid above after asking, and while it is not quite the same as the 325 body Derek played, I think it is a good fit. Not as big as a 335 type for sure. And reportedly weighs 8.5 pounds. Not bad! Hub, that clone looks really cool too, and has the Bigsby, but without holding it, it would be hard for me to pick that one for him.

 

[wingsdad]

... "Dad, I would like a guitar like this". ...

Steve, did you ask your son why?

What was it about the Rick he fell in love with? The sound? The feel/playability? The body size?

I ask because if it was the sound, then that seems to me to indicate his instructor's selling him his preference for humbuckers, to get more growl, may not be a vibe your son is truly 'connecting' with. Could be that he's starting to get a handle in his head of his own independent taste in sound, and he was jamming on a guitar with 3 low-gain single coils on a thin bodied maple semi-hollow that's just naturally bright and jangly, and that's 'the Rick sound'.

Obviously, unless you got really lucky and found a used Rick in good shape for a bargain price, like at an estate sale conducted by someone who knows zilch about Ricks, you're looking price first, at Agiles and such, that resemble somewhat the guitar. And while I won't dispute their qulaity or value for what they are, none of the 'like-a-Rick' guitars here are truly like the Rick he played. Close, maybe, but no cigar. None have 2 Vol/2 Tone except for that cheezy ripoff fake-Rick 325; personally, I despise that kind of PT Barnum bull-dung, but that's just me. But most of all, the critical control on a Rick is the little 5th knob -- 'the blender'.

If he really, really, really wants a Rick like that one he played, it could be a goal for him to scrimp and save all he can, and sell the Fully and anything else, to come up with half the cash. It could take him a year, or more, I dunno...but anything less will ultimately disappoint him and he'll keep longing for the Rick.

It is true, though, that P-90's on a maple semi-hollow, like with an Epi Casino, can resemble the Rick. But that's a relatively big-bodied guitar compared to the Rick he played.

 

[hubberjub]

Wing's got a good point. The 325 is an interesting guitar. I am not a huge Rick fan as they have an odd feeling neck. They are very narrow and they coat their fretboards with a thick glossy finish. The 325 also has a short scale neck. If he likes the Rick sound, I would suggest a 330 as they can be had used for under a grand (you'll need to do some searching). If he likes the look of the 325 the 610, 620, and 660 are of a similar body shape but with a Gibson scale neck. My favorite Rick is the 650 series which use to be one of the best new guitar deals in existence. They have a fairly traditional Rick body but with a 24-3/4 scale and wider string spacing. They are a much more modern guitar than traditional Ricks but far more versatile.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

He liked the feel, the weight, and he was enjoying the sound too. But he also loves the sound of my Viking, so I was thinking a sound somewhere in between, with some mini-hums, might just do it. He said it did not have to be "that" guitar, but just a "nice" guitar with a good sound. I need to shield his Fully as he has been playing with distortion, and his guitar has some noise issues when distortion is applied that could be cleaned up with some shielding.

This particular Ric had the longer scale neck, and I would have to go back and see if it had wider string spacing. I did not notice narrow spacing on this guitar. It was ordered direct from the factory by my friend. I may try to figure out just exactly what it is.

In the meantime, we have discussed his saving for a guitar, and I will probably take him to a guitar store so he can put his hands a few guitars to see what he likes there too. Then we can decide what he really wants. He is the kind of kid to want his own style and sound, so I support that. He also likes Brian May's sound (kinda makes sense with the Vox amph), and Rivers Cuomo as well, so he has some range in his tones.

 

[barber76]

2 sunvalleylaw:
I don't know how close does it sound, but Richmond Dorchester (by Godin) certainly looks somewhat like Rickenbacker. Quality should be high as well. It's not a budget guitar, but still only third of Rick price (new).

 

[Katastrophe]

Kid GAS.... Ain't it cool?

One thing's for certain, his tastes are gonna change. I think the Harm is a safe bet, as you can return it if he doesn't like it, or add a new dimension to your arsenal if YOU like it!

There's also the Schecter Stargazer... Ric-ish vibe with conventional humbucker configuration.

http://www.schecterguitars.com/Products/Guitar/Stargazer.aspx

A father-son sonic blue double 'bucker Strat build could be another way to go if he likes older Rivers Cuomo tones. Y'all could pick everything out together and assemble it. He'd learn about guitar maintenance and could take pride in building something with his dad! Plus, it would be way cool to have two Strat slingers in the family. Think of the family photos!

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Hmm, sonic blue . . . The daphne blue Squire Deluxe would be close . . . Oh wait, I am shopping for what my kid wants, not more of what I want. And I would end up wanting to keep one of those Harm guitars. I really do think it might be a good bet, after he tries a few at GC just to see what he likes there. I am wondering between the triple mini-hum, or modding a p-90 one with a mini-hum in the bridge, or something with toasters like Tig found, maybe putting a mini hum in the bridge on one of those.

I am not sure how a mini-humbucker would match up with a toaster. But here is what one dude did with some Gretsch pups:

a Hilotron over a Filtertron, which he says is the equivalent of a single over a humbucker.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOJb_4-k4iA