|
Author
|
Topic: Bakelite vs. Metal Rickys?
|
Bob Snelgrove
Member From: san jose, ca
|
posted 12 February 2002 07:17 AM
profile send email edit
Hi Gang,I've never had a chance to play any Ricky lap steel, bakelite or the hollow metal ones. (pre-war)
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1510914840&r=0&t=0&showTutorial=0&ed=1013487311&indexURL=0&rd=1 Are they truly night and day? It seems the same 1 1/2 pickup would have a similar sound? Looking for opinions from those that have played both. thx bob |
George Keoki Lake
Member From: Edmonton, AB., Canada
|
posted 12 February 2002 11:03 AM
profile edit
The Ric shown was the cheaper student model they produced which, IMHO did not have a sound to write home about when compared with the bakelite or frypan models. |
Ray Montee
Member From: Portland, OR, USA
|
posted 12 February 2002 11:06 AM
profile send email edit
With one leg shorter than the other, I tended to LEAN TOWARD the Bakelite Rick. The rich sound, "the moan", and general appearance all merged into making my choice.
BEFORE you make any decision, DO TRY BOTH.
It will be a worthwhile investment in YOUR TIME to do so, not to mention a lifetime of pleasure in playing whatever model it is that you ultimately decide upon. The "sound" is in the ears of the beholder. (I wish I would have thought of that!) |
Ray Montee
Member From: Portland, OR, USA
|
posted 12 February 2002 11:17 AM
profile send email edit
An afterthought: Keoki Lake made a very good point. He is a lot older than even me and many of you Forumites as well. He's also Canadian and they're known for honesty, character and integrity. He's the kinda guy a short person can truly look up to. He has set me straight on many, many things, from his igloo house, his dogs and sled, and the RCMP.
If Keoki says it you CAN take it to the bank!
I've listened to HIS words of wisdom from this wonderful man for nearly 60 years. He's the greatest and would NEVER give you or anyone else a bum stear! BELIEVE and TRUST! |
Jon Light
Member From: Brooklyn, NY
|
posted 12 February 2002 12:38 PM
profile send email edit
Bob--I've got a pre-war Silver Hawaiian and a post-war Bakelite so between my comparisons and yours we are doing apples, oranges, pomegranites and kumquats. But even with the 1 1/2" pup on the Silver H. vs. the 1 1/4" pup on the panda, the panda is more ballsy. The Silver H. has some resonances that are almost resonator-like.
Frankly, I don't play the laps much--in my opinion non-pedal playing is way harder than PSG and I just don't have time.
But as beautiful as the S.H. is, it's not my first choice as a player.
My guess would be that the guitar you are looking at is everything the S.H. is, and less.These are seriously subjective observations and lack the many hours of playing on these I wish I had in order to give a more respectable report on these instruments. |
Ian McLatchie
Member From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
|
posted 12 February 2002 02:32 PM
profile send email edit
I've owned a number of Rickenbackers, including the Model B (bakelite), Silver Hawaiian, Model 59 (pre-war hollow steel body) and NS (post-war version of the same).
In terms of their versatility and purity of tone, I think the bakelites are hands-down the best instrument all around, but if you want a screamer, NOTHING matches a Silver Hawaiian through a small tube amp. The steel body instruments simply don't compare to the brass-bodied Silver Hawaiian, but they do have some of the same rude-and-crude appeal as the steel-bodied National acoustic guitars. |
Michael Johnstone
Member From: Sylmar,Ca. USA
|
posted 12 February 2002 03:17 PM
profile send email edit
I've owned both but in a fit of stupidity,I sold the Bakelite 8 string to someone who might actually play it.The only drawbacks about the Bakelite are a fairly evident temperature/tuning issue - and they're fragile.I still have the Silver Hawaiian(actually a 1951 G Deluxe)It's also an 8 string and I love the way it sounds - fat and glassy.It doesn't sound like a Bakelite but then again it doesn't sound like my Stringmaster either.We're talking about the two or three best sounding laps ever made - so take your pick.If you like the Bakelite,try the new Sierra lap.Very close in looks,sound,it stays in tune and it's readily available - and a little bird tells me it can now be had w/10 or 12 strings. -MJ- |
George Keoki Lake
Member From: Edmonton, AB., Canada
|
posted 12 February 2002 03:42 PM
profile edit
I own a Silver Hawaiian...a beautiful guitar in appearance, but man it's hard to see those frets...everything is so gleaming!
I also have a 6 Ric frypan and an 8 Ric bakelite along with my double 8 teardrop Ric.
Like Skip, I find the bakelite has far more "balls" than any of the others. It does not have the large magnet, whereas the S.H. does. The makeup of the body construction has a lot more to do with tone than some would think.
And Ray, (Skip), all that b.s.!! You flatter me with your humor, however I sure don't deserve all those nice words. |
Rick Garrett
Member From: Tyler, Texas
|
posted 12 February 2002 04:07 PM
profile send email edit
I cant compare the two because I've never played the metal version but I do have a 1904's bakelite 10 string Ricky thats got tone to burn. I've had pedal steels that didnt have as much balls as this little guitar. Fat as can be. Good luck with whichever model you go with. Rick |
Andy Volk
Member From: Boston, MA
|
posted 12 February 2002 05:01 PM
profile send email edit
For both tone and classic, timeless American industrial design it's hard to beat the Bakelite guitars IMHO. The pickups are very adjustable and - with proper amp settings - can give you everything from a full, rich Hawaiian tone to a high register sound that has the distinctive "pop" of a Tele. I love mine. |
Rick Aiello
Member From: Berryville, VA USA
|
posted 12 February 2002 05:37 PM
profile send email edit
I have a Ricky Silver Hawaiian and a T Logo Bakelite. I took the pickup out of the Silver and stuffed it full (all up through the neck and body) with a couple beach towels...really helped with some of those "harsher resonances". Made it sounds alot closer to the bakelite. It is by far the prettiest of my "Ole Timers" but my finger pick hits the chrome body and makes quite a "click"... quote:
If you like the Bakelite,try the new Sierra lap.Very close in looks,sound,it stays in tune and it's readily available - and a little bird tells me it can now be had w/10 or 12 strings.
Like a quote off their website.."Like a Pre-war Rick Bakelite on STEROIDS". I can only imagine what a 10 or 12 string version would look like...quite Schwartzenneggerish!!! |
oj hicks
Member From: Birmingham, Alabama, USA
|
posted 13 February 2002 05:49 PM
profile send email edit
Hi, Rick. My, you are full of surprises. I didn't know about your Silver Hawaiian. And I agree on the Sierra... "Like the Pre-war Rick on Steriods." But can you imagine what a neck a 12 string Sierra would be like if they keep that good wide string spacing. Probably would have to wear a metal sleeve on the forearm up to the elbow for the bar. Then how would you get those neat slants that you are really good at?oj hicks |
Rick Aiello
Member From: Berryville, VA USA
|
posted 13 February 2002 06:37 PM
profile send email edit
Howdy OJ...I have to admit that the 12 string version would be (to quote a fellow forumite and former Sierra owner) "Way too much horse for this cowboy". Honestly my latest shipment of flatwounds was back-ordered and I only have 6 strings on the Sierra now...kinda like it..never use those bass strings much anyway. |
Ray Montee
Member From: Portland, OR, USA
|
posted 13 February 2002 08:43 PM
profile send email edit
Hi again! I can only compare the Rick Bakelites with my 70-ish Emmons dbl-10 and my 1956 Bigsby quad-8. I have 4 six stringers and 3 seven stringers, all Bakelite and the sound IS PHENOMINAL!!!
I've heard hundreds of guitars...and to me, for the serious player, there is no sound that begins to equal that Rick sound.
EVERY NOTE is crystal clear; the fretting makes slants front/back so simple to accomplish. I'm not selling the product but after waiting/searching/praying for 50 years to have just one, I can now say factually, IMHO, there is no other sound like it.
Freedom Guitars at pdeross@freedomguitar.com has both a FryPan and Bakelite for sale; the 6-string Frypan is listed at $2,500; the Bakelite postwar
is listed at $1,199.95....small pickup and metal string attach point.
Do try BEFORE you buy....... Shop wisely! |
Rick Aiello
Member From: Berryville, VA USA
|
posted 14 February 2002 07:13 AM
profile send email edit
7 Pre-war Bakelites.....sounds like you suffer from "Hibernial Syndrome" .... characterized by frantically scampering around searching for, gathering and hording food for the winter. Spring will come Ray  |
Ray Montee
Member From: Portland, OR, USA
|
posted 14 February 2002 07:48 PM
profile send email edit
Hey Rick! I'm thinkin' that that hi mountain rarified air is affecting your vocabulary. What was it you said, exactly? |
Rick Aiello
Member From: Berryville, VA USA
|
posted 14 February 2002 08:56 PM
profile send email edit
Now I'm worried - I thought I made up "words" better than I made up "licks"...  If you ever want to part with one of those babies... |
The Steel Guitar Forum
