OK. Update on this green beauty. Just had it set up, loose jack replaced. Bill (the tech) worked his subtle magic. Got the trem loosened up, lowered the action, most important, shaved down the too-high nut. Lubed everything up for trem operation.
There's little to criticize, so I'll start there. This odd Rickenbacker bridge is a little frustrating. Has a cover on it. Have to remove that, so I can properly damp strings. Perhaps related ... wish the strings were 1/32" closer to the edge of the fretboard on the bass side. I wrap my thumb around to grab bass notes. It's a little harder to do that here than on my old strat (my standard for perfect playability.)
That's it for negatives. This thing is so much better than the 400.00 I paid for it. Instant bonding, mojo like superglue. Chris Dipinto deserves props for this design. It rings out everywhere even unplugged. I'd expected little sustain given the bridge, but that's not true. I'm hesitant now to mess with the bridge, as the sustain and balance are so good. The 25.5 scale really helps, as do these pickups. My fave positions are neck only, bridge only. Neck only is somewhat like strat neck only, similar clarity and depth, a wider sound somehow. Bridge only is unlike anything I've heard. It really cuts, as surf and spaghetti western twang as you'd want, at the same time, very bluesy sounds. Loud, can really drive the amp. This one has lots of tone tricks. Seems very versatile. So far has loved every amp I've tried it with, especially the Ampeg Gemini II and low power tweed twin ... not to mention an otherworldly tone through the Twilighter 260 with vibrato on.
If you ever get the chance, try one of these. Very cool guitars.
There's little to criticize, so I'll start there. This odd Rickenbacker bridge is a little frustrating. Has a cover on it. Have to remove that, so I can properly damp strings. Perhaps related ... wish the strings were 1/32" closer to the edge of the fretboard on the bass side. I wrap my thumb around to grab bass notes. It's a little harder to do that here than on my old strat (my standard for perfect playability.)
That's it for negatives. This thing is so much better than the 400.00 I paid for it. Instant bonding, mojo like superglue. Chris Dipinto deserves props for this design. It rings out everywhere even unplugged. I'd expected little sustain given the bridge, but that's not true. I'm hesitant now to mess with the bridge, as the sustain and balance are so good. The 25.5 scale really helps, as do these pickups. My fave positions are neck only, bridge only. Neck only is somewhat like strat neck only, similar clarity and depth, a wider sound somehow. Bridge only is unlike anything I've heard. It really cuts, as surf and spaghetti western twang as you'd want, at the same time, very bluesy sounds. Loud, can really drive the amp. This one has lots of tone tricks. Seems very versatile. So far has loved every amp I've tried it with, especially the Ampeg Gemini II and low power tweed twin ... not to mention an otherworldly tone through the Twilighter 260 with vibrato on.
If you ever get the chance, try one of these. Very cool guitars.