Rickenbacker 5002v58

[MrTidy]

New member here, I've been playing mandolin for a couple of years. The band I'm in now plays electrically so I ordered a Rickenbacker mandolin (I love their guitars). No one has them in stock so I must now wait 18 (!) months to get it. I guess I'll have to get something to tide me over!
Has anyone here ever played a Ric mandolin?
http://www.rickenbacker.com/us/5002v58.htm

[jmkatcher]

I haven't played one, but when I was looking I was told they weren't near as playable as the Gibson EM200, which is what I ended up with it. The EM200 is _really_ playable, so I have to assume the person who wrote me knew something. Nothing against Rickenbacker, as I think their electric guitars are beautifully made.

[MrTidy]

How does the EM-200 sound acoustically? Obviously the Ric won't sound like much with an amp!

[mando bandage]

How does the EM-200 sound acoustically? Obviously the Ric won't sound like much with an amp!


Just like the ric; it's a solid body too.

R

[crosspicker]

I've got a Ric and an EM-200. I think the Ric is very easy to play. It's got a wider fretboard than the EM-200 and I find it easier to get around on. It's also lighter than the
EM-200. When I'm playing them at home I hardly ever use an amp and they both sound OK acoustically and have a loud enough sound.

[Spruce]

" No one has them in stock so I must now wait 18 (!) months to get it. I guess I'll have to get something to tide me over!"

Hey MrTidy...
I might know where there's one for sale...
Been sitting in a closet for years...

PM me and I'll hook you up...
Here's a pic...

[mandough]

Hey Bruce,
Do those Rickenbacker mandos have a laminated neck (I mean laquer covered) like the guitars do? I sure love my 360!
sean

[Hoyt]

I had a Ric mando for awhile.

It was a great conversation piece, but for me it just wasn't very flexible. I took it to a gig a couple of times, but after a while left it at home because I liked the sound of an acoustic with a pickup better.

I currently have an electric mandola that is semihollow that I like a lot. If I played more mandolin, I'd probably get one of the Godin electric/acoustics. I've played a few of those in stores and they sounded nice and had a little more acoustic flavor.

I'm a big Ric guitar fan, but the mando was just too limited for my use. It was nicely built, it had a nice sparkly sound -- but, in my opinion, it was only good for a song or two in a set.

If you want an 8 string solid body -- the Ric is probably as nice as any. If you buy one used at a reasonable price, it'll hold it's value.

[Harry H]

Mr. Tidy,

I almost bought a Ric mando once, until I played it.

Unlike acoustic mandos, there was no separation in the sound of the double course of strings. I thought it sounded like a Les Paul
with a capo on the 12th fret.

I have a friend who has one since the '90's; I talked to him today about it, in anticipation of posting here.
Here's what he said:

1) They're too tight tension-wise and the notes fade too quickly.
# # #He suggested tuning it a step down, maybe more,
# # #so the strings wouldn't be so tight on the instrument.

2) The pickup is in the wrong place, just way too bright.
# # Plus, the pickup is too strong on his, too 'hot'.
# # The new 'toaster' pickups aren't wound as strongly
# # as the earlier 'vintage reissues'. If you buy a used one
# # and you want to have any hope of getting a Ricky 'jangle'
# # sound, you're going to have to partially unwind the pickup
# # (don't forget to tune it 'down').

3) The only way to get an even sound across the board is to
# # take one G string off and play it as a 7 string ( really, he said
# # this was the most important thing to tell you).

4) He disagreed with my 'Les Paul with a capo' analogy;
# # said it was 'more like a Mexican Tele with a capo'!

5) It's a fairly close knock-off of the original
# # 7 Rick mandos, but not an exact copy. That makes it a reissue
# # of a model that 'never was'. Plus, the original that I've seen
# # down here in the Southwest USA has a warped headstock.

6) The dealer that had it was highly motivated to get rid of it.
# # #My friend bought it for $700. I asked him, if he
# # #had to do it all over again, if he'd buy it. He said he would
# # #for $700, but not for $1100, 1200 or 1300. By the way, he # # #
# # #doesn't want to sell it. He uses it for playing at night so he
# # #won't #disturb his family. I've never seen him play it at a gig.
# # #
7) #My friend and I used to try and figure out ways to make
# # #is sound better that were reversible; eight saddle bridges
# # #(instead of the four saddles they come with), custom
# # #piezo 'power bridge' saddles, pulling the standard bridge
# # #and replacing it with a Fishman mando bridge, then running
# # #it through a Stereo output jack to blend (or not) outside of
# # #the mando, etc. The basic idea was to try and find some
# # #way of getting the string courses to behave like they do
# # #on an acoustic mando, resonate and work against each other
# # #in a slightly chorus-y, ever-so slightly out of tune way. #

8) Up Side? It's as cute as a button! #Rick mandos are like a '60's
# # motor-cycle; Cool Factor way high, everything else sucks!

If you'll PM me, I'll give you his email address. He said you're
welcome to get in touch with him if you have any questions.
I'm sure I've forgotten something in all the years we've tried to
figure out how to make it sound better.

Good luck. I'd back out on the order if I were you.