Playing a Chickenbacker!
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- Опубліковано 17 тра 2018
- Long time no see, y’all!
I’ve got something new to show you this time around. Let’s take a look at a Chinese made Rickenbacker replica guitar. It looks a lot like a real 325, but does it play and sound like one?
Here's a link to this guitar: bit.ly/2sD6mKl - Розваги
Congrats on being the owner of a brand new chickenbacker! You are the eggman.
Vitally14 Goo Goo G’Joob!
I'm the walrus.
@@marcio_souza007coo coo ka choo
I took a gamble and got one of these. Mine was $250 w/ shipping due to a sale and I got lucky. Mine turned out to be really well done all around. The pots are cheap junk, as they tend to be on budget guitars anyway, but other than that, pretty solid guitar. Certainly for $250, anyway. Everything on it is done correctly. Nut is the correct height, the truss rod works unlike some Chinese made guitars, the fretwork is on point, all level and all the edges were filed to be rounded, the neck isn't warped or twisted in any way. The tuners are better than the ones on my Fender Tele, and it stays in tune better than my Fender. The only actual problem with it is just how cheap the pots are. You replace those and you have a pretty solid guitar. Visually the only problem with it is the pickguard doesn't follow the contour of the body exactly, which is an easy enough fix to do
No it doesn't sound exactly like a real Rick when you play them side by side, but it's close enough that if you heard it blindfolded on its own you would still say Oh that's a Rickenbacker without hesitation
I just don't understand how a guitar of this quality can go for $250 while Gibson sells stuff for 3 grand that are legitimately worse in construction quality
I just got mine in the mail. Mine came from ear-t guitars based on some research they strive to make top qaulity guitars for being a a chinese made mine is actually pretty good.
You got me! One is on the way. I never knew these existed. Hoping they only got better in the last 5 years. Kudos and thank you. Cheers from Cali!
For a replica... I think that actually sounds pretty good, especially with the heavy guage, I would personally, change the fake Bigsby B5 to the real one, and change the tuners
Nice post Brian. I think you just proved a good point that at the end of the day, guitars are made of wood, metal & plastic, and just about anyone can make them. Also, unless you're a professional musician or have a musical ear, the difference in sound is not that significantly different. Especially, after a few low-cost mods.
I appreciate the Chinese replicas from a cost perspective as you can own a guitar for about 1/15th the cost of the real deal, mod it however you like and not have to worry about dinging, denting or jamming hard on it! I own many modern & vintage Gibson, Fender & Rickenbackers. The Chinese replicas offer a ton of bang for the buck and are worth every penny. Much like you, I'm not looking to buy & flip the but enjoy tinkering and playing Chinese guitars.
In terms of Rickenbacker as a company, I've been disappointed for many years. It all starts with the owner John Hall who lacks the creativity, passion for making guitars, and care for customers, which died with his amazing father Frank. The Rickenbacker website is bland and looks like a high school kid built it. Anyone notice there have not been any new news updates since 1/21/2014!!! There has also been no innovation from Rickenbacker in years and please don't count the horrific walnut series. They do very little to maximize the popular instruments they make like Fender or Gibson, although their prices have reached custom shop Fender and Gibson guitar prices. At the end of the day, Rickenbackers are limited rhythm guitars as Sinatralennon demonstrates.
Beautiful guitar with that binding...thanks for the video !!! Enjoy your new guitar !!!!
Thanks, mate!
Fantastic to see You back Brian! I've missed Your demos bigtime, I'm still chiming away on my 350v63 in Masterton, NewZealand.
That’s great! I’ve thought about getting a 350 at some point. I prefer the older models with the pickups spaced closer together like my 325. Keep on jangling!
Weird coincidence - I ordered one of these recently as well... I was already subscribed to you on UA-cam because of your Beatle covers, and I've just realised that the review I read on AliExpress about this guitar was you! Really glad you uploaded this video, can't wait to receive mine now!
That’s cool! Yeah, if you have any questions, message me. This is a very good replica. It as good as a real one, but it will do on a budget.
Yesterday I couldn't considered to buy a replica but in the time as an Gibson & Fender user and having some expensive standard guitars of both trademark having finished details and fretboard not in rosewood and trouble playable noseing strings so and by this I choose one of that Chicken even though it'll be arriving on January I'm waiting to see what happens with it why not folks
Nice to see you back Brian! I’ve been watching some of your videos and I started watching you when you played Some Other Guy which was great! Keep up the great work man!
Thanks! What else should I play? I take requests. 😋
Hold up. Is this the shaving guy?! I’ve been watching his shaving videos for quite a long time. Had no clue he played guitar too. I just stumbled upon this while looking up Chinese guitar copies. Unreal.
Ha! Yep, this is my first channel that I started waaaay before my shaving channel. UA-cam is crazy isn’t it?!
On short scale guitars, such as the 325, you have to use heavy gauge strings. Otherwise, proper intonation is near impossible. Once I made the change to heavy gauge, every chord and note I play in any fret position sounds perfect. Heavy gauge is also the reason why John Lennon's rhythm backings sounded so chunky and full.
G R ...and that’s why I put some heavy flat wound .12’s on this little guitar. However, even with the heavy gauge strings that short scale guitars seem to do better with, I can’t get this one to stay in tune. I think it’s more the bridge or the tailpiece than the strings. I’ll keep trying!
what is the weight like compared to the real deal nice guitar
@@jaintly The Bridge is jacked up very high, which may cause such issues - but it could also be a poorly cut nut, given most of the trouble is in the open chord positions low down the neck. As a luthier, it's the first place I'd check as it's always the simplest issue to rectify. if the frets are uneven or you have a high one here and there, that would cause 'dead' notes and possible buzzing rather than simple bad tuning or intonation issues.
Hmmmmmmm might try this on my chickenbacker 330..short scale ..using light 10s at the moment ..thanks ..
John used 13's. Scale is irrelevant, I still dream of owning a 325 but I've played several with 9's and 10's on and they had no tuning issues. A well made guitar has no issues, especially if set up properly by a good tech or luthier.
Advice noted!! Fancy getting the same as you with the 325 C64
Fun video. Your love for The Beatles is obvious and understandable. I'm a huge fan too. Of note, almost everyone seems to miss the correct chord change on "I Saw Her Standing There." In fact, Paul's current band screws it up too. So perhaps my observation is too picky. That said, at the end of each verse, the bass goes to a C note, while John and George play an Am chord rather than a C chord. It's clear to see on numerous live performances. Anyway, thanks for your videos. Very enjoyable.
was looking at these earlier and found your comment on aliexpress, and then coincidentally I found your video too! The binding looks great
I love it when a plan comes together! It's great to be able to actually see one of these Aliexpress guitars in action.
I bought the exact same, absolute unreal guitar after a good setup. Thankyou!
Do you happen to have a link for this guitar?
@@killaman7592 I’m not sure they sell them anymore seeing as they’ve taken the page down. I bought mine around 1 year ago, so I’ve had it quite a while, I’m sure you can find one that’s pretty decent, make sure you look at reviews and try to communicate with the seller what features you want in the guitar. Sorry I could help too much mate,
Rob
Very cool. Glad to see you back! Cannot decide if I like these videos or your shaving videos better🤔
Gonna shave my guitar next!
I did use flat wound strings on my Chickenbacker that I got. My Chickenbacker was more expensive and from a different site. I had tuning issues at first. Put the flat wounds on it, no problems tuning it now and sounds great. Hope you have great day. :)
If you've got the intonation right at the 12th fret but it's out on first position chords it's usually a problem with the nut. Sometimes it's just the action at the nut, if it's too high then notes will get sharper as you fret closer to the nut.
I just sanded down the nut and it’s staying in tune better on those open chords. Not perfect, but close!
I bought one and it looks and sounds great
Well done Sinatralennon!
How much was the tariff from china on the chickenbacker?
Koo Koo Kachoo....God bless you.
Might I ask which distributor or company you ordered the guitar?
Hi, great rewiew, how it works after years? it works well? the bygsby works strong?
I just got one, i customised it to have the slimmer neck, the correct heel joint, correct pickup spacing, correct head stock angle etc. I got the one without binding. Got 13s on mine and it sounds absolutely great
Marvin Hanson wow! You did the customization right! Great to hear. I’m just glad that none has the correct headstock angle. It’s a beautiful guitar.
@@jaintly thanks man, oh yeah the headstock is super important, its great you can buy these really similar guitars without spending well over 3 grand
can you do a demo video?
@@Record503S i dont really make videos but i could possibly do a cover or something
The neck position is what my 320 sounded like before I rewired it (was badly corroded). I would drop in a new harness in this and HB1s for the hell of it. It seem cheap enough to make it playable.
Joelle Brodeur it could be a fun project to make this thing a really well playing guitar.
Very nice!
Nice. It sounds just like a real Ric. Johnny Marr would be fooled.
Johnny marr played a 330
p m you lucky guy
Maybe the nut slots are cut too shallow. Check tuning at the first fret to see if the notes are sharp.
Brian I have been following your videos . . . Awesome job!!!! I just picked up a 325 from the same Global Guitar company . . . without the white binding. He does make a beautiful guitar. The neck is almost perfect with only 4 slightly high frets which I filed down. What really impressed me was his attention to making the fret edges smooth. My $800 Cordoba GK Studio Negra has "saw-blade" edges! His wiring was very different and the pots did not function like Rickenbacker's schematic, so I rewired it. I also put a real Bigsby on it. Because of the same issue with the neck being slightly higher, I can't use the Sorkin Bowtie bridge yet. Am going to try to loosen the truss rod to bring the neck up so that I can maybe lower the saddle. But I am pretty impressed with the job he did.
You play Beatles really well . . . I have to get used to the shorter scale. BTW . . . I put "Frankenbacker" on my truss cover.
Well how did it work? Is the action ridiculously high on this guitar?
what is the name of the seller with wue you bought this rickenbacker on aliexpress?
Not sure if you "fixed" the tuning or not, but I know what the problem is with the open chord tuning.... The distance between the nut and the first fret looks too long so it throws out the scale length at that point. You can play "in tune" (assuming that you are in tune) higher up the neck because the frets are much closer to the scale length. The solution is to cut the fingerboard a small amount at the nut and move the nut up to it. It may be as much as 1/8" or more you need to cut. The way you find out is to place a round small piece of metal or other hard material ( I use paper clips) under your top and bottom string moving it and checking the tuning with a tuner. Where it is in tune is where you cut, Then you reset your nut. Bravo
this is a question involving your c58 I just purchased a jetglo c58 and I want to install a bigsby did you do this yourself or get someone to do it ?
Curry Boy I got a guitar repair guy to do it. I wouldn’t trust myself to NOT screw it up.
Would it be worth putting in some toasters for 100 bucks off feebay? Or is it close to the real one? ON the video they sound like humbuckers...
That is the short scale correct? Why the edge binding? Can you get original replacement parts for it? I would change out the tuners, Bigsby, pickups.
Andrew Russell I had them put one binding because I’ve always liked the way that the Susannah Hoffs RIC 350 looks with the binding. I doubt that ‘real’ parts would fit, but maybe!
Cheers Brian, I love my Rickenbacker 350v63, but I think I would have much rather had the 325c64, I know You have a wonderful 381v69 Mapleglo, & I have ordered a 381/12v69 Fireglo! It's been a 13 month wait so far, but anticipation is a wonderful thing, Gives me the chance to come up with the conkers too! First time I've ordered a guitar from the Ric Factory,
To quote a wise gentleman, “the waiting is the hardest part,” but it’s also the best. My first RIC was ordered from the factory and it took 9 months to arrive! That was back in the early 90’s and it was just a stock 610/12 string. (If you can ever pick up a C64, do it! It’s a fabulous little short arm)
Would changing the pickups help get it closer to an exact sound?
Yes but it would be a difficult job. The body is nearly the exact same as a real Ric so of you change all the hardware it would probably sound the exact same.
I love it when you play 'I want to hold your hand'
What problems have you had with the Chickenbacker?
hello brian, Im looking to get the rickenbacker 360 6 string, cherry burst. Does the 5 degree headstock also apply to the 6 string 360? yes Im on aliexpress and the price is 340.00 aly other info you can pass on to me before I buy? how much extra for the 5 degree headstock and the binding? thank you, Steve
as someone who has 3 Copies You really have to ask the seller, you may have to pay more but its atleast not $100 more
I was wondering if you still post
Just got mine only my tremelo piece is basically a flat metal peice thats the bridge its nice.
I got one from Rareguitars and its a POS. I told them that I wanted it to the same dimensions as Lennons 58' Maple finish. While they got the maple finish right, the head stock was misshaped and the tuners not quite in the right location. The body was not as thick as it should have been. The bridge was awful and bent when I used the vibrato, which was also awful and stuck up way too high. I replaced the vibrato with the proper Bigsby and got rid of the POS bridge with the same bow tie bridge that Lennon used. Reshaped the head stock and moved the tuners where they should have been. Also replaced the strings with some flat wounds. Now it at least stays in tune. Just wish that Rickenbacker would have continued production of this particular 325 model. I would have much rather spent my money on the real McCoy. BTW. I paid $450 bucks for mine and it didnt look half as good as this guys, for less money. Lesson learned. You get what you pay for.
Doesn't Ric make it as a re-issue now?
@@davidcudlip6587 I believe they make the Miami version of it, but not the original Maple Glo model that Lennon purchased in Hamburg, Germany.
Is the fretboard rosewood?
The sourness on first position is likely the nut height which after 4 years you’ve figured something out.
Hi Brian, Just seeing this 4 years after the fact and haven’t read all the comments yet. Yours with the binding looks to be a hollow-body like John’s. Is that, in fact, the case? Link to Aliexpress no longer active, but there are other similar models. Was looking at one locally and I used to have one (solid body) by a maker called Dillion or something. But I can’t use 12 ga. strings which kind of puts a damper on buying the one GR has for sale. Oh well. Let me know if yours is hollow or chambered. Thanks.
Brian, it's funny you've posted this. I just took delivery of a 325 knock off fro Aliexpress this week also. I bought a blue one. Maybe baby blue is what they were going for. Overall I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it looks. It has the same problem with the open chords. I haven't even changed strings yet. Actually, I prefer the wider neck. Anyway, nice looking guitar Brian. I've already got another picked out...
If you make videos, please post one and let me know!
Brian, I posted a short video of mine, you can see it on my channel. I'm not investing any more money into it. Just strings and a setup. It's fun to jam around on the way it is. I wouldn't be afraid to play it out...
Rick Barnes I’ll go check it out!
Hey Brian, did you get another one? Natural color?
I miss your C58
How do I put in a special request? And can you tell me what I should say to get the same degree headstock like yours ?
Goose knuclez Once you find this seller’s online store on Aliexpress, contact him via the messaging function you’ll find there. Tell him that you want the headstock to be at 5 degrees like a real Rickenbacker. He knows what this means and might even send you a photo demonstrating the correct headstock angle as he did for me when I contacted him. He’s beginning to make them more like this because of me and Stu’s How To’s.
It’s not illegal to buy them or own them, but illegal to sell them. I got one confiscated a few years ago, but once they are in your hands there’s nothing they can do. Replace the nut on that, will prolly fix the tuning problem
please come back to youtube, i love you're personality and i love the channel, please come back!!
I know. I’ve been focusing on my other UA-cam channel lately. It’s a shaving channel. I should make more over here, though.
Brian Jepson yes, thank you!!
awesome video and channel friend
What is the diffrence from that one and the real 325? Ive been saving up for a Rickenbacker, i want to get a 325 but do you think the c64 or v59 is better?
I’ll make a video soon showing the differences. If you can, buy a 325c64. They are more like the Rickenbackers from the 1960’s. They don’t make V59’s or C58’s anymore.
Brian Jepson, thank you so much
PLEASE do a video with all the differences! I'll share that one too!
Stu's-How-Tos Will do!
Please do the compare videooo!!! Thank you
I gotta be honest in terms of looks i like the white outline
Is the binding real? Cuz on my Chickenbacker the “binding” was painted on. Yours does look nice. Mine had so many flaws & I paid $365 for mine!
Squazzoo68 Yeah, the binding is real on mine. I had him send me photos during the building process. I think that I got lucky. Who made yours?
That open chord issue could be nut height or truss rod adjustment or both. An allen wrench and a set of nut files could sort that if it is indeed capable of being properly set up. Often a proper set up is one of the key things missing from cheap guitars assembled by unskilled factory workers. Entry level Squiers have similar issues but a bit of research and patience can often remedy those issues.
Legalities aside, if you could set that thing up so it is properly playable then the chances are you could have a reasonable guitar on your knee.
I kinda wish Rickenbacker would run a similar business model to Fender with Squier or Gibson with Epiphone where they have quality control in place. It would kill the market for substandard knockoffs and kids could learn on a legit affordable Ricky base model. I know I would buy one in a red hot minute whereas I will likely never cough up 3 or 4k for an American built one.
In the long term, I think it would only help their brand to have armies of young Rickenbacker players coming up through the ranks and would be a nice change from millions of kids with strats.
Just a thought :-)
Nice video
what is the nut width?
I want one!!!!!!
Seriously, it’s a killer alternative for anyone that wants the look and the sound but neither the price tag or the elongated wait. (Couldn’t avoid mentioning your silly Christopher Guest reference.)
The whole E string was out of tune!
Is it a hollow body?
Please do a comparison video between the real rickenbacker and the fake rickenbacker
what about the follow up video then ? Guitar could do with a good set up.
I still shocked how small these are
¿Donde puedo comprar una?
Donde puedo comprar una ?
I’d buy the Chickenbacker but replace the pickups with used Rickenbacker pickups for a more genuine sound
there's possible something up with the nut if the open turning is a tad off
lovely guitar by the way!
Jakub's House of ROCK I think you may be right about that. I should swap it out.
It might be as simple as just filing the underside of the existing one of it's too tall, then again it'd never hurt to replace with a nice bone one or something
goodluck !
You pays your money ,and takes your choice !!!!!
Start to play at 4:39
It would've been better if you bought the one without the binding that looks pretty familiar....... and you should check out the other copies they've got they're getting better and better each year! They've even made a mapleglo 381v69 copy 12 string ......you just need to look deep you'll find them but I've got the links if y'all are interested
Gerard Cortes since I already have the 325c64 with no binding as Lennon used, I wanted a bound 325. It’s like the Susannah Hoffa model.
Glad that you patronize guitars from China even just for comparison and experimentations...thought you're one of those guys who just because can afford the originals, are so arrogant and treat those Chickenbackers as trash! You're a reasonable and talented man Brian...just keep on making videos man...Have a nice day!
Thanks! Great comment.
But do you know what the jacket called that george is wearing i need you in help
Richard Goku Actually, yes. I just bought that coat on the Beatwear website out of the UK. It’s on sale for $95 US right now, so I snapped it up. I’ve always loved that coat. I’ll review it when it comes in!
www.beatwear.com/clothing/coats/new-the-george-coat-beige-biscuit.html
due to the short scale, you need a set of 12s at least.
I have a Chinese Rick 325 and I think it has the same out of tune problem that yours does. I think it has something to do with the Bigsby. I've never messed with a Bigsby before and when I got it the spring was not in place so I played it with the arm down all the way and the thing just wouldn't sound right. I took it in to get a set up, new strings, intonation set. Still wasn't great but much better. I then found the spring and realized it was supposed to go with the bar...I put it in there and it's way better. But the guy that set it up made it very light handed to play so if I press too hard on the strings, G especially, I can't get a good open chord out of it like yours. I can't tell but you probably do have the spring in there. But anyway, I like it a lot. Easy to play otherwise and sounds fine. Nice video.
That's NOT a Bigsby, it's a fake. I picked up a Chickenbacker from the same company as Brian and put a real Bigsby on it. Stays in tune perfectly :) The fake one has a lot of slop in it, the Bigsby is tight and smooth acting. I loosened the truss rod which raises the neck and was able to lower the bridge, because they set the neck higher than the real Rick.
Someone said to swap out the one inch spring for a half inch?
Those chickenbacker pickups are definitely humbuckers and not single coils
There is always be a Plan B
Kevin Shi right?
久しぶり!
戻って良かった
Brian Jepson thank-you ありがとう(^^)
Quanto tempo nossa que legal o video!!!! 👌👍👌👍👌👍
Marcos Pepe Gracias!
Brian Jepson eu não falo em espanhol hahaha sou brasileiro amo seus videoa brian!!
Marcos Pepe Desculpe. Obrigado!! Isso é correto?
Brian Jepson sim nao precisa se desculpar parceiro você fala muito bem em português eu sou debochado mesmo posta mais videos no seu canal que eu amo seu canal
How soon before the paint begins to fade and the neck starts to bow? lol
Looks great, but could probably do with a decent set-up and maybe swap the pups for a decent aftermarket set..
If I had to be honest I thought even your bar chords sounded a bit squiffy. As for playing first position chords, chances are it is the nut making it sound as out of tune as it does. Again, a professional set-up and using one of the tuning techniques that allows and compensates for peculiarities of first position open chords.
Paul Summerside I think that you’re right on all counts. I also like the word ‘squiffy!’ I don’t know whether to sell it or get a decent setup by someone that can do a better job than I did setting it up.
@@jaintly They have done such a lovely job of getting so many details right that it would be worth spending a few quid, sorry dollars, to give it those finishing touches, for playability and sound.
4000 to start
Is that an Aggie Ring I see???
Rickenbacker should license the design out to Epiphone so that they can at least make some money off of this very REAL market!
yeah...if the guitar won't play 'in tune' on all open chords (after correctly intonating with medium light strings (10's) then either: the nut needs adjusting or replacing or the frets themselves are bonkers. The pick up themselves being microphonic, the intonation, the tuners, etc. accounts for the crap tone, hence the price.
It sucks they are so damn expensive. I mean they should make a guitar a little more affordable. 4 grand something is not in my line of spending and people like me cannot afford to have nice things like that. Fakes are the closest thing we can get just for the sake of having it. I can do work on a guitar to make it sound better if there are problems. Id rather spend the 200 on a Chinese model than 4 grand. 4 grand to me is like 4 million. I paid that for my car and I'm still making payments. Now, I would get the real one if I could do payments and work it off somehow for the dealer.
the link that you gave to the manufacturer/seller on AliExpress is no longer any good
Not bad considering the price difference. Shame link is dead now.
website for china please anyone . Thanks
Dutch Van Helsing it’s in the description of this video.
good! . . but doesnt sound like a single coil . . you do have the "pick sound" from your pick . . and from your cam microphone . . distracting from the pickups and speaker(s) . . a cheaper $79 ish azden shotgun mic from B&H or sm57 at both (or one) at the amp grill would help! . . and the/a shotgun mic about 2 1/2 to 3 feet above your head! . . have fun! . . you sold me on this ric! . . unless the koreans have one for $4OO!
sarah waters If I buy all that recording equipment and pro mic setup, I’ll ruin my little amateurish hayseed videos! I don’t want to go and do that. 😀
Great video. But its a Rickenbacker not a Rickenbocker!! Rickenbocker just sounds weird!
So true!! I can't believe how many reviewers get this wrong 😲🥴
It’s a 326.
James Gretsch Ha! Exactly.
Regardless of sound I just couldn’t bring myself to getting an imitation guitar saying they’re a brand that they aren’t
Me neither. To buy one and then mockingly call it a Ricenbacker has my tool meter redlining.
@@deaddoll1361 That's the point!! Is a CRIME,at the end he says they are ilegal
Rickenbarrrrrrrrrrrrrker 🤣🤣
'Sustain'...said like a London geezer, innit mate 👍 ' ere I got a tasty knock off Rick'nbakka for ya, got it from a Chinese bloke but it plays pukka, know wot I mean.
the Chinese make reverse-engineered Harley-Davidson's too ... and I wouldn't buy one of them either !!! ... sometimes ya just gotta get the REAL thing !!!
Did you say Chinkenbacker?
Chicken
Yea, my x wife was beautiful as well, but...Rickenbacker also never used Bixby. It sounds like a cheap knock off as well. How do I know, I have a Rick