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Topic: How do the Bakelite's sound? (Hawaiian Tone Quest) |
Steve Marinak
From:
Man O War Cay, Abaco, Bahamas
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Posted 3 Jan 2016 4:32 am |
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Can some of you provide feedback on how the Rickenbacher Bakelite's sound? Audio examples to listen to?
I'm interested in other Hawaiian tones. I've got a Frypan A22 and was curious how the Bakelite's differ in tone from that. Same pickup?? Thanks.
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Steve Marinak |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 3 Jan 2016 5:04 pm only a suggestion............
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Several example exist on You Tube under my name......
Mine is a seven string Ric Bakelite with Jerry Byrd's
early day recommendation for strings; Spanish Guitar Strings.
You might give it a listen; Ray Montee, Nostalgic steel guitar; and others. |
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Steve Marinak
From:
Man O War Cay, Abaco, Bahamas
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Posted 4 Jan 2016 4:12 am
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Thank you for the reply Ray! Nice playing out there on YouTube. You are a legend.
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Steve Marinak |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 4 Jan 2016 8:31 pm
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I have both, bakelite and A22,and both are 7 string models. Two different animals, and both have their own personalities and tone, and both are wonderful instruments.... 
The problem is, you get spoiled by them, and other guitars don't always have what you are looking for. |
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Derrick Mau
From:
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
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Joe Elk
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 5 Jan 2016 4:42 am
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Very Nice Derrick!
Joe Elk |
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Steve Marinak
From:
Man O War Cay, Abaco, Bahamas
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Posted 5 Jan 2016 7:05 am
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Derrick, Thank you. Great sound and playing!
Another question on the Bakelites, maybe Rick Aiello would know this pickup question:
Were there differences in the pickups in the years these were built?
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Steve Marinak |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 5 Jan 2016 7:35 am
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The horseshoe pickups are the same in Bakelites and Frypans ... Magnet widths changed
for both, the 1.25" being introduced with the advent of the "surround's" on both postwar Bakelites and frypans ...
Variances in steel composition were mirrored in both ...
The only "different" horseshoe pickups Ricky made ... We're the original "fat magnet" frypans circa '32 ... The bobbin, mounting scheme, etc ... Very different
Of course the 10 string Bakelites and all those units on things like stand up basses, etc ... Were unique ...
As far as the coils ... The only significant change came in the late 50's, when thinner diameter magnet wire replaced the 38 AWG ...
Hope that helps ...
PS I think you had a very early electric Hawaiian tone on that Christmas video you and your family made  |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 5 Jan 2016 7:44 am
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Both the Fry Pan and pre- and wartime bakelite models sound incredibly rich and smooth with significant detail in the top end balanced with rich bottom end. The bakelites have more in the lower midrange, which makes the tone rounder, while the slight dip in midrange of the Fry Pan gives the impression of more brilliance.
Not all bakelites are equal and the same for Fry Pans. But out of the best ones that I've played and owned, that is how I might characterize them.
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Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Steve Marinak
From:
Man O War Cay, Abaco, Bahamas
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Posted 5 Jan 2016 9:38 am
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Lots of great feedback and knowledge here. Thank you. I did not know about "pre war vs other" differences...so I learned something. Thanks for the link to the other threads too. I keep gravitating in my quest for the Dick McIntyre tone. Although I also like Jules Ah See's tone and volume swells, his technique seems quite advanced. Speaking of volume swells and bakelites. I would think the latter models with the two knobs on the outer bout would be easier to navigate than the models with one knob on each side...Yes?
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Steve Marinak |
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Bill Brunt
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 5 Jan 2016 4:17 pm
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One of my very favorite utube videos.
It must have previously been up somewhere else on the web, because I am pretty sure I have watched it more than 250 times! |
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Peter den Hartogh
From:
Cape Town, South Africa
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Posted 6 Jan 2016 11:37 am
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Wonderful playing, Derrick.
Which amp-setting did you use on the Roland Micro Cube?
JC CLEAN, BLACK PANEL or BRIT COMBO?
And what is your TONE setting?
Thank you so much for the nice recording.
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Derrick Mau
From:
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 6 Jan 2016 11:58 am
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Thanks everyone. Glad you all enjoyed the bakelite tone as I do.
Peter, I'm using the Brit Combo Setting. Tone at 10 o'clock. |
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Peter den Hartogh
From:
Cape Town, South Africa
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Posted 6 Jan 2016 9:06 pm
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| Thank you Derrick. |
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Derrick Mau
From:
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 9 Jan 2016 2:03 am
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Peter,
I use the Roland Micro Cube for most of my gigs at this setting. Here's how it sounds using it on my Fender Double 6 so you can compare the tone of the Bakelite and Fender.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrejGjGGP7g |
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Steve Marinak
From:
Man O War Cay, Abaco, Bahamas
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Posted 10 Jan 2016 11:27 am
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Very nice playing Derrick! Great tone and phrasing on all your videos. I'll have to find where you are playing next time I visit the islands. I would imagine not having to plug into a wall socket also gives you some freedom.
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Steve Marinak |
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Miles Lang
From:
Venturaloha
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Posted 11 Jan 2016 7:03 am
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| Derrick Mau wrote: |
Peter,
I use the Roland Micro Cube for most of my gigs at this setting. Here's how it sounds using it on my Fender Double 6 so you can compare the tone of the Bakelite and Fender.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrejGjGGP7g |
That's perfect, Derrick. What tuning are you using? C# and E for the top two, it seems. I can get the sounds about 90% right on my weird G6 tuning, but there is a lot of jumping around involved. I would like to find one of those Dual 6 steels sometime. I think I'm just a 6-string guy - can't wrap my head around 8 strings. |
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Andy Alford
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Posted 11 Jan 2016 8:44 am Rick bake sound
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| The sound is very lush,full,rich, but the guitar is very subject to temp. change. I love the sound of the guitars but the tuning issue has always been an obstacle. If you are not going to play it where temp. changes you should be fine. |
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Derrick Mau
From:
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 11 Jan 2016 11:30 am
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Miles. I'm using a C#m7th tuning.
I've had 6 bakelites. Keep the best sounding one and sold the rest. Not that the others sounded bad. Each had it's own tone. Enjoyed them all. Great steels.
Had no tuning issues with any of them here in Hawaii.
They veer off a little sometimes, but I always check my tuning in between songs at my gigs. |
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Miles Lang
From:
Venturaloha
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Posted 11 Jan 2016 4:18 pm
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| Derrick Mau wrote: |
Miles. I'm using a C#m7th tuning.
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Is this it?
C# Minor Tuning:
1. E
2. C#
3. G#
4. E
5. C#
6. G# |
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Derrick Mau
From:
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 12 Jan 2016 3:53 am
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Miles,
I'm using a B on the string six instead of a G#. |
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Bill Creller
From:
Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)
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Posted 18 Jan 2016 3:34 pm
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In regard to the temperature changing the pitch, Derrick and I were playing at a place called the Fort Street Mall some years ago. As the sun moved across and I wasn't in the shade anymore, my frypan was changing pitch by itself !!  Took a few minutes to figure out and remember what was going on !
Not sure how much the bakelite would be affected, but JB mentioned it, about playing under the heat of TV lights....
Bill |
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Peter den Hartogh
From:
Cape Town, South Africa
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Posted 19 Jan 2016 2:47 am
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| Derrick, thank you for the Fender example. Great playing and also a nice tone. |
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Derrick Mau
From:
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2016 3:03 pm
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Thanks Peter.
Glad you enjoyed it. Aloha! |
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