I know this is a bit off topic but as a resident of rec.audio.pro I thought
some of you with guitar experience would have some ideas here. I posted in
alt.guitar but no-one has responded.

I just aquired a Rickenbacker 360 on ebay and am very happy with the guitar
except...

When you play it through a loudish amp or turn any sort of drive on (I mean
just a little) it howls like a wolf. Sounds like the body is resonating to a
certain note like blowing down a pipe. Makes it impossible to use in a live
situation.

Are they all like this or do I have a problem here!?
If they are like this how the hell do I stop it happening or how do people
use them live? Is there a fix? Does blocking the F-holes make any difference
or do I need to stuff the inside of the guitar somehow?

thanks,

Martin

Martin Quinn wrote:
I know this is a bit off topic but as a resident of rec.audio.pro I
thought
some of you with guitar experience would have some ideas here. I
posted in
alt.guitar but no-one has responded.

I just aquired a Rickenbacker 360 on ebay and am very happy with the
guitar
except...

When you play it through a loudish amp or turn any sort of drive on
(I mean
just a little) it howls like a wolf. Sounds like the body is
resonating to a
certain note like blowing down a pipe. Makes it impossible to use in
a live
situation.

Are they all like this or do I have a problem here!?
If they are like this how the hell do I stop it happening or how do
people
use them live? Is there a fix? Does blocking the F-holes make any
difference
or do I need to stuff the inside of the guitar somehow?

thanks,

Martin


The pickups need potted.

http://www.stewmac.com/tradesecrets/...s26fralin.html

http://www.fralinpickups.com/rewind_repair.htm

If you decide to do this yourself, BE CAREFUL.
Watch the temperature and keep it 140-150 F*, no higher.
Liquid wax is flamable.

rd

Try covering up the f-holes or sticking foam into them.

if it is howling, as you say, and not screeching, it is feedback from
the body, normal for a semi-acoustic.
this is why semi-acoustic guitars are no longer fashionable -- they are
prone to feedback with high distortion and volume.
you need to turn the gain down and learn to use your hands to get the
sound.
listen to townshend (heavy pyramids and playing ability give you the
power chords -- not distortion)

Use an EQ to create a notch a the feedback frequency.

Mark

Something inside the pickup is loose, or the mounting is loose. You
probably need to "pot" the pickup in wax to stop any vibration of the
coils, magnet, etc. But first try making sure that all screws on or
around the pickup are tightened down. You can send the pickup to
Scott Peterson at Harmonic Design and he will pot it for a reasonable
fee, like $10 I think. He builds pickups and has a little centrifuge
just for this purpose.

www.harmonicdesign.net

Al

On Tue, 1 Feb 2005 02:04:26 -0000, "Martin Quinn"
wrote:

I know this is a bit off topic but as a resident of rec.audio.pro I thought
some of you with guitar experience would have some ideas here. I posted in
alt.guitar but no-one has responded.

I just aquired a Rickenbacker 360 on ebay and am very happy with the guitar
except...

When you play it through a loudish amp or turn any sort of drive on (I mean
just a little) it howls like a wolf. Sounds like the body is resonating to a
certain note like blowing down a pipe. Makes it impossible to use in a live
situation.

Are they all like this or do I have a problem here!?
If they are like this how the hell do I stop it happening or how do people
use them live? Is there a fix? Does blocking the F-holes make any difference
or do I need to stuff the inside of the guitar somehow?

thanks,

Martin