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"Hi Rich and Chris,
The guitar arrived this past Thursday....and in typical fashion, I pulled into my development as a Fedex Home Delivery truck was leaving. I drove up the hill and into my garage......found the delivery sticker on my front door and cursed the gods for not giving me just five minutes. Joking aside, I ended up being home in time to sign the next day and was grinning ear to ear after opening the box.
But I have to be honest......being a guitar player is a fickle thing....there was the worry of "buyers remorse" in the back of my mind since the very day I sent my down payment......and mainly that was in the form of two things: number one, the neck of the guitar wouldn't feel comfortable, and two, the sound of the guitar and it's pickups wouldn't be what I was expecting.
That being said, I was not disappointed in the least......but in fact was more than impressed with what I received. This is the first time I've picked up a new guitar and felt like I've played it a million times before.....the fretboard is smooth and fast, and really lively. You already know this because you built it, but I've tried countless other brands in stores and I always walk away because the necks are really sub par. As for the electronics.......the clarity and the balance of the pickup combinations is really nice......about medium to medium high output......not low output and sterile, or high output either. The pickups have a nice bite at all volume levels......do you model them after something in particular, or are they wound to match the specific guitar they're going into?
Anyhow.....perhaps I can send you a review for the website, or you can use quotes from this email....I will be gigging with it in about two weeks.....I'm playing acoustic gigs until then. I could send another review for your website or through thegearapge if you'd like.
Thanks again,
Chris Gurreri"
"I just got a Rice strat style and I'm blown away by the quality and vibe of it."
"Hello Rich and Chris,
YES! It did arrive yesterday. I was going to send you an email last night, but to be quite honest, I couldn't put the guitar down! I was up until about 2:30 playing it. I honestly didn't know that a guitar neck could feel so comfortable in my hands. Seriously.
I don't even think I need to express how beautiful it is... just amazing. Of course, it will take some getting used to... the body is a bit thinner that my '52 RI tele. But I can see how it will be very comfortable to play either standing or sitting. The finish is spectacular; The neck and fretboard are beyond my dreams. The finish on the back of the neck is still a touch sticky which is to be expected, but it will be nice for me to play it so much that I wear it right in! The neck wood is so stunning and I love the grain and feel of the fretboard; my wife commented on how the abalone dots really contrast and bring out the color of the body. Excellent touch! I love how the tuners are nice and tight and the strings stay in tune! I had to make a very slight adjustment to the low E string as the intonation was just slightly sharp; but the rest of the strings were absolutely perfect. The knobs and switches are perfectly placed and very nice. I just love everything about it!
Now... the sound. Seriously, these pickups are AMAZING. How in the world?!? And the tone and volume controls are to die for. They actually work! I've spent so much time adjusting knobs and having a blast. With this guitar, the tone and crunch is so easily adjusted right there at my fingertips! Both pickups are wonderful and I am SO HAPPY that we did this configuration. I love the P90 in the neck position and how it sounds combined with that humbucker. I just love it! And the fact that you have two split single coil sounds from the bridge makes it so versatile. These pickups are truly awesome. As I write this, I'm actually wishing I had your electronics installed in my other guitars. My clean sound is quite lovely (kudos to your pickups). This guitar is just so responsive and sounds GREAT! I can tell that you put a ton of effort into these controls. They blend so nicely!! I'm glad I can send you my other gear for a tune up. I probably won't need to do that for a while as I'm not going to be picking the others up for quite some time! :) I truly appreciate all the hard work and effort you put into making this spectacular instrument. I love it! I look forward to chatting with you soon.
Michael"
"Oh wow. I'm somewhat speechless at the moment. I can hardly contain myself!"
"Hi Chris,
I picked up the Strat yesterday. What a beauty! I'm really pleased!"
"Gents, she was outstanding last night!
Stayed in tune perfectly despite lugging through big temp changes and a stage with a heater blowing on me all night and a drafty window behind me.
Tonally she was absolutely outstanding: sweet, smooth, chimey, soulful, but still with a naughty streak underneath!
Playability was phenomenal.
She felt great slung on me and zero physical fatigue at the end of the night.
The wiring gave me so many awesome choices and it rocked!
She is absolutely perfect for me and I thank you both!
Pickup pole pieces are a PERFECT balance across the strings.
We do need to make 1 adjustment, Chris. The neck pickup sounds softer and darker in a band setting. If I was the only guitarist I'd never know it but since we have 2, and a heavy handed keyboardist/organist, and a bassist all up into my registers on a 6 string, I'm a little more sensitive to it :)
I'm not sure if we need to raise up the high side of the neck a half turn or reduce the high side of the bridge, likely the neck pickup since the amp and effects and amp settings are all the same for my other humbucker guitars. But I defer to you :)
Thank you again, Rices!"
"Hey dude! Gave the neck pickup a quick adjustment and perfection! (actually needed 1 full on treb and a smidge on the bass side). What spectacular balance and interaction between the two! I'm loving it! That prompted me playing for about 3 hours straight!!!"
"Woke up this morning and started playing it right away! "
"Hi Chris and Rich,
Attached are a few pics for your use.
The guitar weighs exactly 7 pounds.
I played for first time this morning. Sounds great! I actually like this one a little better than the other two. One of the best sounding guitars I have now.
The fretboard is awesome. Pickups seem wound for low output. From very warm to bright nice tele sounds. What are the specs by the way. Very versatile and the tone nicely balanced in all positions.
Many thanks again. I going to settle on this new one as my #1 as I continue to learn how to play properly.
ken"
"Hi Chris,
All I can seem to muster at the moment is, I'm lost for words at the quality of these guitars. Everything is perfect, better than I could ever imagine. Rich hit the neck profile spot on for my short fingers. I'm really amazed . Will check setup and sound check on my Mode 4 Marshall tomorrow. Thank you very much for all your efforts and perseverance. Will be back in touch soon. Ken"
"Rich and Chris,
Just sent payment. I think you know how much I love your guitars. This one is my favorite yet (I realize I sound like the person who always says the meal he is having at that moment is his favorite, but I do have some concrete reasons for saying this). I love the one-piece ash, lightweight body--just perfect, rosewood board on thick maple neck--beautiful. Best sounding Rice pickups I have heard. They have a true tele vibe to them--I think the underwind as such should be your magic vintage tele set or whatever you want to call them. They seem potted perfectly, just the right amount of microphonic-really right on the nose. I have had Don Mare and other pickups that were way too microphonic, and these just have the right feel. remarkable tones from all three positions--clarity and bite from the neck are just fantastic, and the tele twang from the bridge is just all that. Best middle position I have ever heard. A tele's middle position rarely floats my boat as much as front or back; but I can already tell this middle is just what I hope a middle will be--a balanced setting for rhythm, that is its own unique blend of neck and lead. Finish is gorgeous, with that soaked-into-the-grain look, and the whiteness has an almost light-bluish tint to it. This, coupled with the black hardware and the cover-less neck pup gives this tele a sweet modern look to it, that is as fine a blend of traditional and modern as I have seen. Great action, string spacing, articulation. Just an amazing instrument. I have owned a couple K-Lines and 3 Danocasters, and although Danocaster is truly an artist on those finishes, the substance of this guitar is something altogether higher than those. Anyway, I know you have heard much of it before; but bear with me, because I enjoy trying to write this stuff. And thank you for your patience with me, as I know it can be a little jarring to see me listing everything for sale after raving about it. Obviously I have now done the rave part. I will try to wait a little while before going public with this particular rave. You get the picture. John"
"Chris- I finally got the pickups installed without burns or electric shocks( batting a thousand), and they work.Man do they work. That is the sound I was after! The hardest part is working with those damn springs.That created a lot of hands and knees hunting.I sent a review to Harmony Central so we will see if I pass their test.Thanks for the great deal and thank Matt for me.-Chris."
"Received my Rice custom made tele style! Osage orange caps, with a mesquite stripe on the back, long throw b-bender from Bill Bores, with a custom inlaid back plate, osage orange neck and fretboard, pecan center, small walnut bands on the edge. Velvet Hammer VHTBX in the bridge, Lace Alumitron in the neck, 5 way switch. Schaller tuners, with a Drop D. Blue FretFX lights on the side of the neck. Great action, great sounds and fantastic guitar from the Rice family!"
"Rich, Chris,
Ok, here it goes.
When I gave Brian (since I'm such a good dad) your sunburst strat I went back to my Todd Krause masterbuilt 58 reissue with the Abby Handwounds and my Rory Gallagher strat since I did not have yours any more to enjoy. I was depressed!!!!
I was never happy again with either fender. Thery were too harsh, too brittle, too tight in the neck and so on . So I went back to my trusty 82 Les Paul for a year.
Then came the blue strat!!!!!
Now I am happy again. It is everything like Brian's but more. A bit more bite in the pickups (just a bit but great for me with my pedals) , a perfect fit and action, unlimited bending and resonance
and the real feeling of quality!!!!!
I can not put it down. Even my wife loves to look at the guitar.
You guys are fabulous. There is magic in the guitar!!!!!!
Thank you again and believe me good things are worth waiting for!!!!
All the best,
Pete"
"Hey Guys,
Just wanted to let you know the results of my extended review period of my Rice partscaster....AMAZING!!!
I recently purchased a guitar custom built for another customer with some unusual specifications...many of which were appealing to me. The neck on this guitar was just outrageously large and just unwieldy for my average size hands (and tiny thumbs....sometimes we are tortured at birth ). Rich Rice offered to reshape the neck to my liking and boy did he ever!!!! This was not some run of the mill machine shop build to a number sort of job. This was a shape it till it felt perfect kind of job. I've played this guitar non-stop for two plus weeks (I took it on vacation with me much to the chagrin of my wife ) and I'm just in love with it. The guys at Rice Guitars spent hours working with me and getting things right (not just right...perfect). I can not recommend these guys any stronger....I have had really amazing direct experiences with a handful of amazing builders (Nick at Rocketfire, Ben Fargen, Andy Fuchs, to name a few), and Rich and Chris are right there with the top of the heap!!!
Thanks again guys for making my guitar great and I'll be watching your site for a future build to steal from someone else .
Cheers,
Andy"
"I proudly sling #51. They are top notch guitars... "
"Did You Hear Me?
Hello Rich:
I just opened the box, and everything arrived safely. I am typing with one hand, so as to keep playing a little on the Osage tele! Everything is just perfect, and that Plush head is a great match with this guitar. Thanks for everything!"
"Rich and Chris,
I wanted to drop you a line to thank you for the amazing S-Style guitar!!!! It arrived yesterday and it is the most full featured guitar I've ever owned. I am going to take months to get a true understanding of all the permutations, but I'm amazed all the tonal possibilities. You guys have done an amazing job with this guitar and I hope to put a more comprehensive review on the forum in a few weeks when I have a more in depth impression to share with others.
Thanks a million guys!!!
Andy "
"I've had a week to get acquainted with #126 - love the neck on this guitar! The asymmetrical carve is very cool, and I love the compound radius & the wider nut. Another beautiful one piece ash body, with the nitro sinking into the grain. Looks nice sitting next to #55."
"My Rice tele is 1.05" all the way from nut to last fret...Once I went fat I will never go back (only applies to guitar necks and tone). My other guitars with medium C necks feel like toys after I got used to that big neck. I have noticed less hand fatigue, fat tone and sustain, and I tend to pull fretted notes sharp less often."
"Hello guys,
I just wanted to send you compliments on your Mr. T Pickups. I just bought a parts tele with a set installed and I'm blown away by the clarity and definition.
I'm just starting to build up a parts Strat, and when I'm ready for pickups I'm coming for your Mr. S set.
Again, kudos on these great pickups.
All Best,
Tim Durkin
ps - the tele in question is pictured in the attachments. The former owner tells me she's named "The Prom Queen.""
"Hi Rich,
I received the guitar with no issues. It looks, plays, and sounds fantastic! I gigged it last night and it performed flawlessly. It's my first tele and I'm delighted by how versatile and fun it is. I was also very pleased with the quality of the communication I had with you guys throughout the build process and your attention to detail and the trouble you took to get things right. I'm now a huge fan of Rice Guitars!
Best,
Martin"
"Hey Chris!
Wanted to report in that I'm a very happy dude with your work on my SoloCaster and the Tulip!
I've had both now in live settings and each does what I asked you to do or bought knowing they'd do!
Of course somewhere my list of wants may changed and I'll be buggin' you again but for now very happy!
I held of sending a big THANK YOU until I was able to put each through the ranks of practice, rehearsing, and gigging.
Now it's due! THANK YOU!!!!!
Nick"
"The Fed Ex man delivered my guitar today, and what a beauty!"
"I love these guitars"
"Rich and Chris,
I played both Rices at my band practice last night, and I still have a big smile on my face. For anything a little more rockin', #145 with the Fralins Blues is a perfect call, and for anything calling for a cleaner shimmery tone, #126 is perfect. Among other attributes, that trem system (Gotoh) is the best I have ever had. I am sure your nut, neck thickness, etc takes credit for that too. Man, I am in guitar heaven. John"
"this is really an amazing pair of guitars. I have one ash body tele with strat pups and a whammy, and one rosewood board mahogany body more traditional tele. Man, I have never had my two guitars complement each other so well. I am planning to run with this! Thanks for the great deals."
"It is perfect. PERFECT. I should probably keep my mouth shut, but right now I feel like the reason I have bought and sold 70 or so guitars in the last 4 years was just so I could eventually get to this one and actually be able to appreciate it. Do you guys know how awesome this guitar is? I know you made it, but do you realize how incredible it is?"
"Hi Rich and Chris:
Hope things are going well for you and your family.
Sorry I didn't get to this sooner but just wanted to tell you that the
guitar is wonderful. Really enjoying the instrument and still in the
process of getting to know the guitar. Love the tone .. it really
sparkles. I really like the humbucker and it can get a bit nasty or
scale it back to nicer warmer tone. Very nice. This a very versatile
guitar and will be a keeper for years to come. When I first picked it up
even though I knew it would be light I was still surprised as how light
it is. Its balanced and has a very nice feel to it as well. I'm very
pleased with my decision to get a Rice.
Thanks again
Mary"
"Wow, what a guitar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is a beast. The tele shape makes me feel like it is a tele, and even the pups don't make it feel like a strat. But I love having the 5 positions. The trem is sweet! All of the gear action I have put myself through was worth it just to get this guitar. I will try to wait a few days before I rave to the whole of creation, but what a joy it is to play a guitar like this. "
"sorry my feedback was so late but i wanted to play it in a live setting before responding. the guitar is great, definitely the best fender style guitar i have ever played to me its sounding thicker and less piercing than other teles iv played and i noticed immediately how rich it sounded, it came set up perfectly out of the box, the only thing that took some getting used to was the neck was a little thicker than what i normally play but iv gotten used to it and its pretty comfy for chording.
anyway thanks so much for the guitar, if i need another i will let you know
jacob"
"what an amazing Rice TELECASTER. Gorgeous ash body, fat maple neck, high end pickups, tuners, saddles, electronics; masterful setup and component matching. It is way more of a true telecaster than any Fender I have played. Sustain, depth, bite, oh man, when you sink your teeth into a guitar like this....."
"Thanks Chris, I got it yesterday. It looks and sounds great."