New member and first time Ric owner!
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
New member and first time Ric owner!
Firstly let me say hello from sunny Manchester, UK. I've lusted after Rickenbacker's, especially 330's, since my childhood days obsessing over Paul Weller in his The Jam days and Johnny Marr and his Jetglo 330. I'm a drummer first and foremost but I gave that up (at the ripe old age of 15 ) to play bass in a local band. I've always had a guitar but I'd deffo class myself as a novice player! No soloing here!! Scroll on a few years and I finally decided to do something about my Ric itch.. I've played about on a few 330's/360's I'd come across in shops over the years but none of them seemed to feel right to me? Having large hands and fingers maybe didn't help either? Anyway I saw a 1980 330 advertised in a local shop so I decided to check it out. Within minutes of picking it up it just felt and played so well.
The shop had it listed as 'Walnut' but after a bit of research, mainly on here, I believe its an Autumnglo finish as its satin rather than gloss. Some bits of the body have 'brassed' quite nicely; that is to say the satin finish has gone shiny with wear such as the upper part of the body where your right arm rests. Its got a few chips here and there but its only 5 years younger than me! I wish I was in such good shape!!
Once I got it home I did notice that the bridge pickup was out of alignment in relation to the strings and the bridge. I started to panic, thinking I'd been sold a dud but after more research it seems its not as uncommon as I thought. ( I unscrewed the pickup just to check it hadn't been 'offset' by a previous owner but the only holes present were the ones in use so it must have left the factory like that). I moved the pickup over last night and it looks tons better. It might be my ears fooling me but I could swear I can hear a difference too. Sadly the only cosmetic issue thats now arisen is the brown staining from the bottom of the foam pad is now visible. I can sort of live with it I think unless any of you guys know how it can be removed?
As a side note the guy in the shop, who I incidentally know but had lost touch with, told me they'd taken it in part exchange form Mark Radcliffe, a Radio/TV presenter/Journalist/Musician and all round nice guy from around these parts. No letters of authenticity etc. but I believe my pal and to be honest, if you're gonna invent a bogus ex-owner history to sell a guitar you'd probably choose someone else with a bit more guitar cache! No offence Mark if you're reading this!!
Here's some pics. They were taken today, post pickup surgery but I've also got some 'befores'. As I'm no Ric expert I'd be interested to hear from you guys regarding originality etc. I suspect its had a new nut at some point and its got a black pick guard too. I think I've only seen one other like mine with the others having a white pick guard? Tuners are Kluson Deluxe but I've seen different Kluson tuners on other 330's
The shop had it listed as 'Walnut' but after a bit of research, mainly on here, I believe its an Autumnglo finish as its satin rather than gloss. Some bits of the body have 'brassed' quite nicely; that is to say the satin finish has gone shiny with wear such as the upper part of the body where your right arm rests. Its got a few chips here and there but its only 5 years younger than me! I wish I was in such good shape!!
Once I got it home I did notice that the bridge pickup was out of alignment in relation to the strings and the bridge. I started to panic, thinking I'd been sold a dud but after more research it seems its not as uncommon as I thought. ( I unscrewed the pickup just to check it hadn't been 'offset' by a previous owner but the only holes present were the ones in use so it must have left the factory like that). I moved the pickup over last night and it looks tons better. It might be my ears fooling me but I could swear I can hear a difference too. Sadly the only cosmetic issue thats now arisen is the brown staining from the bottom of the foam pad is now visible. I can sort of live with it I think unless any of you guys know how it can be removed?
As a side note the guy in the shop, who I incidentally know but had lost touch with, told me they'd taken it in part exchange form Mark Radcliffe, a Radio/TV presenter/Journalist/Musician and all round nice guy from around these parts. No letters of authenticity etc. but I believe my pal and to be honest, if you're gonna invent a bogus ex-owner history to sell a guitar you'd probably choose someone else with a bit more guitar cache! No offence Mark if you're reading this!!
Here's some pics. They were taken today, post pickup surgery but I've also got some 'befores'. As I'm no Ric expert I'd be interested to hear from you guys regarding originality etc. I suspect its had a new nut at some point and its got a black pick guard too. I think I've only seen one other like mine with the others having a white pick guard? Tuners are Kluson Deluxe but I've seen different Kluson tuners on other 330's
Re: New member and first time Ric owner!
Hey Guys, I've just realised I've posed this in the wrong section of the forum as its a 1980 guitar. Sorry.
- squirebass
- Veteran RRF member
- Posts: 1562
- Joined: Fri Oct 13, 2000 11:05 pm
Re: New member and first time Ric owner!
Well, welcome aboard, and let me be the first to tell you that you've got a very beautiful and collectible 330 on your hands there!
I'm familiar with that "itch" that Rics will give you, but I don't wish to find a cure!
I'm familiar with that "itch" that Rics will give you, but I don't wish to find a cure!
Re: New member and first time Ric owner!
Thanks Squirebass! That itch was originally gonna be scratched with a Jetglo 330…..and at some point in the future it shall be done!
Re: New member and first time Ric owner!
Nice, really nice. Congrats!
Re: New member and first time Ric owner!
Wait... did you post two threads???
Re: New member and first time Ric owner!
These CTS pots and yellow Cornell-Dubillier caps are indeed original.
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Re: New member and first time Ric owner!
Yep - I've still got a 79 4001 harness lying around that looks a lot like that.
Re: New member and first time Ric owner!
Yeah, sorry, my bad. Put it down to inexperience!jdogric12 wrote:Wait... did you post two threads???
Re: New member and first time Ric owner!
Thanks for all your replies guys. When I get a moment I'll put the details in the register. In the meantime here are the other images I've got.
Im guessing the nut may have been replaced but I'm unsure? The pickups/bridge before.. And after I moved the bridge pickup over. The neck could do with the same treatment by the looks of it. Note the brown staining from the foam pad. I tried IPA but that didn't touch it. Any ideas? The bridge cover has taken a knock at some time too The shiny bits give it a nice patina Cant say the same for the upper horn though
Im guessing the nut may have been replaced but I'm unsure? The pickups/bridge before.. And after I moved the bridge pickup over. The neck could do with the same treatment by the looks of it. Note the brown staining from the foam pad. I tried IPA but that didn't touch it. Any ideas? The bridge cover has taken a knock at some time too The shiny bits give it a nice patina Cant say the same for the upper horn though
Re: New member and first time Ric owner!
Last one for now is the jack plate and serial number
Re: New member and first time Ric owner!
Nice guitar Mark.
Great score.
Great score.
Re: New member and first time Ric owner!
Cheers Scotty!
Re: New member and first time Ric owner!
Congrats on the new guitar Mark. I lived in your neighborhood back in the 80's in Harrogate. Spend quite a bit of time at Rovers games. I was at a several games to see the Rovers play Man United. Beckham was really in his prime back then. Cheers!
Re: New member and first time Ric owner!
Old post I know but the nut is original. The truss rod cover would have been black originally though.
Would love to get some more facts about this particular guitar. Do you still have it?
Would love to get some more facts about this particular guitar. Do you still have it?