It's certainly an interesting contrast to the 250 that I got last week - and which I would assume has a very similar neck.
I've taught it several songs and it's doing quite well. Kind'a looks like an oversized ukelele, but it's truly the "Pocket-Rocket" of Rickenbackers. What a blast to play! A store in town had a JG 230 in the $450 range in pretty good shape last week when I was in there, but I can't remember what the top of the neck looked like (www.ward-brodt.com).
John: Was the size of the volute designed to have this instrument "ironclad" based on observations noted at the prototype stage or was the factory just being extra careful?
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm
I wondered the same, and possibly if it was the individual instrument, based upon the grain in the volute area, which was made extra beefy in that area. Hence my request for more pics.
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
Yep, it was in the WardBrodt Music store next to American TV on the beltline, sitting in a stand near the door of their new (and pretty fancy) guitar room. I didn't look it over for long as I was headed out the door after fooling around with their acoustic basses for a while. Naturally, there was one of those "rockin-jammer" kids freaking out on an overly-distorted strat about five feet from the Ric, so I didn't stay long but my impression was that it was pretty clean and the neck felt nice. I don't remember playing any F chords, so I can't say much about the shape up there.
Tony, as an alternative, you could detune and capo on the 3rd fret...
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
Not an option Paul....good idea though. As Gregs 230 has one also, I assume all 230's did & it is not particular to my necks grain pattern (although I will take pics tomorrow for you Paul). Why did a 230 get one & seemingly no other Rics. Johns post would seem to indicate that I could reduce it safely....as long as I didn't go mad.
Todds 250 is certainly interesting....what is the difference in neck between a 230 & a 250 that warrents the volute?
'Rickenbacker'...what a name! After all these years, it still thrills me.
I find Todd's 250's transition from neck to headstock to be impossibly elegant; Audrey Hepburn's ankle springs to mind.
Those 230 volutes look lumpy and very, very awkward, especially from the angle you've presented, Tony.
It is good to hear from John re: "shaving the volute".
My guess is that earlier on, chunky was safe. Later, elegant proved to not cause the difficulties first imagined. But, small craft-based companies often have strange stories, or even no reason at all, for what they do.
So it's only a guess.
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
She may look like Audrey Hepburn's ankle, but when she opens her mouth it's more like "Honkey Tonk Woman". The transition on my 2030 bass neck is very similar and only slightly more robust. If it will stand up to 20 years of big old roundwounds, I can't imagine having much to worry about on a six-string with medium to light strings on it.
My 230 is an '89, and also has the single coils, so I'm sure if yours is an '85 that is has the single coils Anthony. I don't think my volute is as bad as yours, but I'll have to lok again tomorrow. I'll post a pic so you can compare Paul. I got my 230 used in ;91, and someone refinished it black, but painted over the top of the original red. As a consequence, the paint is cracking a little. Plus black shows all the smudges and marks, so I'll be taking it down to bare wood and refinishing it at some point. I saw a nice clear one locally a while back that looked good, but maybe I'll go for something different and paint it pink!..haha (joking)
Anyway, I'll post a pic of it tomorrow.
BTW, I've always wanted to now more about this single coil hum cancelling pickup design. Do you have a patent number that I could look up for it Mr. Hall?
Pink? Why not Greg. That's the beauty of 230's, they're cheap enough to do that kind of thing to. People have not cottoned on to just how good a gtr they are, so they seem to go for bargain prices. I wouldn't mind a 250 in FG. Please post the pic.
I use Ric 10-42 CRW Todd, so I wouldn't have thought there would be a problem, but.....
Paul....you have mail!
'Rickenbacker'...what a name! After all these years, it still thrills me.
Hey, sorry I haven't posted the 230 pic yet. Got really busy. I'll try to do it tomorrow. I have to find my digital camera first. And pink isn't something I'd do myself...at least not on the 230...its already ugly enough.
I use TI flats 10-whatever it is. The pickups on the 230 are kind of harsh and the flats mellow it out and make it richer sounding overall..just hard to bend strings now. But that is what my self made guitar is for as you can see in the pic.
