230GF Glenn Frey Limited Edition

philco · Post by **philco** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 2:34 pm

I heard that the 230GF production ended before all 1000 of the proposed quantity were made. If true, that's a shame.

How many were actually made?

If production was cut short, are there plans to complete the edition of 1000 at a later date?

The 230GF seems to be one of the most common sense guitars in the entire Limited Edition Signature Series. Rarely do you see one for sale on eBay like you do the John Lennon models. The 230GF must be a guitar that really plays wonderfully. I heard Joe Walsh play one, and it really had a nice tone.

You can basically get a 660/12TP signature model by buying a 660/12 in Fireglo. In the same way, I think RIC should consider building the 230GF again in a non-signature version. Make it with a wide neck like the 650 series, but maybe a bit thinner like a Telecaster. It's a nice alternative to the 650 series then. Les Paul and Telecaster/Stratocaster converts would then each have a model to "Rick out" on.

sir_andrew_of_left_coast · Fri Feb 14, 2003 3:06 pm

I've got two "230GF-like non-signature" guitars: a 1992 220 in Midnight Blue and a 1993 260 in Fireglo. I dig 'em, but most Rickenbacker enthusiasts don't. To each his (or her) own...

corey · Post by **corey** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 5:24 pm

Yeah, I think the 230GF series suffered from 2 things
1) the 200 series being either unknown or unpopular with the "usual" Rickenbacker enthusiast.
2) 1000 units was perhaps too high a number given reason #1. 250 units might have been better.

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 5:39 pm

I have always found it somewhat surprising that Joe Walsh of the Eagles has taken over playing Glenn Frey's Model 230GF, unless Frey owns more than one. Glenn Frey may have played this instrument on tour but I have not seen any photos of him actually playing this instrument on stage.
It seems that it would be hard to promote sales of this instrument when the artist himself may not have used very often. Joe Walsh has certainly put it to good use and by all acounts it is an excellent slide guitar. I am not sure why this hotter than usual Rickenbacker with a great neck was not more popular.

sir_andrew_of_left_coast · Fri Feb 14, 2003 6:09 pm

Yes, the 200/2000 Series (and its predecessors; i.e., 430 guitar, 3000 bass, etc.) possess several characteristics that are quite different from the more-popular selling Rickenbackers...

First, the body shape is often mocked as Strat-like.

Second, the neck is a bolt-on.

Third, the pickups do not resemble the better-known pickups (at least, on the newer ones and the Frey model).

and

Fourth, being solid-bodies, well, we all know the semi-hollows are the ones in demand (basses excepted).

Selfishly on my part, I don't mind the fact that folks don't like 'em... I was able to get a very nice Midnight Blue 220 from e-Bay for only $360.

corey · Post by **corey** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 6:38 pm

It's a good point that the signature artist should be seen often with their signature artist instrument. On the recent "American Bandstand" anniversary show, the 350SH and it's namesake were front and centre for the show's big finale.

This is in part why a Peter Buck signature model would work so well. He's seen with his 360 as often as Susanna is with her 350.

philco · Post by **philco** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 7:20 pm

Well, I guess I better head on over to eBay then! Hope they stay unpopular until I can snag one.

I also have seen a couple of the 480 and 481 types for sale recently on Ebay. Those are interesting as well, sharing the body style of the 4000 series basses. There was one that had never been used since the owner of a music store had retired and stored it in the case since the late 1970's.

wileyibex · Post by **wileyibex** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 8:42 pm

The 230 seems to have been unpopular in some circles because it was "different." (Solid body, bolt-on neck, shape unlike established Ric designs, proprietary pickups...) The question is, did it work well, or didn't it? The model should stand or fall on the basis of its merits or lack thereof. I like the looks, and would view it favorably as an "instead-of-a-Tele" on that basis, but I've never seen one to try out.

Why did Glen Frey distance himself from the limited edition guitar, why is he never seen with one now, and why was the 230GF production run stopped early? Was there some problem with the guitar?

If not, and if it's some killer slide axe, maybe there should be a limited edition 230JW (Joe Walsh.)

360dave · Post by **360dave** » Fri Feb 14, 2003 9:24 pm

Paul...Joe Walsh is a ham radio operator as I am. He and I talk occasionally but not about music or music equipment. We talk about ham equipment...hehe
Next time I'll ask him that question about the 230.

sir_andrew_of_left_coast · Sat Feb 15, 2003 7:35 am

I believe Walsh had the bridge pickup changed on the 230GF he uses. It would be interesting to hear about his opinions of the guitar, though.

philco · Post by **philco** » Tue Mar 18, 2003 2:26 am

While the 230GF should have possibly been called a 230JW because Joe seems to be the one using it the most, by the same token the 660TP should have been the 660MC because the guitar that Tom Petty is holding on the cover of the Damn the Torpedoes album actually belongs to his Heartbreakers bandmate, Mike Campbell. Anyone who owns Tom Petty videos like I do knows that Tom slings a Rickenbacker semi-hollow model most of the time, when he is playing a Rickenbacker. The 1997 (the one with the f-hole where the cat's eye slash is on the 3xx series) seems to be his favorite Rick right now. Seeing Tom with a solid body Rickenbacker is a rather rare experience, but that photo of him holding Mike's guitar on one of his most famous albums seems to have skewed the public perception of what Tom likes and plays the most.

philipnz · Post by **philipnz** » Tue Mar 18, 2003 12:10 pm

Tom played his signature 660/12 in his performance at his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction last year.

philco · Post by **philco** » Tue Mar 18, 2003 2:26 pm

That would make sense, considering the occasion and the fact that the photo of him holding Mike's guitar is etched deeply in his fans' minds. The factoid about Tom preferring his 1997 above all other Rickenbackers he owns was something I picked up off the TPATH official website. He also likes Telecasters a lot, and is holding one on the cover of his Long After Dark album. On his High Grass Dogs video, he seems to prefer the Telecaster over everything else. He and Mike both are addicted to collecting vintage guitars, and watching his HGD video reveals just how far ranging their tastes for old classic guitars has become. Telecasters, Firebirds, Flying V's (Dean?), Gretsches (was that double-necked guitar Mike played a Gretsch?), Gibson and Martin acoustics, Strats, Les Pauls, ES's, SG's, Jazzmaster(?), and even a Bo Diddley guitar with Bo Diddley playing it. And of course, there was Tom and the Rick 1997 as well. Mike seems to be into the vintage guitar addiction even more than Tom, and Scott Thurston seems to have varied tastes as well. I would have preferred to see/hear several classic basses as well, but Howie seemd happy to stick with his blue Jazz bass. Maybe Ron Blair has contracted a vintage bass addiction as well during his absence from the Heartbreakers. We'll see on the next video.

I hope Mike or Tom gets a hankering for a 230GF as well, because it is one cool sounding slide guitar. Can't imagine why it didn't sell better than it did. I recently saw one sell for $1199 on eBay. Looked to be in mint condition.

philipnz · Post by **philipnz** » Tue Mar 18, 2003 7:47 pm

In a recent interview I read Tom said he rarely plays his rics at all now live, prefering his LA Guitarworks custom tele.
I'm sure the vintage guitars are used for recording tho.