1972 330 What's it worth?

toomuchtime · Post by **toomuchtime** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 4:48 pm

I recently purchased a 330 made in 1972 according to the serial info. (LG) At the time I purchased it, I was told it was an '83 by a store manager at GC. He obviously didn't cross reference the number, but relied on the information given to him when it was traded in. I paid $750. They were asking $999.
My question; Is there a substantial change in value between an '83 and a '72? This is my first Ric, so I'm not entirely up on the worth of the instrument.

The manager said there was probably $500-700 difference. Can anyone help?. I like to keep on top of the values of my guitars for insurance reasons.

The guitar is in very good condition for a 34 year old instrument. It has some minor scratches, but all are minor surface scratches of the belt buckle variety. All knobs and pots are good w/no noise.
The neck looks and feels almost new.

Picture here:

http://hometown.aol.com/toomuchtlme/Ric330.html

Thanks for any and all help.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 4:51 pm

Welcome, Larry. That's a pretty sweet-looking instrument!

Be sure to give it the Zymol treatment. Ask Aitch, who hangs around these parts.

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 4:52 pm

Check the serial number again. Doesn't look like a '72. The wide headstock gives it away as does the tuners.

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 4:52 pm

I'm betting it starts with 1G. Thats a '98 model. The price was right no matter what.

toomuchtime · Post by **toomuchtime** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 4:54 pm

Zymol Treatment? Sorry. Not familiar with the term, but if it needs it, I'll get it. Thanks!

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 4:55 pm

You are so right, Jwilli...I failed to register the paddle headstock, same as my '82 360WB.

toomuchtime · Post by **toomuchtime** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 4:56 pm

The number on the jack is definitely an LG, which is listed as Jul. 1972. I suppose it's possible someone may have changed the jack with the number.

jps · Post by **jps** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 5:08 pm

Welcome Larry! You realize with a last name like yours, we are expecting a lot from you!

The TRC is the later molded type, if it were a '72, it would have the plexi TRC.

rkbsound · Post by **rkbsound** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 5:15 pm

Why does the bridge cover look black?

toomuchtime · Post by **toomuchtime** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 5:16 pm

Thanks, Jeffrey. I'm guessing that for some inexplicable reason, some one changed the jack and put on one from a '72. Go figure....
I suppose it's still a good deal at $750.

toomuchtime · Post by **toomuchtime** » Sun Feb 05, 2006 5:17 pm

The bridge cover is chrome. It's probably the angle from which I took the picture.

loverickbass · Post by **loverickbass** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 1:55 am

It's got the newer style higains. A '72 would have the flat top with the small pole pieces. Also has straplocks. Looks just like my '04.

randyz · Post by **randyz** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 4:24 am

FWIW, I emailed GC a few months back and told them that this guitar wasn't a '72. I think they responded with a "Thanks, but you're wrong", so I dropped it. It is obviously a much newer guitar as indicated by the headstock, tuners, pick-ups, etc.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 4:50 am

Which gives credence to the theory that it's a newer guitar with the jackplate switched, perhaps to enhance trade-in value, since the GC folks seem to be going by serial # alone.

randyz · Post by **randyz** » Mon Feb 06, 2006 5:39 am

Paul: I've got an '80 320 BG that I tricked out with vintage reissue hardware to resemble a 325V63. I also swapped the jackplate for a 'DG' coded plate taken from a '64 325 FG that I parted out many years ago. I should sell it to GC as a '64 model...