What Do You Think

armyric · Post by **armyric** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 7:47 am

I have this crazy idea about a Ric 330. What I'm thinking about doing is putting 2 57's humbuckers in a Ric 330.
I love ES-335's sound but I hate the necks. I'm just wondering what you all thought about this idea...

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:09 am

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jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:13 am

Aaagh!

beefandbones · Post by **beefandbones** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 8:15 am

Personally, I probably wouldn't do it, but that doesn't mean it's not done!

John Roderick from the Long Winters has a 330 with Gibson-style humbuckers installed. Here are some photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/97745869@N00/

Ricks and 335s are made from different materials, using different construction methods, so even if you changed the pickups to Gibson-style humbuckers you still might not quite get it to sound like a 335. Also, installing Gibson-style humbuckers would require some routing, and once that's done you can't go back. It will also probably affect the resale value, too. Personally, I'd probably check out the RIC humbuckers first.

But... it's your guitar!

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 9:06 am

Ethan: It must only have been there for a flicker.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 9:31 am

"...Even if you changed the pickups to Gibson-style humbuckers you still might not quite get it to sound like a 335."

Reminds me of the kits back in '98-99 which allowed you to convert your Mazda Miata to a BMW Z3 lookalike.

"Let's change a butterfly into a warthog. Why? Because we can, and, besides, warthogs cost more..."

beefandbones · Post by **beefandbones** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:22 pm

Hmmmm maybe this will work:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/97745869@N00/272024629/

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:34 pm

beefandbones · Post by **beefandbones** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:50 pm

Thanks, John!

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:52 pm

No problem.

They really don't look horrible on the 330...

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 7:56 pm

Joseph said:

... I love ES-335's sound but I hate the necks ...

I'm curious: what is it about the necks you don't like? My 1967 ES335TDC has a very 'RIC-like" thin neck, and I don't find that it feels all that different.

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 10:53 pm

Joseph?

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Fri Oct 27, 2006 11:14 pm

Seems like ES335s have been around since Jesus was in nappies, Doc!

telebob · Post by **telebob** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 2:32 am

Now this has got me thinking. Hmmmmmmm, a set of hi-gains in an ES335. hmmmmmmmm, that might be an interesting piece. Adult size neck. Manly fret wire. Whats not to like?!

Joseph, you should take a 335 and a 360 and just swap the pickups in each of them! I had a 335TD many years back, (maple neck too, rosewood board) and it a had a slimish neck, like a 1960 Les Paul. Not way down slim in Ric territory, but quite playable just the same.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-7/774043/ES335.jpg

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Sat Oct 28, 2006 7:15 am

Adult size neck. Manly fret wire.

Ouch! Watch my toes, Bob!