Need to let go - Which one?

[stringsncords]

Hey John I'm partial to FG's too, and yours is a stunner - almost like the FG's that are shipping currently, with the darker shading, that are supposed to be the best yet. (I'm STILL WAITING for my new '08 360FG - but that's another story - RRF group therapy is helping) Get a good RIC guitar tech to transfer the toasters, keep the tolex case, and you're good to go! I have a MG and it's a beauty, but there's just something about the FG that gives it the edge...!

[scotty]

Real nice shading on the FG! keep it.

[johneek]

..... transfer the toasters, keep the tolex case, and you're good to go!... there's just something about the FG that gives it the edge...!

Amen!

[kiramdear]

Sell the Hummingbird and keep 'em both.
If I had to choose: The fireglo with the toasters and the Tolex (If I was handy at soldering)

[Oskar]

Sell the Hummingbird and keep 'em both.

I've been carrying around the Hummingbird for the past 40 years. Of all the guitars I've owned it's the one that's been with me through all sorts of milestones in my life (both good and bad). It will more than likely be buried with me. I've decided I'm going to have a good luthier check them both and transfer the toasters to the FG, keep the Ric tolex case. I also have a Ric trapeze tailpiece that I want to install but have been putting that off. Not quite sure I want to do it. Thanks all for the feedback. Most appreciated.

[clearblue]

Whichever one you sell, you'll prolly regret it as soon as it leaves. Besides, with everything going up in price it will only gain value. If you need the $$, well that is the main reason to sell.

[goofyfoot]

..... transfer the toasters, keep the tolex case, and you're good to go!... there's just something about the FG that gives it the edge...!

Amen!

+1.......piling on late. That FG is sublime, brah. BTW, any change in your situation that might allow you to hang on to both Rics? Peace, out......G-foot.

[Oskar]

WEll, I've struggled with this for a while and talked to a number of friends and decided I'm going to keep both guitars. The FG is all stock and came with a Rick-o-Sound box that was purchased with the guitar. So, I'm going to keep it. Just means I'm going to have to sell some other things, but I'm sure I made the best decision.

Thanks to all for you comments and support.

[BlueAngel]

I would sell the 1999 FG, and this picture is a perfect illustration of why, for anyone who hasn't noticed this yet:

The FG has the post-1996, and IMO incorrect and ugly, upper bout shape. The MG has the right shape.

I found out about this the hard way when I bought, unseen, a late-90s 360/12 - before I was aware of this change. It didn't take me too long to notice what I initially assumed was a manufacturing error - as if someone had over-sanded the body and given it a slightly different outline - but then I saw more in shops and realised it was a production change. It was a large part of the reasons I sold that guitar, and I would never own another one.

In case you still can't see it - some people seem to not notice - the upper horn is flatter on the outer edge where it angles down towards the strap button, and the point of the bout at the button is much sharper (smaller radius). Both horns are slightly wider and less smoothly curved roughly parallel to the 22nd fret. It lacks the perfectly-proportioned rounded contours of the original shape, and almost looks like a badly-scaled-down attempt at a 330-style sharp horn. It has nothing to do with which came first either - I just find one shape beautiful and the other ugly - but nonetheless the older shape is the right one. It's nothing to do with 'hand' carving either, both are done with machines.

WHY was it changed?!

If I could request one single change in any production Rickenbacker, it would be this. Please Mr. Hall, give the 360 it's proper curves back!!!

[Oskar]

The FG has the post-1996, and IMO incorrect and ugly, upper bout shape. The MG has the right shape.

This is interesting that you brought this up. One of the things I was told, but have not been able to verify, is that '93 was the last year Rickenbacker supposedly "handmade" or "hand carved" the body of the 360. I did notice a slight difference but couldn't really figure out where it was. Your observation clarifies that.

Anyone else hear of this alleged change in '94 to building a more "machine made" Ric?

[BlueAngel]

The FG has the post-1996, and IMO incorrect and ugly, upper bout shape. The MG has the right shape.

This is interesting that you brought this up. One of the things I was told, but have not been able to verify, is that '93 was the last year Rickenbacker supposedly "handmade" or "hand carved" the body of the 360. I did notice a slight difference but couldn't really figure out where it was. Your observation clarifies that.

Anyone else hear of this alleged change in '94 to building a more "machine made" Ric?

From something Mr. Hall posted on the RIC forum, I think the change was mid-1996. It may have coincided with a new CNC machine for the bodies, but the older ones were still made by machine too - I doubt there has been any hand carving of bodies (apart from near-one-offs like the Jazzbo) for decades. Why is it that every time a change is made, the old version is supposedly 'hand made'?! CNC is just a different type of tooling.

[Clint]

I'm going to keep both guitars.

Yes.

[Oskar]

From something Mr. Hall posted on the RIC forum, I think the change was mid-1996. It may have coincided with a new CNC machine for the bodies, but the older ones were still made by machine too - I doubt there has been any hand carving of bodies (apart from near-one-offs like the Jazzbo) for decades.

That makes much more sense to me. At this point, since I am keeping both I'll just enjoy them. I'll be gigging with one of them. Now I have to make THAT choice! Sheesh!!!

[jingle_jangle]

The FG has the post-1996, and IMO incorrect and ugly, upper bout shape. The MG has the right shape.

This is interesting that you brought this up. One of the things I was told, but have not been able to verify, is that '93 was the last year Rickenbacker supposedly "handmade" or "hand carved" the body of the 360. I did notice a slight difference but couldn't really figure out where it was. Your observation clarifies that.

Anyone else hear of this alleged change in '94 to building a more "machine made" Ric?

From something Mr. Hall posted on the RIC forum, I think the change was mid-1996. It may have coincided with a new CNC machine for the bodies, but the older ones were still made by machine too - I doubt there has been any hand carving of bodies (apart from near-one-offs like the Jazzbo) for decades. Why is it that every time a change is made, the old version is supposedly 'hand made'?! CNC is just a different type of tooling.

Semantic problems here. Earlier 360NSs were made using production tools, by hand. The soft edge radii, for example, were once shaped on a shaper or pin-router. Now they're cut much more safely on a CNC machine.

I still regard Ricks as being as "handmade" as is practical...the roughing and component location recesses and holes are CNCd and from the time the necks and bodies are joined, it's all handwork. Result is a tight, consistent body/neck unit that is hand-finished to a gnat's a**. Best and most efficient way to make a iconic American geetar or bass.

[BlueAngel]

I would still like to know WHY the shape was changed! Mr. Hall never posted an answer to that part of the question...

I don't have any objection at all to a more precise and consistent replication of the shape (quite the opposite, as you know I'm a machine-production snob ) - or safer working practices - I just wonder why they had to mess up the perfection of the existing shape first!

Still curious as to whether the pickup, pickguard and machinehead screw holes are drilled by CNC, jig or freehand too, but that's another question...