What I appreciate most about RIC

profjeff · Post by **profjeff** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 8:05 am

I have purchased many guitars in the 39 years since in first co-opted up my sisters Silvertone acoustic in 1965. Some of them have been monumental wastes of time, energy, and expense; others have brought sheer joy to my lifelong passion. Most recently, I spent the better part of the summer of 03 looking for an exceptional Les Paul. That experience made me appreciate Rickenbacker International Corporation's dedication to producing quality, cost effective instruments and their philosophy of marketing more than I could have ever imagined.

After researching the current offerings in the venerable Les Paul lineup, it became clear to me that the idea of purchasing one of Gibson's flagship guitars was overly complex. Should I fork out the extra grand or two for a Custom Shop Historic Model in order to own a "proper" Les Paul made to the original specs using high quality tone woods and hardware, or should I settle for the cheaper, heavier, Gibson USA model that only represents the original in some respects? Well, I forked over the cash and purchased a beautiful '58 figuretop reissue only to discover that it still fell short of pedigree. The later 03 LP's featured more accurate parts and detailing...mine was an "inferior" Les Paul. I paid $3K for this "historic" axe, and Gibson had trumped it essentially making it akin to a CBS Fender.

Rickenbacker's lack of a large "custom" division means that the 360/12 that I bought is a PROPER 360/12. While 360's with more vintage appointments are available, there is no "custom shop" version that threatens the value of my purchase. The three Ricks that I own are all made in the same factory by the same craftspeople and there is no need to spend an extra grand or two to get an AUTHENTIC 360. Quality control is consistent across the range of models; they are all AUTHENTIC Ricks, no question about it. Thanks, John Hall for your commitment to this endeavor.

This summer, I am going to search for a new 660. I know that it will be much less stressful than my LP experience, even if I have to wait a few months to get it.

spencer · Post by **spencer** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 8:27 am

Jeff - So glad to hear someone bring this point up. A few years back I went through the same thing looking for an SG. I've had SEVEN, until finally coming across just the right one. When starting out on the RIC trip, I was worried. My step-dad has been dealing with vintage guitars for the past 20 or 30 years and now has his own used guitar shop. Legends Music. The first thing I was told is that all Rics are good and I won't have to look for long. He was totally right, I see them come and go and get to play alot of them. I've yet to come across a ****** one.
Can't say that about Gibsons or Fenders.
Rickenbacker is completely a league of it's own.

flabbeyroad · Post by **flabbeyroad** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:45 am

I don't have a lot of experience with Rics, having only one, but I do own 9 other guitars, so I do have a frame of reference. Here is my only Ric experience:
Bought it sight unseen over the internet. That's risky, usually. However, when it arrived, it was perfectly set up. All I did was tune it and play.
I still haven't had to adjust anything, and that's a first for me. It speaks of attention to quality and detail that you don't often see as a normal part of the guitar biz. I can well believe that they make all their guitars this way, because that's how they made mine.

mrtidy · Post by **mrtidy** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 12:02 pm

I have owned 15 (!) different Ricks over the years (I still have three, a geeetar, a bass and an acoustic). They are very consistant. In fact both myself and a friend own a mapleglo 360v64 that are so similar I have to examine the woodgrain to tell mine from his. The only one I really didn't care for was the Glen Fry model...just didn't care for the looks or sound.

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 5:09 pm

One man's fish is another man's poisson. The Glenn Frey model is my personal favorite and I pretty well have one of each to choose from.

It seems to agree with Joe Walsh as well.

I think the whole problem with the 200 series is that everyone expected a RIC to look and sound in a particular way, just as you would expect a Strat to.

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 5:18 pm

John: As Joe Walsh uses the Glenn Frey model to great effect as a slide guitar, have you ever had the chance to ask him what it is about this model that he enjoys. I recall you commenting on the action before. Do you use it as a slide as well?

squirebass · Post by **squirebass** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 5:57 pm

Jeff,
Your experience sounds a lot like mine. I was also seriously thinking about getting a '59 'burst Les Paul reissue, like Jimmy, Duane, and so many others have played. Then I looked at the price, and I realized that they would cost about what you paid to get a really good one.
Then I look at the 650 guitars from Rick, and the price of one of those, and I just go "hmmmmmm.....".
I've got a 660/12 burgundy, and a 4001v63 fireglo, and they are both so purty it hurts to look at them, yet they play great too. I've never had so much fun playing a 12, and that v63 has the wide late 60s-early 70s neck that I like so much.
I think my two favorite Rick shapes are the 325/350 types, and the 330 or the 1993 I think, the 330 with binding, f hole, dot neck, like Peter got recently...

bruceglaser · Post by **bruceglaser** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 3:01 am

I think it's very interesting that Mr Hall would choose the bolt neck guitar as his favorite, given that many feel this is method of construction represents a lower quality line of instruments. I certainly have no problem with bolt neck guitars, I own several, and I wonder if Rick will re-introduce bolt neck models to appeal to the consumers looking for a lower entry price point. I thought the 200 series gitars, although a little too Fender-like in appearance, were very good looking. How about an updated bolt-neck line, Mr. Hall?

loendmaestro · Post by **loendmaestro** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 3:05 am

Similar experience here as well. I have 3 Rick basses - 2 were purchased used & one was bought new from Mike Parks. The new Rick showed up ready to go, even UPS couldn't screw it up.
I also bought a brand new 2001 Gibson Thunderbird at cost & sight unseen, directly from the Gibson Factory via a friend of mine.

When it arrived it was missing 2 screws from the pickguard & the nut was cut so poorly that the A string buzzed so badly up & down the neck it was ridiculous. I had to spend an additional $150 at a local shop to make it playable. It is now a wonderful bass & has served me well these past couple of years, but for it to arrive it that condition is pathetic - & from the Gibson factory no less!
I do like Gibson instruments, but the prices are out of this world, & the whole 'Custom Shop' angle is just another way to hike up their prices.

I feel that every Rick made is a "custom shop" piece!

loendmaestro · Post by **loendmaestro** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 3:09 am

I'll go ahead & chime in on the bolt neck comments as well...
I have a 1978 3001 bass that is probably the most "solid" bass that I own. Great tone & great action & none of that 'fear' you have about a neck through...

A woefully overlooked Rick line IMHO.

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 4:08 am

What I appreciate most about Rickenbacker is their ability to keep the quality of their instruments over the years. From my 1966 450/12 to my 2003 1993SPC, the attention to detail is apparent in all respects. Other companies have had significant dips in quality over the span of their production history for a variety of reasons.

Whether you purchase a new instrument today or buy a used one that is forty years old, you can be assured of a quality product that will stand the test of time.

sneakers · Post by **sneakers** » Fri Mar 05, 2004 4:27 am

The main thing I appreciate about Rickenbacker guitars and basses is the fact that they have made a thumb print on musical history. You can pick out a Rickenbacker from recorded material much easier than say; Les Pauls, Telecasters, Stratocasters, or PRS. I also appreciate the fact the I can borrow this thumb print sound and use it to jangleize and swirlize my written material whenever I want to.