Need direction in buying my first Ric
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
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swaro770
Need direction in buying my first Ric
This is my first post and I'm about to buy my first electric guitar and decided it should be a Ric as I've always liked them. I'm thinking 330 vs 360. Any tips/advice anyone can offer will be appreciated. Or even any good search topics as this has probably been talked about numerous times. I'm aware of the obvious technical differences, but not aware of what the ramifications of some of these differences might be. For now, I plan on buying only one guitar (yeah right). I like classic rock, blues, jazz, folk, etc. Thanks.
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beefandbones
- Intermediate Member
- Posts: 893
- Joined: Thu Feb 19, 2004 7:27 am
I hate to sound so shallow, but I think you should go with the one that you like the looks of!
Once upon a time, when I was bought my first new Rickenbacker, I bought a fireglo 360. I actually kind of wanted a mapleglo 330, but, I reasoned, fireglo is the finish that Ricks are famous for, and the 'deluxe' 360 costs only a little more. Needless to say, I wasn't really satified until I had a mapleglo 330.
The 330 and the 360 are really pretty similar guitars in the grand scheme of things. The 330 is more 'basic' and the 360 is more 'deluxe.' The specific differences are outlined on the Rickenbacker web site.
The biggest difference in 'playability' is that the 360's bound fretboard and rounded edges make it slightly more 'comfortable,' as they say. The most striking sonic difference between the two is the result of the 330 being slightly more hollow than the 360, due to the 330's 'squared' edges. It's a little more acoustic sounding, maybe fuller.
I've found that soloing and fingerstyle are slightly more difficult on 330/360s if you're used to a Fender or something, but it's just a matter of getting used to the string spacing.
The 650 series guitars are great, too, especially for soloing, due to the wider fingerboard and neck through design. Great sustain!
Once upon a time, when I was bought my first new Rickenbacker, I bought a fireglo 360. I actually kind of wanted a mapleglo 330, but, I reasoned, fireglo is the finish that Ricks are famous for, and the 'deluxe' 360 costs only a little more. Needless to say, I wasn't really satified until I had a mapleglo 330.
The 330 and the 360 are really pretty similar guitars in the grand scheme of things. The 330 is more 'basic' and the 360 is more 'deluxe.' The specific differences are outlined on the Rickenbacker web site.
The biggest difference in 'playability' is that the 360's bound fretboard and rounded edges make it slightly more 'comfortable,' as they say. The most striking sonic difference between the two is the result of the 330 being slightly more hollow than the 360, due to the 330's 'squared' edges. It's a little more acoustic sounding, maybe fuller.
I've found that soloing and fingerstyle are slightly more difficult on 330/360s if you're used to a Fender or something, but it's just a matter of getting used to the string spacing.
The 650 series guitars are great, too, especially for soloing, due to the wider fingerboard and neck through design. Great sustain!
I had a 360 a while back, it was a fantastic guitar but I had some trouble with the thin neck, not that you will. I just got back into Ric's and am playing a 660 and it simply SMOKES!! Nice wide and finished fingerboard, I really love the feel of it.
I do agree with Ethan, I'm really into the looks of a guitar also, so choose what you know you'll be happy with, and enjoy.
I do agree with Ethan, I'm really into the looks of a guitar also, so choose what you know you'll be happy with, and enjoy.
Gene: Welcome to The Rickenbacker Forum.
I would go for a Mapleglo 330 as my first guitar. It really shows off the woodgrain and a used Rickenbacker is a fine versatile instrument. It fits in anywhere and the grain adds a depth of character not equalled by a solid colour. I would also go with high gains, if you are going to be interested in rock or a bit of an edge.
You can find these models without much difficulty and at great prices for a quality guitar. They are a real workhorse and should it not agree with you, it will have good resale and you wouldn't have spent a bundle to try it out.
There is a good example here.
I am betting you will love it. You can also swap out the high gains for toasters should you begin to mellow!
I would go for a Mapleglo 330 as my first guitar. It really shows off the woodgrain and a used Rickenbacker is a fine versatile instrument. It fits in anywhere and the grain adds a depth of character not equalled by a solid colour. I would also go with high gains, if you are going to be interested in rock or a bit of an edge.
You can find these models without much difficulty and at great prices for a quality guitar. They are a real workhorse and should it not agree with you, it will have good resale and you wouldn't have spent a bundle to try it out.
There is a good example here.
I am betting you will love it. You can also swap out the high gains for toasters should you begin to mellow!
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm
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swaro770
Thanks for the responses...just what I was looking for. I really need to get to a Sam Ash probably in NYC to see/feel/play these different models. No one in a 75 mile radius of me has them in stock. I'm curious to compare the semi-hollow sound to the solid body sound. And concerning looks, I really like the fireglo. The 330 is beautiful but in a somewhat reserved, humble way. The 360 with the fancy white bindings combined with the wood/red and chrome is just over the top beautiful. I like the mapleglo, but coming from the acoustic arena, I've got the natural wood thing going already, Peter. The jetglo is tempting, too. Always liked the black and brown combo...like a rottweiler.
My acoustics are 1 11/16" at the nut, so the 1 5/8" will have to be tried first. Will continue to read the archives, and thanks for the welcome!
My acoustics are 1 11/16" at the nut, so the 1 5/8" will have to be tried first. Will continue to read the archives, and thanks for the welcome!
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beefandbones
- Intermediate Member
- Posts: 893
- Joined: Thu Feb 19, 2004 7:27 am
Yes, a fireglo 360 certainly is a beautiful guitar, and a good value to boot.
Don't let the narrower neck scare you too much though. Remember, the reduced fraction 1 5/8" is the equivalent of the unreduced 1 10/16" and one sixteenth of an inch is pretty small... Some people notice the difference more than others.
But, that said, it's definitely worth trying a few out to get the feel. Every guitar is just a little different from the next!
Don't let the narrower neck scare you too much though. Remember, the reduced fraction 1 5/8" is the equivalent of the unreduced 1 10/16" and one sixteenth of an inch is pretty small... Some people notice the difference more than others.
But, that said, it's definitely worth trying a few out to get the feel. Every guitar is just a little different from the next!
The 360 with the fancy white bindings combined with the wood/red and chrome is just over the top beautiful.
Yes, but you do get that more rounded look, (unless it's one of the vintage model 360s), which I find a massive trade-off.
Until I saw them in real life, side by side, I thought the 330 and 360 were comparable designs in my mind, but upon seeing them together "for real" the 330 looks more of a 'rock' guitar, makes me think more of the Beatles era, and ultimately looks like something I want to play, rather than admire as a curious, albeit pretty, design.
Yes, but you do get that more rounded look, (unless it's one of the vintage model 360s), which I find a massive trade-off.
Until I saw them in real life, side by side, I thought the 330 and 360 were comparable designs in my mind, but upon seeing them together "for real" the 330 looks more of a 'rock' guitar, makes me think more of the Beatles era, and ultimately looks like something I want to play, rather than admire as a curious, albeit pretty, design.
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adam_swapp
- Member
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- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 7:49 pm
- Contact:
There are lots of good suggestions here. If I may selectively appropriate, it comes down to this: buy the one you like. The question is how to make that determination.
First, you almost have to get them in your hands and play them, for the following reasons:
- As a general note, there are those who don't like lacquered fretboards. Irrespective of other preferences, this may be a deal breaker.
- Some prefer the look of the 330. Some prefer the 360. For some reason, pictures don't seem to accurately depict the difference between the two.
- Some folks prefer to play the 360 with its rounded edges.
- All guitars play differently. For reasons that are still unexplained, you can take a whole row of "identical" guitars, and one will leap out at you as "the" one. Conversely, you may find that one is, relatively speaking, a dog.
One of the problems with buying a Rick is that it's a little harder to find guitars to audition and compare. You note that you have to drive 75 miles to Sam Ash. I'm in a metropolitan of several million, and I don't know that there's a store within 50 miles that has both a 330 and a 360 in stock.
If you don't have the opportunity to audition guitars, and if you have the disposable income to float yourself a loan, you may want to go into the used guitar business for a while. Used Ricks hold value well. Buy one for a fair price, and you can probably resell it for what you paid. Buy a few candidates, try them out, and sell the ones you don't want. It's a PITA, and you may end up paying a little more if you have to eat and amortize shipping costs, etc. from a couple of guitars, but you will end up with the guitar you want.
First, you almost have to get them in your hands and play them, for the following reasons:
- As a general note, there are those who don't like lacquered fretboards. Irrespective of other preferences, this may be a deal breaker.
- Some prefer the look of the 330. Some prefer the 360. For some reason, pictures don't seem to accurately depict the difference between the two.
- Some folks prefer to play the 360 with its rounded edges.
- All guitars play differently. For reasons that are still unexplained, you can take a whole row of "identical" guitars, and one will leap out at you as "the" one. Conversely, you may find that one is, relatively speaking, a dog.
One of the problems with buying a Rick is that it's a little harder to find guitars to audition and compare. You note that you have to drive 75 miles to Sam Ash. I'm in a metropolitan of several million, and I don't know that there's a store within 50 miles that has both a 330 and a 360 in stock.
If you don't have the opportunity to audition guitars, and if you have the disposable income to float yourself a loan, you may want to go into the used guitar business for a while. Used Ricks hold value well. Buy one for a fair price, and you can probably resell it for what you paid. Buy a few candidates, try them out, and sell the ones you don't want. It's a PITA, and you may end up paying a little more if you have to eat and amortize shipping costs, etc. from a couple of guitars, but you will end up with the guitar you want.
You want to put that where?
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melibreits
- Senior Member
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- Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2003 6:00 am
- Contact:
"Buy one for a fair price, and you can probably resell it for what you paid."
Hmmmm.... that's a great idea, but hard to actually do! Once you buy one and play it, you'll fall in love with Rics, and somehow you'll find that a few more will mysteriously start appearing at your door, and you'll love them ALL so much that you can't bear to part with any of them! LOL! Really, you'll find that each one has a personality all its own, and certain ones will work better for certain songs, even if you have two of the same model....
Hmmmm.... that's a great idea, but hard to actually do! Once you buy one and play it, you'll fall in love with Rics, and somehow you'll find that a few more will mysteriously start appearing at your door, and you'll love them ALL so much that you can't bear to part with any of them! LOL! Really, you'll find that each one has a personality all its own, and certain ones will work better for certain songs, even if you have two of the same model....
"Once I've held and played the best, baby, I won't settle for less!"
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bruceglaser
- Veteran RRF member
- Posts: 107
- Joined: Sat Dec 16, 2000 1:55 pm
Gene - Where are you located? Chris Clayton at Pick of the Ricks now has a store in NJ, near Cherry Hill. He's got just about every model you'd want to play there and he's great to deal with. Check his web site. www.pickofthericks.com
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swaro770
Hi everyone...my computer at home is currently down with a fatal error...probably that Rundell 32 that keeps popping up. Anyway, thanks again for all your responses. Bruce, I live outside of Scranton, PA...yes, the 30,000 lbs of bananas city. It is about the same distance to Philly(Cherry Hill) and NYC. I'll bring up that website, thanks for the link-it didn't come up last week under Google. I can see a nice ride to Cherry Hill in my future. I think it was your photo of the 3 330's, Melissa. Your guitars are so beautiful; that picture is great. It has influenced me a bit as I tend to like more reserved things. Although the 360 is a jaw dropper, there is something classically, simplistically beautiful about the 330. I can't wait to see them 'in person'. Good suggestion, Adam. The big mail order houses have them in stock at very fair prices. Music123 I believe has a 45 day no questions asked return policy. This would give me enough time for my whiz bang instructor to look at it and give the thumbs up or down. I'm not knowledgeable enough yet to even know a good one from a dog...unless it was something very obvious. Elderly has 'em too, but they allow only 48 hrs for return. Anyone have experience with Music123? I don't think MusicansFriend had both models in stock. Then again, the suggestion to look at the 600 series with the wider neck and neck through design has me wondering...
This quest is fun, but I'm itching to see these guitars! I've been pondering over the Yamaha AES620, but know I wouldn't be satisfied, and it would be 500 bucks I'd rather put towards a Ric!
This quest is fun, but I'm itching to see these guitars! I've been pondering over the Yamaha AES620, but know I wouldn't be satisfied, and it would be 500 bucks I'd rather put towards a Ric!