350V63.. 24 Fret vs. 21 fret

[Ric_MEL]

I really like the looks of the 350v63 model..

The current production is 21 fret.. 3 toaster.. and I note: earlier production was 24 < now only available 2nd hand.. eBay etc )

I believe the Susannah Hoffs is 24 fret ( with a Humbucker at the bridge.. but I digress .. )... and Mike Campell has a one off.. black 350 ( two pickup ) that is 24 fret

Anyone out there able to comment on : differences.. pro/con.. between the two necks? I know the 24 fret pushes the three pickups closer together.. does that really make the pickups sound different?

and wonder how the longer neck. balances on a smaller guitar ( ie. versus the 24 fret on larger 330/360 semi hollow bodies )

Any experience/comments appreciated!~
tnx
M

[winston]

I have played both and I own a 24 fret Liverpool with a HB-1 pickup installed in the bridge position. I covered all three pickups with toaster covers on mine after a little bit of help from Sergio.

The v63's are probably a little better balanced guitar and more traditional Rick sounding but if my 350 Liverpool is anything to go by........it has loads of sustain and it is able to be used for all sorts of genres including blues. I do like the smaller headstock on the v63 better to be totally honest. I am not a fan of the larger paddle headstocks.

[Clint]

Sorry, I have no info on the 24 fret version but I've owned a 350V63 for a number of years. The size and balance is similar to a 620, but the 350V63 is much lighter. It's very comfortable to play both standing up or sitting down. Mine has a pretty beefy neck on it. It may be the fattest neck that I have ever seen on a Ric, but I still wouldn't call the guitar neck-heavy by any means.

[ozover50]

Hi Mark.

I had a 350 Liverpool a few years ago and I honestly can't remember much about it except that it was very 'playable' and sounded pretty good.

I now have three 350v63s and a 350/12v63 and I must say that they are far and away my favourite Rick model. One of the sixers has a humbucker at the bridge and has been wired so that the blend knob is in fact the volume control for the humbucker, which is switched 'in' in all three positions.

The neck on one of them (Mid Blue) is a little chunky but not so much that I don't like playing it. They are incredibly light and comfortable and extremely well balanced. The 350/12v63 suffers from a little 'head dive' with all that hardware but no so much that it becomes a reall issue when playing - the right sort of strap takes care of it.

You don't see many 350s or 350v63s for sale these days. Obviously production of the Liverpool ceased many years ago and the 350v63 was 'cycled out' of production a couple of years ago. This makes me hopeful that it will be reintroduced some time in the future. I would think that a Liverpool would be harder to find than a 350v63.

Cheers,

H

[Ric_MEL]

350v63 was 'cycled out' of production a couple of years ago

I'm guessing you meant: the 350/12v63 was cycled out of production... as the 350v63 still shows up in the RIC model list. .and here's a beautiful one at Music zoo:

http://www.themusiczoo.com/product/3376 ... 3-Fireglo/

I too really like the 350 < on paper.. as I've never played one > and was just wondering if there was some holy grail aspect of the 24 fret neck... Doesn't seem like I'd need to pay a premium to find an older 24 fret neck/Liverpool

Interesting nomenclature: Seems like people refer to the " liverpool " as the older 24 fret neck.. but the RIC site model listing still includes "liverpool" in the name in the 350v63 model.

http://www.rickenbacker.com/model.asp?model=350V63

I have a 620/6. and like the smaller body.. and the 21 fret neck ( albeit: I haven't A/B'd it with a longer neck small body )

and I actually prefer a chunkier neck. versus a very thin neck..

I will definitely have to go into my nearest dealer < Portland , OR - Apple Music > to see if they have one.. and play it!

[ozover50]

Well there ya go! I was under the impression that the 35012v63 was discontinued and the 6 string was cycled out.

[Clint]

I have a 620/6. and like the smaller body.. and the 21 fret neck ( albeit: I haven't A/B'd it with a longer neck small body )

and I actually prefer a chunkier neck. versus a very thin neck..

Sounds like the 350V63 may be the guitar for you. I have found though, that the profile of Ric necks can be very different from one guitar to another. So it is best to play as many as possible to find the one that fits.

[paologregorio]

The vintage model is probably more aesthetically pleasing to most. Not sure how much the extra three frets figure into the mix, though some strongly favor the look of the 21 fret necks to the 24. I don't really care that much; half of my ricks have 21 frets, the other half 24. I love them both, though I think to the eye the 21 fret models accentuate the body shape more because they end right where the body begins, and leave more space between the pickups, perhaps giving the optical illusion of larger body dimensions on the two pickup models, at least on the 330 and 360 OS models, and probably on the 3 p/up 350 models as well. On the other hand, when dropped, that's exactly where the neck always seems to snap off.

WRT Neck dimensions, they vary by era, so you'll likely prefer some neck profiles to others. Fretboard radii differ by era as well, so you'll prefer some of those to others as well.

[Ric_MEL]

Here's an early model 24 Fret 350.. on eBay right now

item id: 300467300787

link if it works: http://cgi.ebay.com/RICKENBACKER-350-LI ... 45f53f29b3

starting price is $1,500 ( no bids )seems a reasonable starting point - but I dunno what they should be priced at.

Since there does not seem to be any huge sonic difference of the 24 fret model ( pickups all oriented closer to the bridge ) ... . on paper: seems you'd get a larger variety of tone option from a neck ( or middle ) pickup if it's further from the bridge.

I'm more comfortable with buying new ( if the price is competitive.. ) .. you get a warranty.. you're not buying sight unseen etc. with eBay risks.. etc. .. and I'm not looking for "collector" aspect.. but want a guitar to play

I'll go check out a 350v63 21 fret .. and then the only tough part that remains ( if I like 'em ) ... is: $$$ !

[Clint]

Would it kill the guy to post some decent photos? If he's asking someone to pony up $1,500 the least he could do is let 'em see what they're buying.

[ken_j]

... though I think to the eye the 21 fret models accentuate the body shape more because they end right where the body begins, and leave more space between the pickups, ...

On a 350 with 24 frets they also end where the body begins.

350-24.1.jpg (7.98 KiB) Viewed 5583 times

[octagon]

Here's an early model 24 Fret 350.. on eBay right now

item id: 300467300787

link if it works: http://cgi.ebay.com/RICKENBACKER-350-LI ... 45f53f29b3

starting price is $1,500 ( no bids )seems a reasonable starting point - but I dunno what they should be priced at.

He dropped the starting bid to $1300 with a $1450 BIN price.