Late last year I was searching "1983 Rickenbacker 330" on google and an Ohio craigslist posting was the top result. I emailed the owner and explained that I couldn't afford the guitar at the time, but that it was "The One" that I wanted. He was a very nice guy and explained to me that although he had had many offers on the guitar, none were local. He said he would hold it for me if I could pick it up in person sometime in the next few months. I immediately started selling whatever I could part with, and I got the guitar paid off around christmas. I picked it up in person on Jan. 4th. Serial #WG1075, dating it to July of 1983. 1983 was the last year F.C. Hall owned Ric, and it may be the lowest production year of the modern era... really low numbers that year.
A previous owner had Rotomatics on it, which I immediately set to work taking off. I had already bought a set of Grover Slimlines to install on it, as it had originally(from the holes and imprints). One of the rotomatics had been superglued in place, so I had a local shop remove that one and install conversion bushings and the new tuners.
I have it back with me now, and I'm just over the moon. It's among the best sounding Rics I have played, and for sure the best guitar I've owned. The sound is just unreal, just so chimey and ahhhg wow!!
The bridge higain is a lot quieter than the neck, but it works to great effect. I love the X-brace and I'm obsessed with looking at it through the sound hole. When I put my finger in the soundhole to feel the inner edge of the guitar, you can feel the rough-cut routed texture. It's just beyond cool. 
The ramp is totally dished out in my favorite way, and is parallel to the pickguard(the way nature intended). The neck is slim, as far as I can tell(I haven't played enough Ric's to really compare)... and the fretboard is thick and awesome.Here's a few poor photos... I hope to take some better ones in a few days.
- Sitting in case
- X-brace!!!
- Side shot of neck/headstock
- Coming out of the darkness...
