At a crossroads in trying to get my first Rickenbacker

[robw95]

Welcome to the Forum, Rob.
Since you are in Southern Calif, I recall that somebody had a 350 model posted on L.A. Craigs List about a week or two ago, you might want to try and find that seller and give it a test-drive.

Have you contacted all the local authorized Ric dealers for their possibilities of having a second hand 350v63?

I'm sure there are 330 models at local Ric dealers as it is a high-production model.

Rob, we also have local So Calif Confluences and Rickenbacker Jam Sessions on a fairly regular basis .... you might want to check out the gear and meet folks. See the recent thread
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=399591&start=75

Hi Rich,

Thanks for the heads up on the local Ric get togethers, they sound like fun.

The 350v63 is still listed on CL, it's in Redondo Beach. It's a Fireglo and I was thinking Jetglo but it might be worth checking out to get a feel for the size and feel and at the end of the day I'm not that stuck on color.

I have been contacting local Ric dealers but so far have not located a 350v63, new or used to try but I'm going to keep at it.

Thanks and hope to meet you at a get together.

Rob

[iiipopes]

Um, if you do resort to steel wool, which I don't advise because the wool dust can get into the electronics and wreak havoc, the correct grade is 0000 (4-0) steel wool.

[kingblud]

Hi, I’m a lurker here, an active reader but never post. I am a big Beatles and REM fan and I am looking to get a Rickenbacker to cover that territory. There is a 2005 at my local Guitar Center in very good condition at a fair price but I have always fancied getting a JetGlo (like Lennon and Buck). I emailed a couple of the dealers recommended here and a couple of them have new 330 JG’s in stock and I was almost sold on getting one of those when my head got turned by reading about the 350v63 model. I have not actually played one of these but I'm a bit enamored of the smaller body size and lighter weight as I'm not a big guy and thought it might be lighter around my neck if I were to play standing up. The truth is that I'm not in a band and just play at home sitting down so I'm not sure why I'm thinking about that. In fact, I don't even own a guitar strap! There are no 350v63’s around to try though. I thought I had a lead today as gbase.com showed two in my area but I went to the shop today and they said they were gone and just had not updated gbase in a while.

So if you have any thoughts on the 330 vs. the 350v63 covering the Beatles and REM I would love to hear them. When I wrote to one of the dealers that I have been corresponding with regarding the 330 vs. 350v63 he replied:

“A 350 V63 is also a pretty versatile guitar, and plays as easily as a 330 or a 360 because of the full scale neck. The 3 Vintage pickups would help you dial in the John Lennon or John Fogerty sound.
A 360 or 330 would be perfect for the Peter Buck sound, but not quite as close on the Beatles.”

By the way, I have a silly question. I have only acoustics and all of my acoustics have satin (non gloss) necks and I found myself ‘sticking’ to the neck a bit on the the 330 I tried the other day. I know that Rics are glossed (for lack of the correct term) front and back and that glossing of the front is a bit unique however it seems like I was sticking more to the front. Has anybody experienced this when transitioning to the Rics from acoustics and is it something you just get used to and don’t even notice anymore?

Thanks for reading.

Rob
Southern California

Check out musiciansfriend.com, they usually have a huge price discount on selling the 360 Jetglo. For some reason, they sell the 360 JG cheaper than any other 360 OR 330. Get your Peter Buck on! Also, when MF runs 15% off sales, Ric is included. So if you can wait, you can probably get a good deal using a coupon or calling them and asking for a discount. I got my 330 from them and it rules.

IMO, a 330 or 360 is the best option, the most versatile, and will be the best value. I haven't played a 350, but I love my JG 330. The neck is smooth, the guitar comes with a polishing cloth, I just run that over the neck before I play, 30 seconds later the neck is smooth as anything. No need to sand it. The stickiness was probably sweat/fingerprints. Also, the hi-gain pickups are not that different than the toasters, to my ears. It's like the difference between Strat pickups; they all sound slightly different but degrees of the same. The real key is it is on a Strat. Either of the single coil Ric pickups (hi gains or toasters) will sound degrees of the same, because they will be on a semi-hollow Ric with the same bridge and same neck, etc.

Good luck and let us know the outcome.

[bluewhale]

Some like glossy necks, some like satin finish, some like both.

When you do get your guitar, you might consider waiting with the steel wool. See how it goes washing hands before you play and wiping down the neck when you're done, as suggested above. If you're playing at home, like me, then you probably aren't working up the same sort of sweat that you would in a gigging situation.

[doctorwho]

Welcome, Rob!

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