620 vs 650S

[bartyclue]

I have an opportunity to buy either of these guitars. The 650 for $1400 and the 620 for $1800.. both include OHSC and case candy. The 650 is from 2000 and the 620 from 2007. What I really want you fine folk's opinion on, is what you feel is the better axe. You dont have to get into specifics like what type of music its needed for, I just want what you guys feel is the better guitar. Thanks in advance

BB

[brian_l]

I have owned both, so I will chime in here. Which guitar is better actually does depend on the style of music that you play, at least in my opinion. The 620 has the slim neck, high gain pickups and finished fretboard that most other Rickenbackers typically have. The 650, on the other hand, has a wider neck, re-designed bridge, humbucking pickups and an unfinished maple fretboard. It is a completely different animal than any other Rickenbacker guitar. Only the body and headstock shape are the same. If you like to do a lot of leads and your music tends to lean on the heavier side of things, get the 650, especially if you have larger hands. For all other purposes, the 620 will do just fine. I realize there are more details on both instruments that I have left out, but you will have to go to the Rickenbacker website, pull up the specs and weigh the differences for yourself. You really couldn't go wrong with either one.

[8mileshigher]

The prices you mention seem high for second-hand models. Afterall, Musicians Friend had new 620 models with warranties going for $1399 on one of their sales a few months ago (in May).

Maybe check around a few more dealers and see what they have second hand ones going for ?

The differences between 650 and 620 will be the neck width (and finish on fretboard) and the types of pickups and the 620 has the upscale features such as Ric-o-sound, binding, inlays, etc.

[aceonbass]

I like the pickups better on the 650, but the 620 has SO much more detail and vintage vibe. I'd get a 620 and put HB1s in with the appropriately modded wiring.

[jdogric12]

Both overpriced.

[aceonbass]

Both overpriced.

Ya, by about $400-500 each

[Kingbreaker]

I have an opportunity to buy either of these guitars. The 650 for $1400 and the 620 for $1800.. both include OHSC and case candy. The 650 is from 2000 and the 620 from 2007. What I really want you fine folk's opinion on, is what you feel is the better axe. You dont have to get into specifics like what type of music its needed for, I just want what you guys feel is the better guitar. Thanks in advance

BB

The 650s is a discontinued model, if that matters. Is RIC making any walnut-based six-strings at all these days?

The 620 is still around. And, yeah, overpriced. I paid less for a brand new 360 with two-day shipping.

[jdawe]

I've owned 620s (a 6 and 12) for a while but have only played a 650 briefly in a music store a couple of times. For me, it would be no contest -- the 620 would win hands down. Not that there's anything wrong with 650s -- they're lovely guitars in their own right -- but they're quite different from most other Rickenbackers, for the reasons Brian lists. Its not a matter of one being better than the other -- they're just different.

I personally love the narrow finished neck of the 620 and the 300-series guitars, but I recognize that not everyone does, particularly people with large hands. In my view, 620s are fine for lead work if you are used to the narrow neck, and they sound great distorted up to a point. However, I agree with Brian that the single coil hi-gains on the 620 aren't at their best for really heavy stuff, so if your tastes run in that direction the humbuckers on the 650 might be better.

Visually, the 620 has the retro features traditionally associated with Rickenbacker -- the double pick guard and the R tailpiece -- as well as visual features like fretboard inlays and body and neck binding. The 650 has more "modern" design elements, even though the basic body shape is the same. I personally like the look of the 620 more, but your mileage may vary.

Echoing what others have said, these prices seem way high. I recognize that Rickenbackers are harder to find in Canada than in the US, particularly if you are trying to put locally so you can play before you buy, but even so $1800 is a lot for a 620-6. I paid substantially less for mine (bought used in the Toronto area in the last 2 years) and could have got one for even less if I'd been willing to buy from the US.