first post, first Rickenbacker
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
first post, first Rickenbacker
hi guys -
i'm a long-time guitar player (gibsons & fenders, mostly) who stumbled upon a deal for a 1996 jetglo 330 last saturday. and i've got to say, i really like it. i had always loved the look and sound of rickenbacker guitars, but i never thought i could handle the neck. well, for whatever reason, this one felt "different," so i traded an old harmony archtop plus some cash for it. and so far, i'm in love.
(of course my thoughts have already strayed to modding - a gold pickguard and TRC would look great on it).
so, what do i need to know about ricks? anything to watch for? any known issues? thanks for any advice.
i'm a long-time guitar player (gibsons & fenders, mostly) who stumbled upon a deal for a 1996 jetglo 330 last saturday. and i've got to say, i really like it. i had always loved the look and sound of rickenbacker guitars, but i never thought i could handle the neck. well, for whatever reason, this one felt "different," so i traded an old harmony archtop plus some cash for it. and so far, i'm in love.
(of course my thoughts have already strayed to modding - a gold pickguard and TRC would look great on it).
so, what do i need to know about ricks? anything to watch for? any known issues? thanks for any advice.
- sloop_john_b
- Rick-a-holic
- Posts: 13843
- Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2005 6:00 am
Re: first post, first Rickenbacker
Worries? No - modern 330s are tanks. Have fun with it. 
Re: first post, first Rickenbacker
Congrats and welcome to the RRF!

I have NO idea what to do with those skinny stringed things... I'm just a bass player...
- rickyfricky
- Intermediate Member
- Posts: 692
- Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2010 9:09 pm
Re: first post, first Rickenbacker
One thing you need to know is that fairly soon you're gawna want another!
Congrats and welcome to the Forum.
Congrats and welcome to the Forum.
Watch those teeth, Marlin. I'm not sure we've properly sedated the beast . . .
Re: first post, first Rickenbacker
thanks for the welcome.
here's a pic of the 330 with its brethren:

here's a pic of the 330 with its brethren:

- 8mileshigher
- Senior Member
- Posts: 4886
- Joined: Tue May 23, 2006 12:34 pm
first post, first Rickenbacker
Welcome aboard the RRF, Patrick, and congratulations on your first Ric !
JetGlo Rics are very awesome
Enjoy it !
JetGlo Rics are very awesome
Enjoy it !
Re: first post, first Rickenbacker
I've heard it said that they "ROCK!"8mileshigher wrote: JetGlo Rics are very awesome
I have NO idea what to do with those skinny stringed things... I'm just a bass player...
Re: first post, first Rickenbacker
sweet! nice bound tele there too!
Re: first post, first Rickenbacker
Well, you need to know that climbing Mt. Everest backwards is easier to do than getting a gold pickguard/TRC onto your Ric.bscepter wrote:- a gold pickguard and TRC would look great on it.
so, what do i need to know about ricks?
You can get the gold pickguard easily enough, but the TRC is the real problem. Ric does not sell them (you'd have to trade in your white one for a gold one) and the only way to buy them is from counterfeiters (that's illegal and they charge an arm and a leg for something that isn't even real) or buy one from some guy who happens to have a real one (and he will charge you two arms and two legs).
Good luck with your Ric. Keep the plastic white.
Re: first post, first Rickenbacker
There are those who have painted a TRC gold (raised letter type) with reasonable looking results...
I have NO idea what to do with those skinny stringed things... I'm just a bass player...
Re: first post, first Rickenbacker
whoa - i had no idea. thanks for the info!Tommy wrote:Well, you need to know that climbing Mt. Everest backwards is easier to do than getting a gold pickguard/TRC onto your Ric.bscepter wrote:- a gold pickguard and TRC would look great on it.
so, what do i need to know about ricks?
You can get the gold pickguard easily enough, but the TRC is the real problem. Ric does not sell them (you'd have to trade in your white one for a gold one) and the only way to buy them is from counterfeiters (that's illegal and they charge an arm and a leg for something that isn't even real) or buy one from some guy who happens to have a real one (and he will charge you two arms and two legs).
Good luck with your Ric. Keep the plastic white.
- Kingbreaker
- Junior Member
- Posts: 178
- Joined: Sun May 06, 2012 5:31 pm
Re: first post, first Rickenbacker
bscepter wrote:hi guys -
i'm a long-time guitar player (gibsons & fenders, mostly) who stumbled upon a deal for a 1996 jetglo 330 last saturday. and i've got to say, i really like it. i had always loved the look and sound of rickenbacker guitars, but i never thought i could handle the neck. well, for whatever reason, this one felt "different," so i traded an old harmony archtop plus some cash for it. and so far, i'm in love.
(of course my thoughts have already strayed to modding - a gold pickguard and TRC would look great on it).
so, what do i need to know about ricks? anything to watch for? any known issues? thanks for any advice.
The jetglo 330s seem to go best with a raunchy snarl rather than a jangle - for that you need a mapleglo (blonde) 360
Actually they both sound great for whatever, but nothing sez "in yer face" like a JG 330. I want to get a 12-string one and play it with feedback.
Re: first post, first Rickenbacker
one thing: i'm noticing that it's quite buzzy acoustically - seemingly emanating from the bridge. i'm not too worried; my gretsch does the same thing (retaining wire from abr1). but i'm wondering if there's something that can be done about it.
- Kingbreaker
- Junior Member
- Posts: 178
- Joined: Sun May 06, 2012 5:31 pm
Re: first post, first Rickenbacker
Check the four screws that control the bridge height - sometimes one won't quite make solid contact with the baseplate. Also, if the bridge springs are too short, they can get loose and rattle a bit.bscepter wrote:one thing: i'm noticing that it's quite buzzy acoustically - seemingly emanating from the bridge. i'm not too worried; my gretsch does the same thing (retaining wire from abr1). but i'm wondering if there's something that can be done about it.
But, if the rattle isn't amplified. . . . no biggie.
Re: first post, first Rickenbacker
thanks, i will!Kingbreaker wrote:Check the four screws that control the bridge height - sometimes one won't quite make solid contact with the baseplate. Also, if the bridge springs are too short, they can get loose and rattle a bit.
But, if the rattle isn't amplified. . . . no biggie.
