Buying a New Rickenbacker

raider · Post by **raider** » Sun Jan 02, 2005 1:25 pm

In 1988 I bought my first 360 Rickenbacker
and today I'm now playing a Gretsch 6128TBEE
Duo Jet. I will be selling the Gretsch so that
I can get back to Rickenbacker. I'm into 60's
style music so should I go with a 360 with vintage vp or a 330 with vp or the 350V63.
I do miss playing Ricks and I look forward to
getting back. My amp is a Reissue Vox AC-30TBX

wormdiet · Post by **wormdiet** » Sun Jan 02, 2005 4:16 pm

I'd say you couldn't really go wrong with any of the choices you've listed. The conventional wisdom holds that toasters will yield a more vintage sound but the hi-gains sound great too.

Make sure you wait a few weeks to see if the new COlor of the Year is something you'd like!

tony_carey · Post by **tony_carey** » Sun Jan 02, 2005 10:56 pm

Hi Lou, welcome to the forum. You've mentioned the three best suited for the job I think. Interestingly enough, I am just having my 360 with toasters converted to hi-gains because I just don't like the sound of the toasters. I also have a 350v63 with toasters which I DO like, maybe because the three p/ups make the sound a little fuller. If your playing 60's music though, the toasters should do it, but make sure you compare them to the hi-gains....they can sound pretty 60sish too, if you want them to.

wrattej · Post by **wrattej** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 5:16 am

How about tracking down a reissue Rose-Morris guitar. I've got a 1997SPC (export version of the 340) which has got three toasters and the cool looking F shaped sound hole. It also has the smaller headstock. It stands out from the crowd of standard 330s and 360s. Other than that, I also recommend the 350V63 - probably the prettiest guitar ever made ! Anyway, here a picture of my 1997SPC:

raider · Post by **raider** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 11:09 am

Thanks Guys its good to be here a few years ago
I did have a chance to but a reissue 1997 but I
passed on it. I will say this the 350V63 has been
my all time favorite guitar since 1964 when I
saw the movie (AHDN) and with John playing that
guitar I knew that someday I would get one. Selling the Gretsch would be one way of doing it
the other would be to save my money. It took me
from 1964 to 2004 before I bought the AC-30TBX
so this should not take that long.
Lou D

aristeas · Post by **aristeas** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 3:50 pm

Tony, does this mean you have a set of toster p/ups that you don't need?

tony_carey · Post by **tony_carey** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 12:21 am

No Lee. I am actually converting my burgundy 360 into a 370. Mike Smith from RicRUs is doing the work & has kindly swapped my two toasters for three hi-gains.
I really WANT to like toasters, but somehow they just don't suit me. I am hooked on hi-gains, with their extra bass response & power. Like I said, my 350 is good though, especially as a studio gtr. I have a feeling that toasters would suit me better on a 12 string & I am going to try a 660.

aristeas · Post by **aristeas** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 1:39 am

That figures. BTW the 660's are great - I have a 660/12TPJG - it's just a fabulous instrument to play and sounds great - even with the 'non-vintage' toasters.

raider · Post by **raider** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 11:40 am

Hey Guys I did track down a 350V63 in Jet Glow
its a 2004 brand new. I would trade my Gretsch
6128TBEE Duo Jet and a couple of other things.
I would have to have this done by tomorrow I
will call this person back tonight to let him
know then I would have my all time favorite
setup.
Lou D

fendertweed2 · Post by **fendertweed2** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 5:32 pm

I don't know... I have a Gretsch Elliott Easton (6128EE) AND my Ric 660/12 and I won't part with either.

Cheers,
Jon

spencer · Post by **spencer** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 4:42 am

Yep, you're definitely better off with a Ric AND a Gretsch. It's the best of both worlds, they go so well together.
I got my new Tennssean 62HT on Christmas Eve - and I only put it down long enough to play my 325V63.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 6:07 am

I agree with Spencer wholeheartedly! After nearly 5 years with only one guitar (a '59 Duo-Sonic that I've owned for 24 years), a recent bout of GAS has left me with a newfound passion and a lot of choices of what to play when I arrive home each night.

After a lot of general messing about, my two-week-old 660-12 and my G5129 have become my two faves. Now my desires are moving a bit "upmarket", with my sights currently set on adding a 381 (Turquoise, please?) and a 6118T120, to the bunch.

spencer · Post by **spencer** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 7:04 am

It's really hard to choose a definite favorite - albeit, I do come to this guitar forum more than any other.
I've gone through SO many phases with what I want from a guitar. So I've chosen not to choose a favorite, because I think that it's limiting to do so. With my collection now, I feel I have most of the 'tonal bases' covered.
One of each from the 'big boys'...

- Ric 325V63
- Gretsch Tennessean 6119-62HT
- Gibson ES 335
- Fender 50s classic Strat

You can't get any of these guitars to sound like the other one, but they do their own thing really well.

However, I've never been infatuated with anything as much as a Rickenbacker.

tony_carey · Post by **tony_carey** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 9:59 am

I totaly see your point Spencer about covering every sound & the integrity of that idea is flawless. But you know, personaly I am only after one sound, with tonal variations admitedly & I feel very lucky that Rickenbackers are the only guitar that I want. The advantage is that I'm a very happy player with no guitar issues...the disadvantage is that I want lots of Rics, so I don't save money by not buying other manufacturers gtrs. I have always considered that my sound is my sound & that's what you get & this attitude has actually helped me in my work, with clients actually coming to me for that very reason. Mind you, if I was all things to all men, then that would probably work as well!
I would probably admit to being in a minority of guitarists who really have found my 'soul mate' of guitars.

strummeister · Post by **strummeister** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 5:26 am

There was a day when i just had one guitar a Gibson SG and a peavey deuce I knew exactly where I was with it, then I started to buy others and totally confused my ear and fingers because of the varying string tensions and neck widths and almost felt it was a backward step for quite a while. Now with 9 guitars and 4 amps stuck around the room it just depends on the type of gig is on offer as to what I pick up or what mood I am in whether a Gary Moore or a Pete Townshend
But I still feel that there is merit in majoring on one guitar Tony I know what you mean.

Tony BTW way are you the artist from Teignmouth?

Les Paul Standard
Les Paul Delux
Gibson SG Standard
Gibson SG Classic p90s
Gibson SG Townshend P90s
Fender Strat Plus Delux
Fender Clapton Strat
Epi BB King 'Lucille'
Yamaha SG 2000

Oh and yes I am about to embark on the Ric journey hence the new interest in this fabulous site, this is the most polite, interesting and informative of them all. Cheers chaps