Improvements you would make if you were JH..

loverickbass · Post by **loverickbass** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 6:27 am

Jeff,

Do you have any High Res pics of that beauty?

Cole

wormdiet · Post by **wormdiet** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 6:32 am

If yer not using ROS, it's a 2nd volume knob for the neck pickup. Test it systematically. Anything you can do with the 5th knob you can do with neck volume. The only difference is that it won;t cut neck volume 100%. (Just 90%)

I think it looks cool and provides a spot to maybe customize the controls w/o changing the look of the guitar, but I just leave it totally counterclockwise all the time. And use the real neck volume knob.

The 5th knob is a good place to add more precision to, say, a 350 or 370 by adding a middle pickup volume. Or a master volume on a 2-pickup guitar.

jps · Post by **jps** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 6:42 am

As far as I know, I only know of one other just like it, in a collection in Japan.

I do have high res photos if you want.

loverickbass · Post by **loverickbass** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 6:50 am

Thanks Jeff, if you don't mind could I have one to use as a wallpaper? My email is colegaskins at aol dot com

Cole

beefandbones · Post by **beefandbones** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 7:43 am

Man, alt.guitar.rickenbacker sounds like the wild west or something! I ought to check it out sometime, but I like it here!

The only major change I'd make is returning 21 frets on the 300 range, but I'd keep everything else the same. I see the hi-gains and 24 fret neck as a step in the direction of the 650 series, but now that the 650 exists, and ROCKS, why not return the 330 series to old style?

I like the way the basses are made (well, I like the way all Ricks are made) but one thing I would investigate is making the neck pickup route slightly larger to accomodate 1/2" or 1" spacing with aftermarket vintage pickguards available at extra cost.

I'd keep Monte brown. I'd have checkerboard binding as an option, although it would probably be an expensive one. I'd try to have full width inlays, although I understand the reasoning behind RIC not generally offering these.

But I'd like to stress that I DO like Ricks the way they are. John does a great job.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 8:13 am

John and his entire staff, from the oldest timer to the guys who sweep up...

paul_shover · Post by **paul_shover** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 10:39 am

Like the rest of you, I think that John Hall is doing a great job, but I really love the idea that John Mckelvy had. Basically just expand the 380 series. I would love to see a 380 that came in fireglow, had a rosewood finger board, and a tradional Ric pickguard. This last one isn't as important, but if they could somehow still keep the R tailpiece, whether it was a faux or an updated one would be so cool.
Don't get me wrong, I love my 360 and I wouldn't change a thing, but when I went to buy a new guitar last summer, I wanted one with modern bend to it. I went to Rickenbacker first, and although I loved the sound of the newer series, I just wished they came in the "classic" style. So I relented and bought a USA Hamer studio instead. It really sounds and plays great, and is beautiful, but my heart isn't into it. I would sell that thing and take a loss on it if Rickenbacker expanded the 380 series to include the "classic" look.

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 11:49 am

Well since I know John pretty well, I should make this request again. Bring myself and some other past Electro String Craftsmen on board and open the Custom Rickenbacker Shop. I'd love to make Capri replicas with pearl inlays and unfinished fingerboards and all the AAAA Maple and do it to the player/customers specs. I believe there are lots of players in the world who would love to own more than one of these. I have a couple myself. NFS guys. I certainly have great respect for what John has done with his company. Retaining quality and costs are pretty hard to do in todays competitive market. Look at how Fender has saturated the market with the different levels of Elec. Guitars. Yet their Custom Shop is going strong with their limited, high price tag guitars. I would love to see a 2 inch thick semi hollow body with a set neck on a 3 degree angle with body and neck binding and a set of Toasters that are double coil tapped but still look vintage and a tail piece that is somewhat easier to put the ball ends thru. Just a dream I've had for several years. Maybe it will come full circle someday.

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 5:31 pm

There's many things that could be done but unfortunately outside the business it's hard to see the practilities related to the implementation of them. We have many specific constraints to deal with (for example, limits to how many pounds of paint we are allowed to spray daily), as well as a demand that far exceeds current capacity. That factor in itself makes it absolutely impossible to consider new products right now.

We also have a mixed blessing in that essentially all models in the product line sell well but the disparate designs don't give us the commonality to simplify production and therefore speed it up.

A very large number of the ideas presented here parallel those we've had in house, and in fact many exist in prototype form. However, the practicality in light of the constraints make them difficult to do . . . right now.

wormdiet · Post by **wormdiet** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 5:40 pm

This seems like the kind of problem that is *good* to have - "as well as a demand that far exceeds current capacity. That factor in itself makes it absolutely impossible to consider new products right now." I think most of us are very satisfied with the current line up, and are happy to see the guitars produced well and by a successful company.