At long last....

red_rob · Post by **red_rob** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 3:25 am

When I was 16 years old I saw a black and white photo of Pete Townsend holding up some strange but eye-catching pointy guitar with the headstock held up towards the camera lens. I asked my dad what the hell it was that he was holding and after 10 subsequent years of drooling over Rickenbackers, I finally have my first.

And it’s absolutely beautiful. It’s a 1999 360 V’64 6-string in fireglo bought from a nice guy in Minnesota. I’ve seen them go for less than the $2,000 I paid but, over here in the UK, we aren’t exactly spoilt for choice and these things don’t come up every day. I live in London now and there is a really impressive array of guitar shops down here; but all of them have one or two 330s and maybe a mapleglo 360 thrown in but not much else sadly. I also didn’t mind paying that much because the wood grain on it is really eye-catching, it really shimmers.

I’ve waited until now to submit to this awesome website, because although it has been a great source of interesting and entertaining information for me, I just haven’t felt worthy of contributing until I was an owner. I was also going to submit some pictures for you to see but I’ve decided to wait a while. You see, after 10 years waiting for my first Ric, I saw a really good deal on a 381…….so I’ve ordered that as well! When they’re together – I’ll show you the pair!

Cheers guys. And keep up the great chats.

Rob

PS: I can’t stop looking at it!!!!

tony_carey · Post by **tony_carey** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 4:50 am

A warm welcome Rob. Well done on your 360v64, a beautiful gtr. A 381 as well?...when you're bitten, you're bitten.
Great gtrs, but you need a Ric with hi-gains now!

A great first post!

admin · Post by **admin** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 5:00 am

Robert: Welcome to The Rickenbacker Forum and congratulations on your new Rickenbacker 12 string. Has anyone told you that you have a striking resemblance to Pete Townshend? Just kidding. I look forward to a photo of you with your Rickenbacker soon.

Scastles · Post by **Scastles** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 5:07 am

Welcome Rob...great pic and it's great you got yourself a Ric!

red_rob · Post by **red_rob** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 5:17 am

Thanks guys - it's great to join the "family". I only have 6 strings thus far Peter and with Tony's suggestion, I might try a Jetglo 330-12 with high gains next. Kill 2 birds with one stone so I don't have to sell vital organs to pay for them all.

Ah hell...I don't need TWO kidneys

bmi_guy · Post by **bmi_guy** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 5:37 am

Welcome Bob... Man - you look at lot like Pete in his early years!!

iamthebassman · Post by **iamthebassman** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 5:58 am

Welcome Rob, when I was a child my brother had the "Maximum R&B" poster on the wall with picture of PT from same photo session as above. I loved that guitar in the photo even tho' i had no idea how to play. I grew up to be a bass player but had a lingering want for a Ric guitar like on the poster. Couple years ago I got a 340, love it.

joepee · Post by **joepee** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 6:39 am

Cool guitar, Ronn. Not only backward, but an upsidedown R tailpiece as well.

Does it have high gains or toaster pickups?

admin · Post by **admin** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 6:47 am

It is very cool looking Joe and would appear to have high gains.

tony_carey · Post by **tony_carey** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 6:58 am

I have a midnight blue 330/12 Rob & I can totaly recommend them, they jangle or rock (& sometimes both)....you wont be dissapointed!

red_rob · Post by **red_rob** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:07 am

The 330/12 appeals to me actually, largely because U2's The Edge played one on a lot of the Achtung Baby! stuff, notably "even better than the real thing" with it's slide solo. There's a cool bit in Rattle and Hum too, when they're in Sun Studios, Memphis and he starts playing "Angel of Harlem". Apologies if you hate U2...

iamthebassman · Post by **iamthebassman** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:09 am

Yep, high gains. Sounds/plays great. I think technically it's a 340FGLHRH

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:18 am

Ronn, I tried to pronounce that and got tongue-locked.

Fuh GLuh Ha RaH ?

apollo11 · Post by **apollo11** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:33 am

Hey Ronn,
I'm thinking of doing the same thing as you---I don't play guitar at all, well just tinker with no chording, but would like to have one around the house for get-togethers. Currently my buddy's Guild is here, but it is old and tired, and takes about 15 minutes to tune the darned thing. An update to a Ric would be ideal.

Besides a 325, what has always appealed to me was a 330 in fireglo or a 620 in midnight blue. Since Blueburst was unveiled, though, I think I'll shoot for a 620 in Blueburst, and order it at the end of the year before the deadline.
With the popularity of the color so far, maybe they'll extend it another year, which would be a big help, as I already have a 4001c64 on order.

iamthebassman · Post by **iamthebassman** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 8:45 am

Andrew, you should go for it. Sometimes I find, being used to basses all my life, there's a certain frailty to the hollowbody Ric guitar that is a cool contrast. I use mine in my home studio, I'm not much of a guitarist but I am getting better, and with a few(several)takes I can usually get what I want on "tape".