320 Model
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
320 Model
Can anyone tell me what are the best strings to use on these guitars. Also does anyone own one of these and how do they like them. I am not really liking mine right now. It goes out of tune and it's hard to tune it and there is no room to strum it because all the pickups get in the way and you seem to hit them as you strum. It is a beautiful guitar but It has not sustain whatsoever. Can anyone recommend what would be a good amp to plug this guitar into. I love my rickenbacker 4001 bass but this 320 model I am not too sure of. I am currently using a Marshall amp but that's because I used to own a Gibson SG but I know this is not the best amp to plug my 320 in. If anyone has any suggestions or comments I would like to hear them. Thanks!
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jingle_jangle
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Maria, welcome.
Let's look at your questions one by one. The "goes out of tune" John addressed above and the heavier gauge strings, while being a bit more hard on your fingertips, should be tried.
Try also to use genuine Rick brand strings (at least to start out). "Not room to strum" we've heard before too, and it takes some getting used to for some people; to others, it isn't an issue. Just bear with it a bit. Strumming should be the easiest, actually, unless you are attacking extra deeply.
There could be many issues involved with your sustain problem. One is perception--what are you looking for/expecting? Are you talking about plugged or unplugged ? (I assume plugged). A Rick is not a L** P***, but it can be set up to sustain until next Sunday evening! This, too is related to amp selection.
Amps: The classic Rick sound seems to be closely allied to its use with the VOX AC30 tube amplifier. A good place to start--try to find a music store in your area who has one. Some people also swear by Fenders, Marshalls, Laneys.
See a thread on this Forum under "Guitars" entitled "Amplifier Recommendations". Lots of suggestions there, too.
Let's look at your questions one by one. The "goes out of tune" John addressed above and the heavier gauge strings, while being a bit more hard on your fingertips, should be tried.
Try also to use genuine Rick brand strings (at least to start out). "Not room to strum" we've heard before too, and it takes some getting used to for some people; to others, it isn't an issue. Just bear with it a bit. Strumming should be the easiest, actually, unless you are attacking extra deeply.
There could be many issues involved with your sustain problem. One is perception--what are you looking for/expecting? Are you talking about plugged or unplugged ? (I assume plugged). A Rick is not a L** P***, but it can be set up to sustain until next Sunday evening! This, too is related to amp selection.
Amps: The classic Rick sound seems to be closely allied to its use with the VOX AC30 tube amplifier. A good place to start--try to find a music store in your area who has one. Some people also swear by Fenders, Marshalls, Laneys.
See a thread on this Forum under "Guitars" entitled "Amplifier Recommendations". Lots of suggestions there, too.
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
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spencer
Hi Maria
I've got a 325V63 and I understand what you're saying about the strumming issue. I dissconnected my middle pickup not long after I got it, because I kept bumping it when I strummed, that just worked out better for me.
As far as tuning stability and sustain goes - you have to put .12s on it to get that thing to behave properly. It will tune better and I've always believed bigger strings improve sustain.
But, if this is your first Ric and you've been playing an SG, it's going to take some getting used to - I've got both and those guitars are like night and day. I play my 325 so much though, if I had to choose, I'd ditch the SG.
Good luck and welcome to the forum.
I've got a 325V63 and I understand what you're saying about the strumming issue. I dissconnected my middle pickup not long after I got it, because I kept bumping it when I strummed, that just worked out better for me.
As far as tuning stability and sustain goes - you have to put .12s on it to get that thing to behave properly. It will tune better and I've always believed bigger strings improve sustain.
But, if this is your first Ric and you've been playing an SG, it's going to take some getting used to - I've got both and those guitars are like night and day. I play my 325 so much though, if I had to choose, I'd ditch the SG.
Good luck and welcome to the forum.
Maria, in addition to disconnecting the middle pickup on my 325C58 as did Spencer with his 325 (and John Lennon before him), I also lowered it a tad by removing the gromets from underneath it. It's sitting right on the surface of the guitar. I imagine it may cause a scuff or a scratch on the guitar top, but since I don't routinely look underneath the pickup I don't expect it will be a problem.
You're also getting really good advice about strings. 12s and 13s are going to intonate and stay in tune. 11s and lower will not on this guitar. As others on the forum have posted elsewhere, the Thomastik-Infeld 12s are outstanding strings. The T-I 12s that I have on my 325C58 at the moment (jazz nickel flatwound set) feel super and sound even better.
Enjoy!
You're also getting really good advice about strings. 12s and 13s are going to intonate and stay in tune. 11s and lower will not on this guitar. As others on the forum have posted elsewhere, the Thomastik-Infeld 12s are outstanding strings. The T-I 12s that I have on my 325C58 at the moment (jazz nickel flatwound set) feel super and sound even better.
Enjoy!
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jingle_jangle
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Lawton and Maria and anyone else:
To prevent those scuffs if you lower your pickups, purchase some self-adhesive felt from a hardware or sewing store and trim some narrow strips, mounting them onto the pickup bottoms (don't stick them on the guitar). Then screw the pickups into place. When compressed, the felt only adds .5mm of thickness.
To prevent those scuffs if you lower your pickups, purchase some self-adhesive felt from a hardware or sewing store and trim some narrow strips, mounting them onto the pickup bottoms (don't stick them on the guitar). Then screw the pickups into place. When compressed, the felt only adds .5mm of thickness.
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
Thanks everyone for your great advise and help. I appreciate it and Thank you for welcoming me to the forum. You know when I bought the guitar I knew about it because I own a rickenbacker bass which I love to death. I knew from reading about the 320 that it was a tiny guitar and that's what I wanted and needed being small myself and having tiny hands. I did buy it the correct strings for it and when I took it to this guy to re-do the bridge I handed him the correct rick strings and he suggested to put some superthin D'Addario strings which I agreed to because I thought it was just a good brand and trusting that he used the correct gauge. Well I have been trying to figure out what he really did because the original 12 gauge rick strings don't fit in the nut the A and E strings are too big too fit. I couldn't change them so I have no idea what he did. I have never had this problem whith any guitars all different size strings fit thick or thin. The nut looks orginal and I can't tell if he change that. Well this has been over a year ago and I have been playing the guitar with heavy metal string which I hate. I know I should have taken my guitar to the rickenbacker page shop in North Carolina. I am not sure who I talked to there but the gentleman was very nice and helpful and I read he is one of the best if not the best at repairing Rickenbacker guitars. Well I am not going to give up on my guitar because it is so beautiful and I have decided to keep it and get another amp for it. If I decide to sell I will post it on here. Thank you once again for the advice and help and making me not want to give up on my guitar.
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jingle_jangle
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Maria, it sounds like he did change the nut, because the thinner strings in the original thick string nut, would have buzzed like crazy. When you decide to go back to the thick strings, you'll have to have the nut sots recut a bit, but it shouldn't be necessary to replace the nut at all.
You're almost there!
You're almost there!
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut