350v63 Opinions?

Modern years of Rickenbacker Guitars from 1984 to the present

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jingle_jangle
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Post by jingle_jangle »

Peter, somebody is posing as me and answering your queries.

Actually, the vintage knobs don't allow me to apply enough torque. But the old white TRC looks cool on my refrigerator.
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Scastles
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Post by Scastles »

Rest assured Paul, no one is posing as you....there's only one you.
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sloop_john_b
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Post by sloop_john_b »

I have a 350v63BB on order from Mike Parks having never picked one up before. I love the look and the fact that it has toasters, the vintage tailpiece is also nice. God only knows when it's gonna come in, it's been a few months now.

Never been a big fan of the 600 series but the 660 is definitley the nicest of the bunch.
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Post by 21frets »

The only difference I feel is if I play one of my Les Pauls for a while then switch over to a Rick and yes there is a huge difference but I adapt quickly. The necks on any Rick I have played is equally comfortable for me, I'd like to try a short scale 325 though.
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Scastles
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Post by Scastles »

After a Les Paul, 660 or the like a 325 might be an adjustment. I like mine but I use it as a situtional guitar. Don't know if you're a big Beatles fan or not, but for instance, doing 'I Feel Fine' on a 325 is a whole lot easier for me than any other guitar, because the stretch is a lot easier, but that's just me.
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21frets

Post by 21frets »

That's what I hear all the time, and a little less stretch is a good thing sometimes.
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Post by mac »

I agree. "I Fell Fine" is a stretch to play on any Non-Rick item. Of course it wouldn't sounds as good on anything else.
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kog
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Post by kog »

Always having been a huge Harrison fan, two things shocked the devil out of me later in life: First, to find out it was Lennon playing the intro and restart riffs for "I Feel Fine", and second, that on the recording, he used his Gibson J-160E. Yes, he used the 325 for live performances (notably Ed Sullivan in 1965) but the Gibson was the recording instrument. I found that out in Babiuk's book, and in the Rob Taylor DVD, "Beatles To-A-Tee". And danged if he didn't EXACTLY capture the sound on the DVD.
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Post by kog »

And yes, I found it VERY difficult to play on the Epi version of the J-160, the EJ-160E. How Lennon could do that on the 10th fret on a guitar with no cutaways....
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Post by Scastles »

Oddly enough when I first learned to play I Feel Fine I did so on a D-35...and when I got my 325 and played the same riffs, it was almost too easy after the acoustic.
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360dave660
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Post by 360dave660 »

I learned to play IFF on an epi-j200. I play the lead with my ric 360s mostly and a gretsch. I learned it up at the top of the neck. i've never played it on a shortscale.
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Post by rumbush »

Stan I find it interesting that you and I are in the same boat with regard to having a 660, a 350, and small hands.

To me there is a significant difference (not just opinion as there is empirical truth to back it up) in playability between the 660/12 and 350. Of course the 660/12 is considerably easier to play than a 360/12 IMHO due to the extra space around the first position. That's really why I decided on the 660/12 over the 360/12 - even with my small hands the 660/12 is much more natural to play. By contrast I have a 1990 MIJ Fender Strat XII with a wee little low-profile neck and that's just delicious to play - not as satisfying as the 660/12 but fun nonetheless! Maybe is the satin-finished neck that makes the difference between that and the 360/12.

The smaller-bodied RICs are great "lounging" instruments! Image. That's one of the best things about the 350 and 660/12 - easy to hang out on the couch with one. Can do with my 360 as well but the little ones are better.
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jingle_jangle
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Post by jingle_jangle »

This is such a natural conclusion, and I'm in complete agreement on this. My 660-12 just feels "friendly" in my small living room, whereas the 381 says "be careful!" everytime I strap it on.

The 660 is a sofa guitar.
“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.”
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Post by xcoyle »

Paul, that is an interesting distinction: "sofa" v. "standing" guitar. As a beginner I always practiced sitting down and alone, and liked Strats. I now only practice “standing” and generally with other people, and this coincided with my Ric fascination.
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Post by ozover50 »

JOB, David and Paul - a very interesting point!

I've spent so much time practicing sitting on the couch (read: sofa) that I struggle to play as well standing up (and that's not terribly well, I should add!!). When standing I find myself with the guitar around navel height and I'm pushing my left thigh forward and bending over so that I'm as close as possible to the head/neck relationship when seated.

I'll be in shitter's ditch if and when I do a gig - 'hey, look at that ****** - he's brought his own leather lounge!!'
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