The Dreaded 330 or 360 Dilemma

[fabandgear]

you can always have the binding and inlays added later

That's an interesting thought. Something I might consider.

Weird thing about the lack of binding is I am not really bothered that much by no binding around the body. Rather it is the lack of binding around the soundhole that I find unattractive. Looks like someone took a jigsaw and just ripped a hole in the body. Looks very unfinished.

If you want a 330, but don't like the looks of the unbound soundhole, why not consider a 1997? It's basically a vintage 330 with f-hole instead of the slash. The smaller f-hole looks perfectly good unbound.

[Hotzenplotz]

In former times I thought the normal 330 is a poor man's Rickenbacker.
Now owning one I love the straight as possible style without any "bling bling" like shark fret markers, bindings, extra curves and double jacks.

Very close to the 3/4 scale models. And the oldest model that is still available from factory!

For those who want edgy corpus, bindings and deluxe markers are just used models available. The prices for good ones and interesting colours are not very high, btw..

Just a very nice example from here:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rickenbacker- ... 549wt_1147

I think the US market offers them a bit more pricey, doesn't it?

[Tommy]

If you want a 330, but don't like the looks of the unbound soundhole, why not consider a 1997? It's basically a vintage 330 with f-hole instead of the slash.

Nah, I won't buy used, and besides, the slash soundhole with or without binding screams Rickenbacker.

[Tommy]

In former times I thought the normal 330 is a poor man's Rickenbacker.

You know, that is a thought that keeps gnawing away at my brain.

The 330's common dot fret markers instead of shark fins and no binding make you think low end Ric. What gets me over that thought is the players who played a 330. Paul Weller, Pete Townshend, Tom Petty, Thom Yorke, Eddie Vedder, The Edge, Johnny Marr... If those guys were buying themselves "the poor man's Ric," then maybe it ain't such a poor man's Ric.

[paologregorio]

If you just want the sound hole bound on the 330, a builder/repairman can do it for you w/o a refin, IIRC, or you could go the Scott Baillie route and paint(or have someone else paint) the sound hole "binding" on, as he did with his 360 V64; even in close up photos, I can't tell that the binding is paint and not actual binding.

Not everyone likes body binding(I love it, of course. ), triangle fret inlays(think of the "dot neck ES335 preference for some), or dual-output jacks(I've seen guys who've had the same 360 for 20-30-40 years plugh a cable into the ROS jack mistake and then momentarily freak out thinking a p/ups dead when they change the p/up selector switch setting and have no signal).

[Hotzenplotz]

In former times I thought the normal 330 is a poor man's Rickenbacker.

You know, that is a thought that keeps gnawing away at my brain.

The 330's common dot fret markers instead of shark fins and no binding make you think low end Ric. What gets me over that thought is the players who played a 330. Paul Weller, Pete Townshend, Tom Petty, Thom Yorke, Eddie Vedder, The Edge, Johnny Marr... If those guys were buying themselves "the poor man's Ric," then maybe it ain't such a poor man's Ric.

I said in former times! Now I am a few days older and convinced that the "poor man's style" is 100% the one I ever wanted. What gets me over that old thought was the straight look of a midnight blue 330. - Suddenly I felt in love, totally unexpected.

By the way, the most famous, binding and shark fin free guitar player was the dear Mr. Lennon. - O.K., with a tremolo and one more pick up. Unfortunately he made it very expensive to play a 325.

[Tommy]

By the way, the most famous, binding and shark fin free guitar player was the dear Mr. Lennon. -

Unfortunately he made it very expensive to play a 325.

So true.
The fact that Lennon played a basic fretboard, no binding Ric does influence my choice for a basic 330.

When I started my quest for a second Ric, my purchase was to be a 325, but the price was way too out there. Ric no longer produces a stock 325, it now has to be a 1964 style Lennon Miami 325 model that one must buy. I am not in a Beatles tribute band so I don't need the exact Lennon guitar. I just want a six string Ric for rhythm and the 325 would have been perfect. Now it will have to be the 330 or 360.

[sloop_john_b]

When I started my quest for a second Ric, my purchase was to be a 325, but the price was way too out there. Ric no longer produces a stock 325, it now has to be a 1964 style Lennon Miami 325 model that one must buy. I am not in a Beatles tribute band so I don't need the exact Lennon guitar. I just want a six string Ric for rhythm and the 325 would have been perfect. Now it will have to be the 330 or 360.

And trust me, you will be much better off in the long run.

[padraigwhelan]

Gotta be the 360v64. Best of both worlds. I don't even look at other girls anymore.

[rowbo777]

If you live in the Rickenbacker Asia Network area or know someone who does and have deep pockets.
The 360C63FG is still available

http://www.rickenbacker-asia.com/m_spec ... l#20090130

[HKC]

I have a 330/12 and a 360/6. My son has a 620 which he by the way mainly bought because he loved blue colour that they make it with......It has to be noted in his defense that he also has a Tele and a Les Paul and the 620 is now his main guitar.
Having the 620 around I changed to the 7.4K toasters on my 360 because the 620 was (imho) quite a bit better sounding when using the stock higains so I got a bit disillusioned. That gave the 360 a lot more jangle and made it brilliant for strumming but I still wasn't completely happy with it because now there was very little power to the sounds. After consulting this forum about getting 12Ks I was pointed to Sergio Silva and I have just received two new 12K toasters from him which finally has made the 360 work for me and I now find that my 360 is a little cooler sounding than my sons 620 (although he doesn't quite agree).
My point is that the 620 is often overlooked but it doesn't feed back and it sounds very, very good straight out of the box.