Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

John has already explained in other threads that certain things have to be changed to make builds more expedient and efficient(in CNC), and he's also said that he doesn't want to be rigidly bound by the past. I can certainly respect that, and I don't feel like JH owes any of us here any explanations for anything.

People know I love the way a wide ramp looks and I meant my original post to be lighthearted(thus the emoticon), so I do apologize if it came off otherwise. I offer my opinion as someone who really loves the instruments, and I don't want it to seem harsh towards RIC. FWIW, I've seen some 2011 ramps that were hitting all my right buttons!

weemac wrote:Fair enough John! What do you like to see in a ramp?

Eden (who is half expecting a funny remark)

Personally, I rather not see a ramp at all but rather a nice clean continuation of the lines of the guitar. The problem, of course, is the string break angle across the bridge, but that could be accommodated with a completely different bridge design.

Unfortunately, it's those that think something should be exactly as it was in the past that limits this kind of updating here.

As a practical matter, the ramp changed in order to use a particular type of cutter that was dictated by the CNC machine and the required cycle time. (It's cut with one pass of the tool.) We no longer have that limitation and if you look closely at some of the pictures Ben has posted recently on various pages, you'll see it's already returned to the vintage style in current production of some models.

Thanks for that John!

If the ramp is not your thing, is that what the 380l was hinting at?

Eden.

All of the 380L models I have seen have a ramp. I always thought this model would look better without one.

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egosheep wrote:so I do apologize if it came off otherwise. I offer my opinion as someone who really loves the instruments

I guess I'm not totally innocent here either with my reply, you know. Sorry, didn't want to start any trouble, just a bit of fun about our fav instrument! I think it's great that all kinds of subtle variations exist, and we all have our own combo which is our ideal Ric look!

To return to the subject of the guitar that started this thread: how come bubinga was used on the fingerboard in 1984? Was it a leftover? A special order? Was it converted later on by someone not attached to the factory? Does anyone have any clue?

krick wrote:All of the 380L models I have seen have a ramp. I always thought this model would look better without one.

Would be nice as one off... a 380L without ramp area!

I know one thing for sure...it is an absolutely gorgeous instrument.