Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

It is nice to discuss all makes of guitars.

Might I ask however, that we put these discussions under The Others topic which was really made for this.

Particularly seeing as this thread is "Your advice on a Ric." It seems only fitting that we focus on Rickenbackers. It is easy to get off topic, especially when a few shots are sent over the bow.

Well Peter, to get back on topic. I have seven Rics, no other manufacturers & probably never will have. Why...because Rics talk the same language as me, they thrill me, amaze me & inspire me, always have done & always will.

My advice on a Ric is.....GET ONE!

Agreed Tony. I have several Rickenbackers that span the period of 1966 to 2003 and the most recent is comparable in quality to the vintage model.

All of mine from '67 to '04 are top quality!

Is there anyone on the Forum (pardon me if this is an obvious question) who owned a Rick when it was new back in the '60s, say, and also owns a new or newer model?

Do you see what I'm getting at? How did a new Rick feel, look, and play back then compared to how they feel look, and play now?

The other makes I've owned seem to have fared better over time--perhaps because of their relative simplicity compared to a Rick. Ricks, especially of the '50s vintage, seem to acquire a patina faster. Maybe this is where the (possibly apocryphal) reputation of Ricks being dainty or delicate comes from.

The new Rick I played in '65 or '66 looked different back then, but that was a long time ago. I believe it was largely tied to finishing technology then vs. now.

I'm making the assumption here that a guitar's finish is the first line of defense against wear and ageing. I have the gut feeling that the new Ricks are going to last a lot better than older ones did.

We've already had numerous discussions about old vs. new sound and playability. Now how about actual durability?

Paul: I did not own a Rickenbacker new in the 1960s, however, the finish on my 1966 Model 450/12 is terrific overall. It seems thinner than my 1990s or 2000s models but the finish is in excellent shape after nearly 40 years!

Peter, this is exactly my memory of the new 360 I played back then for one evening. It was a religious experience, by the way.

Solid body finishes usually fare better, in my experience. Not so many pieces and joints to shrink and swell.

I only dreamt about Rickenbackers back then. The Canora was all I could afford (but it did have four pickups!). Maybe that explains why I was ridiculed by my peers of the day for not dreaming about girls.

In fact, maybe that explains a lot of things!!