Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have been toying with the idea of selling my 340 and getting the 325C64 Miami when it comes out.Would I regret this later? Please don't say "get both" as that would not be possible.In fact I will have to sell my Fender Stratocaster as well as my Epiphone SG in order to have enough money to purchase the Miami without going into debt.I love my 340 but the Miami is "Thee" guitar I have lusted after since I was a 10 year old in 1964.Any advice you could offer would be appreciated.By the way I used to own a 325C58 Hamburg to which I prefer my 340 but the Miami is sort of he "Holy Grail",ya know?

340

(Holding my tongue for once...)

Never sell your only Ric, especially one as great as this. If money is a problem, you should be happy with what you have, and play it all day. I have a 330, it is great, many people think it is the best Ric. You have the 340 with toasters, you should be in hog heaven.

Mitch, going from a full scale to a short scale, and making it your main guitar is a big move. If you know anyone who has a 320/325 who would let you play if for a few weeks, to make sure you can make the switch.

I persoanlly think of the 320/325 as that extra sports car in the garage. You will drive the sedan alot more.

Thanks for all the good advise.I guess it would be foolish to sell my 340.By the way is the neck on the Miami the same as the neck on the Hamburg?

You mean short scale? If so, yes, both are 21 fret short scale

No not the scale,I mean,is the width of the fretboard and the profile of the neck the same as the neck on the Hamburg?

Pretty much, the widths are the same at the nut and the 12th fret on both if that is what you are asking. The crown radius is different. And on the body one is alder the other maple.

Ok,thanks for the info.

Hey. Assuming the C64 is accurate to the "Miami" (a reasonable assumption, I'm imaginging), the neck profile is a bit different than on the "Hamburg" C58. The C58 neck is pretty rounded and thick. The Miami neck is a bit thinner. The upshot is that they play a bit differently (also considering that the C64/Miami has a lacquered fretboard and the C58 doesn't).

I think this comparison pic (from the North Coast Music website) shows you the neck thickness difference (as well as the body thickness difference)...

I've seen that picture before but I hadn't notice the difference in the neck.

Thanks for posting it

Sure thing, Patrick! To my hands the upshot of the difference is that the thinner necked 325s play more like a "regular" scale guitar than does the C58. The thinner neck gives you some flexibility with working your hand & fingers around for better angles (so to speak). I find that I can do some of the same things in almost the same way. With the thicker neck on the C58 the shorter scale really forces you do some things differently. That's not necessarily a bad thing, of course -- unless you're going back and forth alot between your 325 and a longer scale guitar. If that's the case the thinner neck on the Miami will make that transition feel less dramatic (and less difficult).

"the 3/4 neck 325 was too short for me to tune properly & I gave it to my kids as a toy guitar"....Roger McGuinn.

Be sure Mitch....

I really appreciate it when obviously excellent players like McGuinn are so up front with their limitations.