Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

OK everyone, we are the same in our addiction to Rickenbackers, for the most part. My dilemma has tortured me since I bought my first Ric, a 330/6 mapleglo last November. It was the only 6-string in town, and I had this notion that you should try before you buy. After a few tweaks here and there, that guitar is purring like a kitten, it is sweet, creamy, full, and perfect. I followed that purchase with a 360/12 VP in fireglo, and I now have that one playing and singing joyously, I can't find much fault with it, other than some high-pitched overtones I need to tame with the knobs. It sounds great recorded.

My dilemma is this - my ultimate guitar was always a jetglo 360/6, like Peter Buck's from REM. When I look at my 360/12 VP FG, dim the lights, and imagine that it's black, I nearly weep with grief that I do not own the 360 JG, and when I play the 330/6 MG, and sing "Blue Moon" (Cowboy Junkies version) or "Unchained Melody" (U2 version), my heart is somewhat hurting that I am not holding a 360/6 JG when I do this.

With every guitar I have ever had, I can always find some sort of fault with its playability or tone, but this 330 MG is my most perfect guitar in all respects, I would not part with it easily, just for aesthetic reasons. I also worry that, if I got a 360/6 JG, God would punish me for abondoning my 330/6 MG, or reducing its importance, all my other guitars would suddenly start squawking in defiance of the purchase, as per God's request.

Superstitions aside, from everything I know, a 330/6 would not sound too different from a 360/6, am I right? I could get toasters on the 360, but I think I prefer the hi-gains for the 6-stringers. Any ideas anyone ? Any wise words from this creative group of Ric-addicted maniacs?? Maybe put Pyramids on the 360/6 ???

Dear Addict:

Sister Martha understands the pain your soul in in. She has said numerous prayers to Ymanja in your name and for your peace. In turn Sister Martha asks your indulgence when she intrudes upon your fantasies of pain to give productive advice.

Do not under any circumstance use your dreams to balance your life. This will never yield proper fruit, for as we all know in out heart of hearts, dreams are at once greater and lesser than the sums of our real world pitiful lives.

You must bring your dreams into the real world, or the JG 360-6 will haunt you forever even as my fourth husband's wraith comes to me at times of full moon.

Don't be superstitious, my child, and fear that the FG and MG would not welcome their Brother JG, for it is well known in mystic Rick circles that wherever several Ricks chime together, their destiny is fulfilled and their happiness great.

Sister Martha advises: Buy a JG 360-6. If you must give one of the others a good home, then do so so that your fantasies become real and so you can stop whining and get a real life again. Whether the one you sell is the FG or the MG, it's not like either one is the last on Ymanja's planet.

And, should luck befall you and you end up with three, everyone, including your credit card company, will rejoice in your pleasure.

Fret not, my child. The path is clear and it is a new moon very soon...

Good, I need spiritual guidance on this one, some technical advice would be good too! Thanks, Sister. I promise, no matter what I do, I won't sell my soul down the river.

Gonna clim' dat mount'n an' fin' me dat Sista Matha - she got all de cures!!

I've got the same concerns, Steve. What will happen to my 330/6 FG when I get my 360/6 (either JG or MG)? I found the 360 much more comfortable (neck-wise) than the 330 and I'm scared the 330 will end up dying a slow death in its case. And I don't want to sell it either!!

It's not an unpleasant issue to have to deal with, though.......

Send the poor 330 to Sister Martha's home for Neglected Ricks. We provide an excellent retirement plan for such creatures of the Divine.

I'm sure you do. And I bet you do it for nothing - all out of the goodness of your heart!!

Such caring souls..........

Bless you, Oz Man.

Your unshakeable faith will not go unrewarded in the eternal.

Unfortunately I think I might be headed downstairs, Paul. Oh well, at least Fireglo won't look out of place!!

Steve,

I have tried to control my rickaddiction by placing a limit on my collecting to having just one of everything.

Secondly, I believe in the power of the Holy Grail (aka my Rickenbacker Forum mug). I was sipping from it this morning as I successfully bid on eBay for yet another Rick. The power of the Grail helped me to ward off all other foes!

Does this help?

Darren, you need to find to a clinic of some sort!! I'm guessing it was not on Oz ebay 'cause there's only overpriced recent gear there.

Call you soon.....

Howard

Steve, don't try and fight it............you won't kick the habit..............once you're hooked it'll just suck away all your money............and when you've run out of money..........you'll start selling stuff to feed your habit. I tried stopping once....but it didn't last long.

In the interest of making an informed diagnosis of addiction to Rickenbackers, a list of the symptoms can be seen here.

I see that I raised quite a bit of spiritual turmoil with this one. It appears I struck a chord with many fellow addicts. I was hoping for technical advice as well, but it appears my dillemma is purely emotional.

Buy the JG and live with all of them for at least 6 months. Only then can you decide whether to thin out the herd. You may find something one of the other guitars does that the JG does not. Or you can take advice from others I know: "buy, never sell". Remember it may be easier to sell it later than replace it later.

Steve: Perhaps a trip down Peter Buck Lane will help you decide. I would be saving my money for a 360 in Jetglo.