One of the most comfortable guitars to play on the planet has to be my Rickenbacker Model 350. The body is compact, the instrument well balanced, the neck plays like a dream and the sound is from Heaven. I am sure you will have to agree from the photos that follow that it is not hard on the eyes either. Lennon was sure right when he said that "the action is ridiculously low." Thanks Rickenbacker this one is a keeper!
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm
I ordered a 350v63 Fireglo back in August and I just got it, 2.5 months later, on October 13. It is a fantastic guitar!! The guitar is great to look at (yours is too, Peter!), very easy to play, and extremely light -- but the tone is still there. I'm even happier with it since I made the 5th knob mod to control the middle pickup volume.
Like you, Peter, my 350 (albeit a v63) has become a permanent member of my guitar collection.
Jordan Leff
350v63
381v69
4003
Congratulations Jordan on receiving your new 350V63. Please post a photo. I too am very happy after modifying the instrument so that the fifth knob controls the volume of the middle pickup. Let's hope we hear from other 350 owners here.
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm
Another reason I like the 350 model in natural finish is that it has some of the original Lennon look in a full scale instrument. I may have to go with gold pickguard and nameplate sometime in the future.
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm
Cool guitars ....why did it take so long to get them into production and are they being discontinued?They are not re-issues ?or are they considered that due to the 325 look?
Hey Peter, how do you post pictures to this site? I just picked up a 1984 350 Jetglo (should be here by the end of the week) and I can probably borrow the digital camera from work if you really want pictures. I agree that the 350's are sweet guitars. I had bought a 320 new in 1979 but I could never get it set up to sound and feel good as far as string tension and gauges go so it sat in my room until about 1997 and I finally sold it. However I picked up (to play not buy) a 350v63 in a store a few months ago and was just blown away by how good it felt with the full scale. I couldn't afford $1400, but I've wanted one since. Anyway, I just found this used one for a price I couldn't pass up. I'm counting on Rickenbackers consistancy in quality though, because this is the first guitar I've ever bought by mail and pictures without being able to play it first. I wouldn't trust doing that with a Fender or Gibson.
Jeff: First make sure that your photo is not greater that 15k. Second you may go to the "Coding" section under Posting in the menu in the left panel of this page. Scroll down until you come to Images, Attachments and Clip Art to find the correct code.
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm
I was wondering what gauge and brand of strings you guys use on your 350's. I just got mine a week ago and need to start setting it up (I'm just looking for a starting point and realize I'll probably have to experiment). I have Pyramids on my 330 (flatwounds) but don't want to use them on the 350. I really like the sound of the 350 with roundwounds on it, it almost sound somewhere in between my 330 and a Strat. It has .009s on it now which is what I use on my Tele, but the string tension seems really low. Thanks. P.S. did you know according to that according spellchecker we use "flatworms" and "roundworms" on these things?
Jeff: Yes the spell-checker is particularly interesting particularly when your are writing about the "jackplate." To answer your question I use 10's on my 350. I have tried several, but in the end, have settled on the Rickenbacker set 95403. I really enjoy the sound and durability of these strings. For the price, I find them to be quite satisfactory. I hope this helps.
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm
I have a 355 Deluxe that I string with D'addario
11-52's. I use 325's as my main guitars and like the heavier gauges for the 355 also.
Just my 2 cents.
Rod: There is no question that, had I the strength and resiliency in the connective tissue of my left hand, I would use 11's. They are essential for good intonation in 325's in my view and on a full scale Rickenbacker guitar chime like Big Ben. I agree with your sentiments entirely. For those of us who do a lot of bending, however, switching to a lighter gauge is in the cards as we move on through the age span.
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm