My first ric --> 330/12
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 10:28 am
After a few years of kicking the idea around I finally got serious. I got a promotion and though the money doesn't kick in for a few months, I figured now was the time for a ric.
So I started shopping around. Located some dealers in my neck of the woods (DC). Knew I wanted a 12. I had previously tried a 330/12 and swore them off as impossible to play, at least with my mitts. After trying one again with much lower action, I found it a lot more tolerable. The seed was planted. I tried a few more. Found some local for great and not so great prices, but I was holding out for one with toasters (or a mont. brown!). I looked around and the only one I could find was wildwood in colorado. I knew it wouldn't last, these things are hard enough to find even without the VP option.
But then I started on the 660/12 bug. Convinced myself that's what I wanted, even though I prefer the look of the 330. After much shopping, I found that these are even harder to find in stock! Couldn't play one locally. PM Blues had the one I wanted but it was out of my price range. Knew I wouldn't be happy with any other, and knew I couldn't wait for 6 months for a guitar I might not like as much as the expensive one I had my heart set on.
So I went back to the 330/12 at Wildwood. Still in stock! Flash forward 2 days and I got it a day earlier than expected (last night). Cracked the case and man am I glad I took a chance on it. It's a beautiful Fireglo, absolutely gorgeous. Photos CAN NOT do this finish justice. And it plays unbelievably better than all the others I've tried. And the toasters are IT!!!
The tone??! I need not even mention, if you've ever played one.
Aside from some intonation issues (I tune e flat for my band - a 12 string bridge is probably in the cards), I'm a very happy camper. I've played/owned a LOT of guitars, and I am really impressed with the QUALITY of this thing. It's unbelievable. It's on par with the best custom shop Gibsons I've played or owned, and far exceeds the CS turkeys that you can still buy for $3500. Ric really knows quality control and attention to detail. I love a good Gibson guitar but Gibson could really learn a lot from what Ric is doing (especially considering the price difference).
So I started shopping around. Located some dealers in my neck of the woods (DC). Knew I wanted a 12. I had previously tried a 330/12 and swore them off as impossible to play, at least with my mitts. After trying one again with much lower action, I found it a lot more tolerable. The seed was planted. I tried a few more. Found some local for great and not so great prices, but I was holding out for one with toasters (or a mont. brown!). I looked around and the only one I could find was wildwood in colorado. I knew it wouldn't last, these things are hard enough to find even without the VP option.
But then I started on the 660/12 bug. Convinced myself that's what I wanted, even though I prefer the look of the 330. After much shopping, I found that these are even harder to find in stock! Couldn't play one locally. PM Blues had the one I wanted but it was out of my price range. Knew I wouldn't be happy with any other, and knew I couldn't wait for 6 months for a guitar I might not like as much as the expensive one I had my heart set on.
So I went back to the 330/12 at Wildwood. Still in stock! Flash forward 2 days and I got it a day earlier than expected (last night). Cracked the case and man am I glad I took a chance on it. It's a beautiful Fireglo, absolutely gorgeous. Photos CAN NOT do this finish justice. And it plays unbelievably better than all the others I've tried. And the toasters are IT!!!
The tone??! I need not even mention, if you've ever played one.
Aside from some intonation issues (I tune e flat for my band - a 12 string bridge is probably in the cards), I'm a very happy camper. I've played/owned a LOT of guitars, and I am really impressed with the QUALITY of this thing. It's unbelievable. It's on par with the best custom shop Gibsons I've played or owned, and far exceeds the CS turkeys that you can still buy for $3500. Ric really knows quality control and attention to detail. I love a good Gibson guitar but Gibson could really learn a lot from what Ric is doing (especially considering the price difference).
