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Fun Rick-filled day for me!

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 4:28 pm
by sloop_john_b
So today, I bravely traded in my Gretsch Wedding Cake, er, White Falcon for:

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A 2000 360 Carl Wilson Jetglo! #419/500

I have been RASing for a vintage N.S. 360 for far too long, and this one came up at POTR, which I took a ride down to today.

I had tried a few reasonably priced vintage 360's at other stores over the past few weeks, none of which sat well with me. When this one came up at POTR, I immediatley put it on hold. I loved the idea of a 21 fret 360 w/ toasters and full-width inlays and the kicker - modern construction. After heading down there and trying it today, it was love at first strum.

A word about POTR: Go there before you die.

Chris' new showroom is incredible, with tons of new Ricks, a few Gretschs, Guild acoustics, and a whole Beatles setup when you walk in - Cavern bass, Country gent, 355JL, complete with Vox amps and Oyster Pearl Ludwig set with Beatles bass drum logo! Very cool. Also, lots of Vox amps and pedals, and a nice selection of strings, including Pyramids.

I had never been in a room with so many Ricks before (Then again, i've never been to a confluence either!). I got to try out a 4004 for the first time, which felt awesome but I didn't get to plug in, unfortunatley. Got to see and play lots of new 350's and 650's, and saw Blueburst for the first time (I was thoroughly unimpressed Image).

It was also interesting to see the color difference between Blue Boys (Chris had about 7 different Blue Boy's in stock - 350's, 360's, 370's, and a 650). He had one VERY unattractive Green Boy 360. Made me feel lucky, both my Blue Boy's thus far have been true blue.

I also played a new Gretsch 12 String, which Chris had only just opened and hadn't even plugged in yet. The neck felt GREAT - like a 660 - and it sounded really nice unplugged. Didn't get to plug it in though.

I asked Chris if he had any 325's in stock, as i've been DYING to feel what they felt like for months and months. He didn't, but he let me briefly strum a customer's 325 which he was currently repairing. Downside: It felt great. I want one.

POTR was also nice in that I finally got to chat with someone knowledgeable about Ricks in person! We chewed the fat for a bit, talking about some of the guitars he had in the store, other's he'd owned, ones I owned, etc. Good times were had by all, including my non-guitar playing girlfriend, who incredibly agreed to take the hour and a half trip both ways up and down the New Jersey Turnpike to listen to me yammer on about Ricks with some guy she didn't know. She's the best, BTW.

A great Rick filled day, indeed. Unfortuntaley, i'm now without a Gretsch. Gotta find me a Country Gent.

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 4:46 pm
by ozover50
Sounds like you had a fantastic day, John! Where is POTR, BTW - down in Jersey? How far from New York?

Sorry 'bout the wedding cake, but you've put something extra special in it's place. Congratulations!! Image

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 4:49 pm
by winston
Congrats John,

Looks like a keeper. The guitar that is!

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 4:56 pm
by brammy
Good trade!!!

I thought Carl Wilson 360's had 3 toaster pickups. Some do/some dont?

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:11 pm
by sloop_john_b
Aitch - I'm in New York City and it was an hour and a half trip for me. Factor in driving fast, getting turned around a bit, and stopping for coolant.

Brian - I've got the CW in my hands right now. Just put a fresh set of strings on it and it sounds amazing - and keep in mind, I don't even have an amp here at the moment! It has an ultra-thin top and its loud as heck unplugged!

Kent - I've never seen one with 3 pickups. Maybe you're thinking of the McGuinn sig?

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:20 pm
by kkm
nice guitarImage

sorry for the ignorance but where and what is a POTR?

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:21 pm
by sloop_john_b
POTR would be Pick Of The Ricks, in Lindenwold, NJ.

http://www.pickofthericks.com

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:40 pm
by janglebox
Congrats John. The CWs are fabulous guitars, and yours looks really terrific.

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:42 pm
by jwilli
That was my 360CW. Excellent guitar. Congratulations John!

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:43 pm
by BobKat
Kent, no factory CW has 3 pickups. You must be thinking McGuinn.

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:43 pm
by BobKat
John, congrats. Great trade.

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:49 pm
by sloop_john_b
A few observations about it: It's extremely light - at least a few pounds lighter then my 330. I attribute this to the ultra-thin top, tiny headstock, and less fretboard wood, being a 21 fretter. Also, the neck is very slim, especially right before the heel. An absolute joy to play.

John, Chris had mentioned it was yours. Were you the original owner? Just trying to figure out what it's history is.

Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 2:37 am
by jwilli
John, I was the second owner. I got it off of Ebay a couple of years ago.

Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 3:25 am
by krick
There is a photo of a Fireglo Carl Wilson 12 string that has had a third pickup and special wiring installed on the Tonewerks website.

http://www.tonewerks.com/imgfiles/CWBYRD.jpg

Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 6:19 am
by ken_j
Very nice!