Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have a question about the 320 v 325JL. Here it is. I own both I have found that the 320(81) sounds warmer and has that twang where the 325JL has that twang but does NOT sound as warm and does not sustain like the older 320. WHY? Any thoughts? Could that be attributed to the 320 age?

Pickups. Your '81 320 came with High-Gains. Possibly the amplification you are using complements the High-Gains better.

Hi Paul, Thank you, That may be the case, I also noticed that the 320 unplugged and not amplified sounds warmer than the 325JL both have the same strings pyramid flat wound

Ira, the construction of the '81 is different than the 325JL. Probably a thicker (more wood) top on the '81. That may account for the sustain.

That brings more questions to mind.

If the construction is different between the 325JL and the 80's built 320, is the construction different between the 325C64 and the 325JL?

Is the 325C64 , 325JL or 320 different in construction than the 325 Miami that JL used in 64?

Set aside the difference in the pickups or caps or knobs

If there is a difference what would they be and why

Great questions Ira. You've got some experts here. I've got an '83 320 (albeit with toasters instead of hi gains.) I'm interested in the answers, too. Looks like you're sorta new here. Welcome.

Thank you Glenn for the welcome, I have been playing and collecting Ric's since 1965. I can say I have as much passion for Ric's as anyone on the forum.

Ric's have a very unique sound, you can pick a Ric out in any tune where a Ric is played, like some know the sound of a Ferrari or a Harley when it is heard but not seen.

Within the unique Ric sound there is a difference in sound between similar Ric's

I have become curious about the differences between Ric's which are similar or at least look similar in body design.

I think that since the 320 sustains longer than the 325JL unplugged no amp that would also translate when amplified regardless if the pickups are toaster or high gain.

What leaves me scratching my head is why they are twins save the pickups and knobs.

I hope someone can shed some light on my questions

All and all the differences will keep me buying the different Ric models. Talk about a love affair I need to keep from my wife.

The 80's 320's are 25 years old. Perhaps they have "opened up" like solid wood acoustics do over the years? I know my '81 320JG is very resonant unplugged.

Paul,
After speaking with several people I think Douglas is right. The difference in sound between the older 320 (80s guitars) and the newer 325s so I am told is that the 320s ability to sustain longer than the newer 325s and its mellower sound it due to its age.

The wood changes with age and the sound changes as well.

I would guess that the newer 325s will reach that when they are 25 years old too.


With that said I would go for the older 320 hands down more than the newer 325s (V,C or JL) I would just change the pickups to the toasters

The 320 is a real sweet ax which I think will likely sound closer to JLs 1964 Miami. if we could were able to play both side by side.

Any thoughts?

If you want to check a Rick like a 320 for top thickness, just open up the control cavity and look at the edges of the control rout hole. An '81 probably Is thicker.I recall seeing 360s from around then that had much thicker tops than 60s or 70s models and wondered what was up with that? Those guitars were noticeably heavier as well.

There's no mention of differences in strings here. I assume whatever guitars are being compared have the same strings on them.

I used to think my 83 320 was heavier but I compared it to a '66 325 recently and felt little if any weight difference. So that top can't be that much thicker.

Both 320 and 325JL have the same strings pyramid flat wound

How can you tell if an early '80's 320JG has high gains or toasters? Thanks! Or did they all have HG's.

Toasters look like a two-slice toaster when viewed from the top. Two oval black slots in each pickup.

Hi-gains have six exposed polepieces and the entire top is black with a chrome ring around the pickup.

The two are interchangeable though by no means identical in sound.

As far as I know, the early '80s 320s all had hi-gains.

Thanks - mine has hi-gains.