Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm still shopping for a bargain Rickenbacker 330, and am checking out a 1981 guitar on eBay. Is there anything particularly good or bad about 330s of this vintage compared with more modern Rics? How do the neck shapes compare with the recent vintages?

Here she is: link

Thanks,
Doug

Also, did 330s have a stereo jack back then (or now)? The seller says his does. eBay member since the day before yesterday.

I want to believe this guitar is legit. Dangerous, I know.

Doug: 330's never ever had a Ric-O-Sound stereo output jack. I don't have eBay access from my office, so I can't look at the ad till I get home. Be careful...

Why is his pics of the guitar hanging in a music store? Consignment maybe? I'd be very careful. Maybe ask him for a phone number and call him up and check out the vibes. If he refuses I'd stay away.

Cole

I got the phone number, googled it, and it turned out to be a music teaching studio. When I called him, he said (un-propted) that he has some more guitars hanging in his studio that he's selling. I also checked the serial number, and it turned out to be an '87.

I made him an offer on the phone and bought the guitar, paid w/ credit card via Paypal.

Doug, let us know how it turns out once you get the guitar in hand.

Great job Doug! Yes, let us know how it turns out.

Cole

delete

My '87 330 arrived yesterday evening, just in time for my Tuesday night jam. I've been needing to scratch this itch for a long time, so it feels great finally have a Rickenbacker 330 in my hands. It's in absolute mint condition, not even a pick scratch.

My first impressions from last night's jam, in a nutshell: It's by far my best sounding guitar, and it's not a one trick pony. Highest marks for cool too.

I'm not sure if I can get used to the neck, but I'll give it some time. The guitar just sounds too good not to.

Ok Doug, around these parts it's manditory to post pics of any new guitars! Let's seem 'um soon!

Cole

Yeah, we wanna see it. Did the music studio have any other Ricks they were selling?

They didn't. The seller told me that this guitar was purchased new by a cop and put in a display case until he bought it about eight months ago, and was virtually unplayed. I dismissed what he said as an exaggeration, but looking at the guitar, it's very believable.

The color is fantastic. I'm not sure if it's Fireglo, Autumnglo, or something else. It's like a darker fg, with more dark reds and orange, less pink.

I'll get some pics up as soon as I can.

Here some not very good photos. My digital camera died, these were taken with my kid's camera.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/81582808@N00/292655392/

Beautiful guitar Doug!

That is a sweet one!