Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Not sure if I asked this awhile back... Does anyone have any input as to why Rick developed the 3/4 scale series? I can understand on student models, but I cannot understand why it was carried over to the 320/325s...

Also, assuming one is really short, with small hands... (knock off the comments), what is it like playing one of these for rhythm? I may switch from a 360 to a 320 for awhile...

One merely wonders.

Regards,

JKC

It may take a day or two to get used to it, but they're a pleasure to play, as I'm sure that anyone will tell you. They chord easily and sound great.

I've got a 325 V-59 & the 3/4 size is perfect for me since I've got small hands.

Playing such a guitar at the fourth fret is exactly the same as playing a full scale guitar at the first. As far as I know it was Toots Thielemanns who suggested that you would be able to play faster on a short scale guitar with a thin neck.

I think you've got that backward, Markus...fourth fret on the full-scale, first on the 3/4.

I love SS Ricks (and Fenders, too). I've got a C58, 325, 1996, ES-16 and a 325/12. Also four SS Fender Duo-Sonics and Music Masters.

Paul, I was pretty shocked by your BB 325/12 - it wasn't impossible to play! It actually felt pretty cool, despite, as you said, not having been set up. I doubt i'd play much more than open chords on it, though.

A good dialing-in will render it a joy, I'm convinced. But it's a case of the cobbler's children, I'm afraid, JB.

I too have a 325/12 and it's an awesome guitar to play...it's just not for everyone.

I have a 325C58 and big hands, and I've found it's easy to play -- once you get acclimated to it.

Actually, I have a newer appreciation for it these days. I'm starting to get arthritis creeping into my left hand and it's easier on my fretting hand on the 3/4 scale 325.

Damn, I hate getting old. Anyone have any arthritis remedies for old guitarists?

Jerry, try submersing your hand in a bowl of cool mint jelly/jam for about an hour first thing in the morning. If you cannot find that, then use jello brand gelatin.

At night, warm up a bowl of chocolate (like you are melting it for cookies) and submerse your hand in there.

JKC

My ex-wife was a hand therapist. One Christmas I received one of these to help with stiff joints (being a carpenter for four years through college really messed up my knuckles...)

http://www.therabathpro.com/products/tbpro.php

These are wax baths that you immerse your hand in, then remove and allow to solidify, then re-dip, then repeat, etc. After five or six dips, you'll have a nice, hot, thick coating of wax on your hand, which you then wrap in a towel to retain the heat for awhile. When it cools down, you peel off the wax and toss it back into the bath for re-melt.

This is a terrific device and I recommend it highly.

Paul, I mistyped, of course. I meant that playing a full scale guitar at the fourth fret is like playing a short scale guitar at the first as well as playing a full scale guitar at the 24th fret is like playing a short scale guitar at the 21st. So if you do not have any reason to complain about playing your full scale guitar at the higher frets you do not have any reason to complain about the playability of a short scale guitar as well.

It would be more fun and tasty to lick the chocolate off.

OK. I confess. I was goofing on the jello and chocolate.

There are twelve-step programs for that.