Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Howdy all,

I know, a stupid question because the 360's are semi-hollow body with hi-gain pickups and the 660's are a solid body with single coil type pickups.

However, from someone out there who maybe has both, I am wondering what the sound difference is like. I currently own a 360/6 JG, have never run across a 660 series guitar in the flesh and only have a limited amount of play time with a 360/12. I have played a little with a 620 which has the same body as a 660 but with the narrow/standard neck and hi-gain pickups (right)?

I think I would like the wider neck of 660/12 but I am only familiar with the 360/12 sound.

When I am listening to some of the songs on my Tom Petty CD's I am hearing the 660/12 sound? I know the famous classic opening cord on the Beatles "Hard Days Night" is from a 360/12.

Is there a big/noticeable difference in sound between the 360/12 and 660/12?

320capt wrote:...the 360's are semi-hollow body with hi-gain pickups and the 660's are a solid body with single coil type pickups.

The hi-gains are also single coil pickups.

See, it just goes to show you how much I don't know...but I'm learning fast with the help of ya'all!

Just what is the difference then of the 660 "vintage toaster top" pickups as listed on the RIC site and 360 hi-gain pups?

Just the covers? It seems I ran across some info about output/wiring/freq settings ect

output, magnet type and covers.

Besides the obvious cosmetics, toasters have six individual magnets all lined up next to each other giving a nice balance to all the strings, and because of it's design it is also suitable for basses including the 5, 6 and 8 string models RIC has produced in the past with the exception of the short lived 4004/5Cii bass; those used HB-1 pickups. Hi-gain pickups have a ceramic bar magnet under it with 4, 5 or 6 polepieces that sit under the strings. As to windings, the early '50s-'70s and the current scatterwound toasters were wound to around 6-8K Ohms; the '80s-'90s (I think there is some overlap in the late '70s to early '80s) toasters were wound much hotter, more like hi-gain pickups.

The two types are different animals but entirely Rickenbacker.

This topic comes up fairly often, so a search or a good browse will find a number of results.

Here's my view:

I have a 370/6 (3-pickup version of the 360/6) and a 660/6 (among others, and I have similar 12-strings for comparison)

Advantages of the 370:

High gains are a little higher output and a little fuller sounding
probably the most comfortable body style of any electric I have ever played
rick-o-sound (I really like using a stereo sound)

Advantages of the 660:

Wider fretboard- easier for me to play
slightly thinner sounding pickups a little bit more jangly and can cut through a band at lower volume

When I get to play guitar live, my first choice is the 660 for the wider fretboard. It mostly just gives me a little more confidence. I can always get a good sound with it and it never lets me down in any way. In the studio, if it is an easy part I would normally go with the 370, unless the sound I needed required specifically that of the 660.

My two cents... I've played 360s almost exclusively. (Mine are early 90s models). I thought the 660 neck was uncomfortable and too wide. Also, my 360s have scatterwound toasters, so my sound is different.

A lot of variables involved, but I've a/b'd my '66 360/12 and 660/12.
My 360/12 has a more "woody" tone, whereas the 660/12 has a more metalic tone. Not great differences, but enough to choose one over the other, depending on the sound I want on a recording.

I find the neck on the '66 360/12 easier to play than a new-ish 3 series, but that could be a matter of the set-up.

How I wish I had a '66 360 12 to a/b. For what it is worth, I stay in the middle position on my 360s with toasters and roll that elusive 5th knob to add the amout of warmth I want. That way, I can go from very thin, to very "... woody" as has been previously described.

JKC

My perfect Rick mod: One volume, one blend.