Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm a bass player contemplating buying a 360/6 as my first guitar. Would you recommend a 360 for a beginner or is there a better Ric option. Would love to hear your pros and cons to help me make a decision.

I don't see why not, Brett. In my experience, it seems that most beginning students tend to purchase an inexpensive instrument of inferior quality. You, on the other hand are looking at a quality instrument that's worth every penny you pay.

JimK

I learned to play on a 360 WB. Go for it!

My big gripe with beginner guitars (cheap 50$ pieces) are the fact that they end up being so hard to play, they jut make it harder on the player!

I think a 360 is a bit better than that! hahaha

Do you want that Rick guitar string spacing? Remember the 650 and 660 have wider fretboards, if that's what you're into.

There are exceptions to the "cheap beginner's guitar = hard to play" rule ... a Baby Taylor is a darn good beginner's instrument.

That said, I am a firm believer that it is far easier to learn to play on a high-quality (and well set up) instrument); I say this from experience ... my second guitar (which I still own) was a 1967 Gibson ES-335TDC, and I consider that my ability to learn to play was greatly enhanced by the quality of that guitar.

If you have the opportunity to try out the different models, do so, as you'll know which one feels right for you. If not, a 360 is probably a good choice.

jdogric12aolcom wrote:Do you want that Rick guitar string spacing? Remember the 650 and 660 have wider fretboards, if that's what you're into.

I managed quite well, even with thick fingers like these:

I'd say, get whatever model you want the most. Having the guitar you really want will make you want to play it more often, and that counts for a lot when you're learning!

beefandbones wrote:I'd say, get whatever model you want the most. Having the guitar you really want will make you want to play it more often, and that counts for a lot when you're learning!

Exactly!

...and one that intonates and stays in tune, unlike the low-buck guitars I've owned, will be it's own reward!

Hey Brett,

Glad you asked around, I tend to agree with other folks here in that a Rickenbacker is such a nice guitar that it will make you want to pick it up and play it.

Let me know when you make up your mind.

tennis_nick wrote:My big gripe with beginner guitars (cheap 50$ pieces) are the fact that they end up being so hard to play, they jut make it harder on the player!

I think a 360 is a bit better than that! hahaha

Yeah, I fully agree there. I can't believe how many people try to take up guitar and quit not long afterwards because the cheap $100 acoustic or strat copy makes it 10x harder to play than a proper, quality guitar. That's mostly because cheap guitars aren't properly setup from the factory at all..

Cheers,
-Collin

Paul: A great photo. I love that binding.

I'm with everyone else on this one, and that's always what I've thought on the matter. I started out on a $500 guitar and went up from there

tennis_nick wrote:My big gripe with beginner guitars (cheap 50$ pieces) are the fact that they end up being so hard to play, they jut make it harder on the player!

I quite agree. I don't know why these POS guitars are even around.

JimK