Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hey, I'm new here.
About three months ago I bought my dream guitar, a Rickenbacker 330fg!
I absolutely love it except for the string balance.
The thin E string isn't as loud as all the other strings.
My guitar is made in 2006, so unfortunately it doesn't have the hi-gain pickups with adjustable pole pieces.
What can I do? I'm definitely not going to sell this thing because I have searched too long to find one.
It's very irritating when playing lead guitar on it.
Did I make a bad choice? Please tell me there is something I can do about it.

Anyway here's a pic. of my RIC.

Welcome to the forum. You have a fine looking 330 there, thanks for the pic. Suspect a dead string first - Replace the string to see if that helps. If not, try lowering the opposite side of the pickup to see if you can balance the sound. You could also try raising that side of the pickup, but generally, lowering the opposite side will have more effect. Is the volume lower on both pickups, or only one of them?

Willem: Welcome. Would you also comment on the gauge of strings that you are using? We will work with you on this until it is right.

Welcome Willem!

Nice 330, i just missed out on one very similar a few months ago,couldn't get the dosh together

Welcome, I have a 2005 that looks just like that, love that fireglow

Thanks for the warm welcome guys!
I have been using D'addario .10/.46 and Elixer .10/.46.

You could do two things, either raise the pickup on the treble side, or drop it on the bass side, or use a hybrid set of 0.10 - 0.44 rather than 0.46

Welcome Willem! I don't think I've ever heard of this problem before, usually it's the low E on basses. I'm curious to see how this thread develops. It sounds like the strings are normal. Have you tried the pickup adjustment suggestions posted here? all the best, J

I actually have the same problem on MY 330...it's like the power of the high 'e' and sometimes the 'B' are sapped from the guitar, and can't cut through the mix. Does that sound like what's going on, Willem? I couldn't ever fix it, but I have the luxury of using other guitars for lead playing, and it sounds gorgeous as a rhythm instrument.

If it gets really bad, new Hi-Gains are sometimes available at RIC boutique.

Welcome, Willem!

I would recommend posting this question under the Vibrola section where our resident expert luthiers will see it ... I am not one of them, but IMO the nut or saddle might not be cut quite right and is dampening the vibration of the string.

I have found that putting heavier gauge strings on dramatically improves both the volume and tone. Try 11s.

jps wrote:I have found that putting heavier gauge strings on dramatically improves both the volume and tone. Try 11s.

I also use 11s on most of my six-string guitars.

Does that sound like what's going on, Willem? I couldn't ever fix it, but I have the luxury of using other guitars for lead playing, and it sounds gorgeous as a rhythm instrument.

Well Dan, it seems to me that I've got the same problem with my 330.
You know, it's not like you almost can't hear the string but it just doesn't cut through the mix when playing live in my band. All my other guitars (several epiphone hollowbody's and a gretsch) sound better when playing lead on it. As a rhythm instrument the 330 is fantastic, but unfortunately I'm the lead guitarist in my band.
When playing the 330 acoustic the balance between all strings seems to be great.
I've also tried the pickup adjustment suggestions posted here. Very small difference.
The rick is already playing a bit stiff, you know for bending notes and stuff, so I don't want to put .11's on it.

Willem: I may have missed your comment but is the same problem present when you use the neck pickup and bridge pickup alone?

Are the E and B strings positioned over the pickup buttons(poles)in the same manner as in the other strings for both pickups?

I found this site as I also have the dead E string issue on my 330. Did you find a solution?