Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi all
I bought my 1982 320JG when she was new, and this is the one they'll put in the box with me someday. I love everything about this guitar, the ultra-short scale, narrow neck, the screaming hi-gains that are only a bit less jangly than the old ones, the versatility (I can get 7 different p'up combinations since I modded the fifth knob), not to mention the cool look of her and all that Beatles mojo (yeah I know he played a 325 but his Miami version (Hard Day's night era) looks and feels largely the same as a 320, except for the tailpiece). And whoever says Ricks are only for rhythm players never heard her wail.
I find the 320 to be a bit under-represented among all these wonderful forum topics, so I thought I'd call for a head count and ask the other lucky owners what they think of their 320's. I only see five in the registry but perhaps there are some late comers too.
Here's mine:
http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... hp?id=5733

So step up and represent!

...................Anyone?.......

Guess there's no love for the 3-2-0 ?

I have one, a small-headstock 1981 example (with 60s conversion mods). Unfortunately I hate it. Well, hate is too strong a word, but it's one of the most irresponsible guitar purchases I've ever made. The neck is way too small , and I don't even have large hands...guess me and short scales don't match (though I have given it a long test run and still no good). Plus the 320 has a really thick top, so it gives a weird "plunky" sound.

I dunno...I'll stick to largebodies now.

Cheers,
-Collin

Mine:
And my latest acquisition, a 310 LH JG:

Oh I see, Gary's been hoarding them I saw the red one in SoCalCon. The 310 is rare, I think, and a lefty to boot. My compliments, Gary

Thanks, Kira. The 310 auction ended late Sunday after the Confluence ... I thought that I would be outbid on it, but I wasn't. Model 310s are extraordinarily rare, and being a left-handed model, it's probably really, really rare ... at least Mr. Bengston will have something to play at next year's Confluence!

How do you like the way they play, Gary?

For open chords and barre chords below the eighth fret, I like them just fine. I have a hard time with barre chords higher than that.

Used to have one (and a whole lot more hair, too):
A fun guitar for sure, just didn't find it to be all that practical.

Love the red sneakers, John

I've got an '80 320 BG that I bought used in the early '90's for $320. It came with nickel Kluson tuners. I've since modded it with RIC reissue toaster PU's, TRC, knobs, Accent and silver case. Now it looks like a 325v63 in BG. It mostly sits in its case, because I never play it. I've since purchased a reissue 1996 AFG that has never been played. As far as 3/4-scale Ricks, I also have a '64 ES16 JG that played for 3-4 years when I was in college (a long time ago). It was my main guitar back then...

I always thought that my John Lennon limited edition was a 325, but it doesn't have the Accent vibrato tail, rather a trapeze. Does that make it a 320 then? I sold the Accent I bought years ago from the RIC Botique to a fellow RR member in Montreal, and now I'm kicking myself !!!!!

I tried to load a photo, but it exceeded 300KB, and I'm not that adept at reducing photo sizes, sorry. It doesn't get a whole lot of playing time, I mostly use my 360/12v64 and 70s era Les Paul Standard.

So am I right in assuming it's a 320JL rather than a 325JL because it has a trapeze tail-piece?

Cheers,

Gary in Santa Rosa

modrock wrote:I always thought that my John Lennon limited edition was a 325, but it doesn't have the Accent vibrato tail, rather a trapeze. Does that make it a 320 then? I sold the Accent I bought years ago from the RIC Botique to a fellow RR member in Montreal, and now I'm kicking myself !!!!!

I tried to load a photo, but it exceeded 300KB, and I'm not that adept at reducing photo sizes, sorry. It doesn't get a whole lot of playing time, I mostly use my 360/12v64 and 70s era Les Paul Standard.

So am I right in assuming it's a 320JL rather than a 325JL because it has a trapeze tail-piece?

Cheers,

Gary in Santa Rosa

Which year is your 320, Gary?

I always made the same assumption but I think it's mistaken. There are other differences, but I'm in the dark about it. Perhaps one of our experts will pipe in here...

So far my poll results say that people love to have these guitars but they don't play them much.
I never found mine difficult, au contraire. What's hard for me are wide flat necks. I play everything from mandolin to bass with no problem if the neck only fits my hand.

Gary, if it's a JL, it's still officially a 325. Tailpieces come and go...

Kira, it's a 1991, I got it for a Christmas present that year. If I recall correctly, RIC made the JL's in four different configuarations, a full scale 355, a 325/12, 325 with trapeze tail-piece, and the 325 with the Accent. I've always called it a 325JL. Yeah, Paul, you told me about your three quarter scale 325/12...wow man, I'd have a real problem with 12 strings on a short scale guitar! Thanks to both of you for the response.

You have some beautiful Ricks there Kira!

I play the 325, but prefer my Les Paul Standard for any length of time. It's just such a 'little' guy, so it stays in the case most of the time.

Best Regards,
Gary ( modrock )

Thanks for the compliment. You know little guys can make a big noise sometimes. Look at Napoleon

Paul is right of course, I didn't read carefully enough.. There's no 320JL model. You swapped the accent for your trapeze, but your signature model is what it is. My mind ran off to the differences between the two models that you touched on.

-PM me if you want some help with resizing photos, Gary