Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I am considering getting a 360 but wonder what the differences are when compared to the 370. Obviously there´s a third pickup but how does that influence what the little knob does, does the selector just have a position for each pickup so there´s no "out of phase" possibility with to pickups at the same time and that leads me to ask is it even a good thing to have the third pickup.
The funny/sad thing is that I had a 345 (3 pickups with vibrato) years ago but I can´t remember how it sounded exactly. I have a friend who has a 620 which I just love but I don´t want to get the same guitar as him and from what I understand the difference between the sound of the 620 and the 360 is quite subtle. I also have a 330/12 and a 4001 so I´m not a Rickenbacker novice but outside UK and the US you don´t see them in shops so you can´t really go and try one.

There is a difference. Other than the obvious fact that the model 370 has three pickups...which some folks feel impedes playability (true for Gibson LP customs, SG customs, and other 3 pickup models as well), the blend knob also works differently. On a model 360, the blend knob allows you to adjust the volume incrementally between the neck and bridge pickups when the pickup selector is in the middle position. On a three pickup model such as the 340/370, this works with the neck and middle pickups only.....the bridge pickup is not in the mix. This assumes, of course, that you are dealing with the stock wiring from the factory. There may be a subtle difference in the tone, but you would have to decide for yourself how significant this is.

Playing a three pickup model does take some getting used to, as you have to keep the pick from making contact with the pickups....a somewhat difficult task given the reduced space between pickups. However, it simply takes practice. I would submit that you should never judge a guitar (any guitar) based upon playing it for just a few minutes. If a guitar is worth your attention......and RIC's certainly are, you should play it often enough and long enough to adjust yourself to the differences....not expect the guitar to adjust to your own playing style.

Not being able to blend with the bridge pickup is a no-go for me because that feature is what I like best about the Rics. I have always thought that that particular blend/pan function is so clever (and I wonder why nobody else have stolen that, like on a Tele where you have to sacrifice the neck pickup to get good definition on the mid position). It´s definately 360 for me, and I do agree that 3 pickup guitars (not the Strat though) are harder to play although the Ric pickups aren´t as close to the strings as the Gibsons.

You sure about the blender thing? Last I heard (and played on a '78 370) the 3 pickup models mearly wire the neck and middle pickup together, so that the blend works as a volume knob for the neck+middle.

a popular mod is to wire the 5th knob to act as a volume knob for the middle pup that can be dialed in from any position on the switch.

guitar-murph wrote:There is a difference. Other than the obvious fact that the model 370 has three pickups...which some folks feel impedes playability (true for Gibson LP customs, SG customs, and other 3 pickup models as well), the blend knob also works differently. On a model 360, the blend knob allows you to adjust the volume incrementally between the neck and bridge pickups when the pickup selector is in the middle position. On a three pickup model such as the 340/370, this works with the neck and middle pickups only.....the bridge pickup is not in the mix. This assumes, of course, that you are dealing with the stock wiring from the factory. There may be a subtle difference in the tone, but you would have to decide for yourself how significant this is.

Playing a three pickup model does take some getting used to, as you have to keep the pick from making contact with the pickups....a somewhat difficult task given the reduced space between pickups. However, it simply takes practice. I would submit that you should never judge a guitar (any guitar) based upon playing it for just a few minutes. If a guitar is worth your attention......and RIC's certainly are, you should play it often enough and long enough to adjust yourself to the differences....not expect the guitar to adjust to your own playing style.

Guitar-murph.....Cogent observations. What a well-written piece. I have adjusted to my 370/6 BG. Making adjustments with any guitar is a point well taken. Thanks for sharing, brah. Keep on keepin' on. Best regards.....Goofyfoot.

Nigel Tufnel says "It's 10 more"

One of the guys I play with has a 370/12, and I'm used to my 360/12v64. The first thing I noticed when I played it ( and it may be just my imagination ) is that the 370/12 neck radius seems much greater than my 360/12v64. It's a beautiful guitar, but I would take some getting used to playing the 370. Has anyone else ever noticed this difference?

Cheers,

Gary ( modrock )

360/12v64 and 355JL

This applies to all three pickup models, really.

John Lennon didn't like the middle pickup because when he played a hard rhythm, he kept hitting the middle pickup with his pick. From what I hear, he didn't like the middle pickup so much, that he had it disconnected in his '58 325.

Pete Townshend on the other hand used the 3-pickup Rose Morris 1998 exclusively from 1964-1966, but did begin using the 2-pickup RM 1997 just as often from late '65 til he retired Rics from his stage act in 1967. I don't think the extra pickup bothered him as much as Lennon, because he did end up endorsing the 1998 as his signature model. Go figure!

tennis_nick wrote:You sure about the blender thing? Last I heard (and played on a '78 370) the 3 pickup models mearly wire the neck and middle pickup together, so that the blend works as a volume knob for the neck+middle.

a popular mod is to wire the 5th knob to act as a volume knob for the middle pup that can be dialed in from any position on the switch.

Nicolas you are exactly right. The fifth knob only effects the neck pickup on a two pickup guitar and the neck and middle on a three pickup guitar.