Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi Everyone,

I'm brand spankin new to the Ric forum. I have a Tele, and because our old guy garage band covers a lot of Tom Petty, I feel myself being pulled by the gravitational force - toward getting a Ric. I found this forum . and it looks to be a great place. as is the TDPRI !

If someone can give me a brief overview of the different pickups. or even models - or perhaps a FAQ on this.- that would be great.

I see by looking at the Rickenbacker site - models page --

They use a:
" Hi-Gain " pickup spec on: 330, 330/12, 360, 360/12, 620 and 620/12.
" Vintage Reissue on the : 660

and then
" Vintage Single Coil Toaster " on: the 660/12. and looks like special vintage reissues.. ( 325C58JG, type of thing )

Any guidance appreciated.. and hopefully Santa will bring my Ed McMahon award price for Christmas - to help with the Ric fund.
Without ever having touched a Ric ( any model ) .. I seem to be gravitating to the solid body: 620 ( or ? 660) .. and also don't know if I should be thinking 6 string.. for more flexibility.. or 12 string ( or if 12 string is too specialized for someone who can't get 3 of these things... )

Thanks!
MEL

Welcome, Mark! You'll find a lot of people willing to help you with your problem.

There are many different Rics, I'll cover the current production models:

Standard series hollow bodies, equipped with 24 fret necks and hi-gain pickups:
330
330/12
360
360/12
370/12

Standard series solid bodies, equipped with neck-thru-body construction, 21 fret necks, and high gain pickups
620
620/12
660*
660/12*

*equipped with Vintage Reissue Toaster pickups

Standard Series basses:
4003
4004

Vintage Series: based on the models from the 60s, although not to exact specifications
350V63
381V69
381/12V69

The C Series (no one knows what the C stands for): exact specifications of guitars used by (at the moment) the Beatles
325C58
325C64
360/12C63
4001C64 bass
4001C64S bass

If you're going to go for a Ric, I say you look no further than a hollowbody. A Ric hollowbody is a classic sound that cannot be beaten!

Welcome to the forum Mark. I would think you would want a Rick with toasters to do Petty. They have that vintage jangle. I like semi hollows, but don't discount a solid body. A 660 is the same basic model as a Tom Petty signature. The high gain is a more aggressive pickup. The foot print of all Rick pickups is the same so you can always swap them out without modding the guitar.

If the Telecaster is your benchmark for tone, you'll be most comfortable with the 620 or the 660. If you're looking for something else, try a 330 or 360. Don't count out a Ric 12 string. They are much more versatile than most people believe.

Hi Mark,

Welcome to the fourm !
I like the vintage toasters, probably because I've never liked the high gains for most of the 60s songs I do. I too am an older guy playing oldies: Beatles, Byrds, Searchers, Turtles. I think Tom Petty is one of the coolest Rick players out there. Yeah, I know he switches between a Tele and a Rick, but I seem to remember him playing an OS ( old style ) 360 ( like the 360/12V64 that George Harrison played ) at half time on last year's Super Bowl. Anway, I play a 360/12V64 and a 355JL ( John Lennon Limited Editon with toaster pups and full scale rather than the 3/4 scale Lennon actually played )
I also play an older Les Paul with humbuckers and find myself fidling with the volume control on my amp when I switch from one guitar to the next ( I put a Seymour Duncan high-output in the bridge on the Les Paul )
I guess it's a matter of preference, but if you're looking for the Petty sound, I'd go with the toaster pups !

Gary in SF North Bay Area

JakeK wrote:The C Series (no one knows what the C stands for)

Untrue.

jdogric12aolcom wrote:

JakeK wrote:The C Series (no one knows what the C stands for)

Untrue.

Ah yes! Some one does. And Some one has a lot of fun keeping his secret, doesn't he????

JimK

Oh, it's not just his secret. There are a few others who know as well...

cjj wrote:Oh, it's not just his secret. There are a few others who know as well...

This guy knows,but he ain't talkin.

Um.... OK.... Is this like the Freemasons... a secret world ?

Uh, yeah, but it's a LOT more secret...

alas.. until I own my Ric .. and learn the handshake... the secrets will remain ... secret

Oh, it'll likely remain secret even after you own a Rick...

Ric_MEL wrote:...or perhaps a FAQ on this.- that would be great.

It's still up!

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/music/guitars/rickenbacker/

See FAQ: 5.11 for the CEO's answer (construction-wise, anyway).

New Hi-Gains (referred to as "modern" in the FAQ) are a little different now, though... screws (adjustable pole pieces), instead of fixed rubber buttons.

Hey Sir Andrew,

Thanks! Nice FAQ.. I like to try and learn about prospective Gear.. especially since I'll be reading about Rics for some time.. , way more than playing one!

MEL