Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Ummmm, im a tad bit confused. Ive seen some videos of the Jam where paul weller's rickenbackers have pickups near the crowns, rather than lower into the body. And the necks end near the top of the body, rather than into it. any information?

Count the frets. Sometime in the early Seventies they went from 21 to 24.

Count the frets, Pre-73 330's Had 21 frets, ending, well... right there.

RIP, 21-fretters.

dpowell wrote:RIP, 21-fretters.

Seriously. Ruins the beauty of the original design, and who even plays that high on a Rick? They look like they have abnormally large foreheads to me.

dpowell wrote:RIP, 21-fretters.

Whad 'ya mean? I gots 21 frets.

Dont ya just despise Jeff!

jps wrote:

dpowell wrote:RIP, 21-fretters.

Whad 'ya mean? I gots 21 frets.

good lord thats a beautiful guitar. Id want a Burgundy glo or fireglo 330! Like paul weller's early days! The "carnaby street" or "I am nobody guitar"!

jps wrote:

dpowell wrote:RIP, 21-fretters.

Whad 'ya mean? I gots 21 frets.

I'll drink to that!

JakeK wrote:

jps wrote:

dpowell wrote:RIP, 21-fretters.

Whad 'ya mean? I gots 21 frets.

I'll drink to that!

I used to have a 74 330 MG with 21 frets. Sold it before I realized how rare that was.

1965 wrote:Ruins the beauty of the original design, and who even plays that high on a Rick? They look like they have abnormally large foreheads to me.

I know I seem to be in the minority, but I prefer the look of the 24 fret neck. I think it unifies the neck and body joint, giving the design a better flow. The 21 fret neck looks like it was just stuck on the end. Besides, not only is the new design a physically stronger joint, having a full two octave neck comes in handy.

I like having the 22,23,24 frets, but the pickup placement sounds a little cooler on a 21er.

mikethemod1992 wrote:Ummmm, im a tad bit confused. Ive seen some videos of the Jam where paul weller's rickenbackers have pickups near the crowns, rather than lower into the body. And the necks end near the top of the body, rather than into it. any information?

Here is a photo of Paul Weller's 1974 Rickenbacker 330

I don't mind 24, but prefer the 21 fret neck myself. It just looks right, especially with toasters. To me, that's an icon as important as a traditional Strat or Les Paul.