Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm in the market for another rick, I have a 615 that I love, but I don't want to continue to gig with it. so, I was thinking either a 660 (which I assume is very simular to what I have with the exception of the nut width), or a 350. you know, something newer so i don't have to feel bad if it gets beat-up.

my question is, those of you with a 350 or those who've had one, what didn't you like about it, or was there anything about it that it didn't do for you? If you've had both which did you like better?

i'm really looking for something long term, that I'm really gonna gig, and i thought I'd get your educated opinions

thanks

Hey Louis,
I have found nothing to dislike about my 350, it is a really comfortable guitar. It's a '90 Liverpool model, but i have had the pleasure of playing Aitch's vast collection of 350v63's, in all colors, no complaints with any of them. Also have sampled the 350SH.....yummmm!
Best of luck with your choice. It's just a matter of what you feel suits you.

I know It's all subjective, I was just wondering if there was anything that stuck out for anybody. you know how sometimes you don't realize an issue till after you've had something for a while?... that's basically what I was looking for.

thanks again,

Louis

Consider a 650 - A great, all-around guitar. The humbuckers sound great, and it has a different feel than other Ricks.

I love the smaller body style of the 350. Comfortable in close quarters and easier to carry it around and move onstage without banging it into stuff. Also it sits comfortably in one's lap for long spells at home. Can't really say anything bad about the styling, it's just less matronly looking than the bigger sisters. F-holes are optional. They are lean, mean guitar bodies. Well balanced too.

I have a 320, same style body but with short scale. For me that makes playing and handling even that much easier.

You did say that new guitar was going to be jetglo, didn't you

I certainly have no issues with any of my 350v63s. Smaller body, lightweight and a great sound from the toasters. I'm also very comfortable with my 620 although it's a tad heavier.

if you like 615 a lot... i would try 610 or 450 or one of the modern ones like 650xx all without binding on top. next i'd try 330 and 350xx and 360. 660/620 feel different due to the tops being bound and therefore bit sharper on the edge....

beatlefreak wrote:Consider a 650 - A great, all-around guitar. The humbuckers sound great, and it has a different feel than other Ricks.

I agree with Kris. The 650 is very versatile and the wider neck is good for my hands. I sold my 620 several years ago and bought the 650. I do like it better.

I'd love to have a 350 and give it the SH body style treatment, but with all toasters, rather than a bridge HB; I haven't had any success with those. I'd probably go one step further and have a faux "slash(don't laugh Scotty!)/cat's eye" soundhole painted on; a real sound hole would make the guitar slightly more prone to squealing feedback, which I'd prefer to avoid!

Paul, you won't see a big difference in the guitar's tendency to feedback, as the body's construction does not allow for a whole lot of interior space, and the thickness of the top and back coupled with the pickup locations on the rigid center section--which in itself is rather short and wide--lend the construction a stiffness that discourage sympathetic vibration. So a painted-on soundhole might be overthink and overkill.

I like the 325 series guitars, and the 350 plays all right too. However, for a guy who isn't the thinnest in the world I don't like the 350 because it is smaller, and thus I appear larger. And not in a good way!

I'll add: I had a 615 and sold it , then bought a 660 to "replace" it. Not the same by a mile. It was '67 615 and a '07 660. The modern 660 feels much better, and the nut is way beetre IMHO, but the sound clearly went to the 615. I have major regrets. I think is the old 60's pups vs new scatterwounds. So be wary when you make that call.