Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I was wondering something lately - a lot of people on the RRF have owned a variety of Rickenbackers (and other instruments) over the years, and there seem to be a number of members who are moving instruments from time to time. So I was wondering if any of you would like to share which Rickenbacker that you've owned has been your favorite and why? In addition, I was also wondering what other guitars members of the forum favor? I know we all share a love of guitars first and Rickenbackers are a big part of it, but I have seen many comments made regarding how people favor other guitars so I was wondering what else Rickenbacker fans like.

For my part, I've owned about 10 Rickenbackers over the past 12 years. My first was a 370/12WB, which I think was one of the last to leave the factory. Since then I've owned a bunch of others but I have settled on a 360FG and a 330FG, both of which I got this summer. Of all the Rickenbackers that I've owned, I have to say that the 360 is my favorite. Normally I prefer the 330 shape, but this 360 has got me hooked on it. Here's why, in no particular order:

1) The slimmer headstock design. Now when I see the older, larger style I think it looks really out of proportion and...ugly!
2) Hi-Gain Pickups sound super either clean, overdriven or distorted. I couldn't get along with the sound of toasters.
3) The full width inlays speak for themselves, don't they?
4) The neck is really slim and fast playing - my new 330's neck is way bigger and not as fast to play.
5) I really love binding on pretty much any guitar, but the degree of binding on a 360 is just about perfect. I love the bound soundhole the best.
6) The new Fireglo that is being sprayed looks fantastic - say goodbye to pink!
7) The Rickenbacker headstock and TRC are the coolest, most eye-catching design element of any guitar in my opinion.

So overall, this 360 is the best playing, sounding and looking Rickenbacker I've ever owned.

My other 2 favorite guitars are my Gibson Custom ES-355 and my PRS SC 245. They are all very different guitars, but they all play really well, sound great and look fabulous.

How about the rest of you?

I'm not really qualified to answer this post, as I only own one Rick, a 360 12 string with an April '09 serial number. I only replied here because I thought your post deserved some sort of response.
JimK

I own four Ricks and my first--a '64 375 NS--is my favorite by a fair margin. It has toasters and I really love them clean to dirty. I'm curious what you didn't like about them compared to hi-gains?

As for other brands--I like simple old-fashioned 3-saddle Telecasters and real Strats (no humbuckers, standard floating trem), too. The only Gibson I've ever bonded with was a 335, but I couldn't justify the $2500+ price tag. I've been lucky and never have paid more than $1200 for any guitar (and often a lot less!).

1) Vintage 360-365-370-375 with toasters and narrow, thin neck
2) Telecaster
3) 360-12
[4) strat]

A P

Favorite Rick? Probably one of my 360Fs.
Top 3 guitars 1) '56 Gibson ES175dn 2) '56 ES175d 3) 52 Goldtop with a fixed arm bigsby.

I don't have any pics to post at this point but my favourite three guitars including a Rickenabacker are:

My #1 Tobacco Sunburst Stratocaster. Built mostly from used Japanese Fender parts.

My JG 360v64 modified circuit Rickenbacker 6 string

My JG 4003.

These are the three instruments that I nearly always record with. I occasionally use others such as one of my 62 RI or American Strats and even my Gibson Les Paul clone but those listed are the three main go to instruments. My 4001 Autumn-Glo is now ready for a trial recording so we will see where that fits into the line up in the future.

My favorite Rick is either my 360 SPEC amber montezuma brown or my 360v64 Mapleglo.
I've got a couple nice Strats and a PRS SAS that's pretty cool.

My top three as of right now are as listed below.

Although the 1997 and '61 NOS Strat always remains at # 1 and #2, my #3 guitar rotates on a regular basis between the CW, a 360 (equipped with Ric's HBs), a 660/12, and a '62 Tele Custom RI.

My favorite Ric?
330FG, ...I have a 360/12AFG-VP, 381V69, 360FG and another 330 FG (all new).

Favorite Electric:
52 Tele RI

Favorite Acoustic:
J-45

Favorite Amp:
Princeton Reverb RI

Favorite Pedals:
MAXON

Favorite Forum:
This one

Martin D-35, the V '64 6 string and Gretsch 6196.

Out of all the guitars I've ever owned and played...

Favorite Ric:
1997

Top 3 favorite guitars
1. Rickenbacker 1997 (the best electric guitar ever)
2. Gretsch 6120-1959 (played one a few times in New Orleans, couldn't put it down)
3. Fender Am. Vintage '52 Telecaster (the first solid-body guitar is one of the best)

Honorable mention:
Rickenbacker 360/12V64 (although I'm sure the C63 is better, I love my V64 to death!)

My fav Ric is my 1989 360/12V64, bought new.

My top three guitars are my,1957 Gretsch 6120,1957 Gretsch Country Gent ,Its hard for me to pick three out seven
but i'm really enjoying my Gretsch Black Phoenix at the moment.


I like my Gretsches!

analogpackrat wrote:I own four Ricks and my first--a '64 375 NS--is my favorite by a fair margin. It has toasters and I really love them clean to dirty. I'm curious what you didn't like about them compared to hi-gains?

To my ears the toasters just sound too thin. I also like to play with a fair bit of gain and I find them to be quite squealy - microphonic I guess. I've only had them in my 660/12 and 381/6 so maybe that's not a representative sample. I find Hi Gains are smoother, richer and can do all the nice clean 'jangly' stuff as well. But we all have different ears, and I think mine prefer a thicker sound.

Favorite Rickenbacker: 360/6 VP

Top three guitars that I have:

Rick 360/6 VP - classic Rickenbacker sound
Rick 660/12 - so easy to play for a 12 string
Gretsch 6120 Brian Setzer SSLVO - That Great Gretsch Sound!

I here ya Jake. I kept going back to play that 6120 at my locale store and fell in love with "That Great Gretsch Sound" to the point that I moved some things to be able to bring it home. I smile ear to ear when I play that one. Someday I'd like to also add a Duo Jet and maybe a Country Gent.

I like the Tele sound but can not seem to get any inspiration out of a Strat or Les Paul. I know, sick isn't it...

Bit of a guitar slut here, as I don't seem to stay too loyal to anyone for too long, LOL...

Of the Rics I've owned, my favorite is probably my JG 325c58--the one in my avatar. I keep toying with it, tweaking this and that. Just picked up one of Glen Lambert's vintage wiring looms, so that's the next tweak.


My current lust-interest is my new '72 RI Tele Thinline:


Otherwise, my favorite guitars in terms of which ones I reach for most often are:

'52 AV RI Telecaster (probably as close as a couch player like myself comes to having a "#1").
'Lennon 1965 Casino
Martin D-28

The process has been long for me, but I've finally ended up in a place where I only own five guitars and love to play all except one, which I'll never sell for sentimental reasons. So sorry to say, I've got a top 4 list. Top three is impossible.

I've owned a few Rickenbackers, all 330s. My favorite of the lot is the new one that I bought in July. Love the color, love the new pickups, and the smaller vintage style headstock is growing on me.

In no particular order:
2009 Rickenbacker 330-6 FG
2006 MIJ '55 Tele RI with Lindy Fralin standard Tele PUPs.
2004 MIJ '71 Strat RI with Vintage Vibe Strat PUPs.
2004 Tokai NES-120 with Smitts Classic Coil low output Humbuckers.