Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I am interested in purchasing a (fireglo) 330/12, and am wondering if there is a big difference in the new models versus the old models. Is there a year or era of production that I should avoid or seek out? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Welcome, Jack!

As far as 330/12s go, I'd avoid anything made before 1965.

Additionally, next year's 330/12s won't be out till next year, or perhaps even later...

jingle_jangle wrote:As far as 330/12s go, I'd avoid anything made before 1965.

That's a great question. Most people would assume that all fairly modern Rickenbackers are roughly the same. It's my experience that they are not.

I have played a lot of 330/12s and 360/12s, and it's just my opinion, of course, but if you are looking for a non-vintage piece, the best years to buy are from 1987 or so to 1995. I love the neck profiles from these years, I love the fireglo shading, and I love the finish, especially from '93-'95. They really had it going on. Later on, after 1996, I think that CARB was messing with them again and I notice more orange peel in the finishes, and just not as deep and rich a finish overall. In addition, the early CNC necks ('96-99 or so) were definitely chunkier.

There are some other small things that make me prefer these as well: the creamy translucent pickguards as opposed to the later opaque guards; the wood/tolex cases, as opposed to the plastic SKB; and the lovely, lovely wood that they used for fretboards in a lot of '93-'94 guitars. There have been some positively 3-D areas of figuring in some of those boards in the guitars I have owned.

I should note that I have noticed a definite uptick in the beauty of the finishes the last couple of years; they look great once again.

Later guitars also have through routes making it easier to change strings. I know this dosen't affect playing but just a convient feature.

belloff wrote:
I should note that I have noticed a definite uptick in the beauty of the finishes the last couple of years; they look great once again.

That's because Eric Behring is in charge, and he cares how they look. Not to say that John or Ben don't, but rather that you can be a robotic workmanlike painter or you can be a human with ideas and critical faculties.

You can train someone to be a painter and he or she will paint competently. But being a nuanced, creative painter takes constant awareness and adjustment. People with this combination of left (organizational) and right (creative) brain skills, plus fine motor coordination, plus technical knowledge, are very rare.

Thanks for the input. Do any 2000s Rics come with toasters, or are they all after-market additions?

Most 2000 RICs will have High-Gains. The factory did offer a VP (Vintage Pickup) option at the time, and you will also find many who have added the toasters to their RICs.

I am looking right now for a guitar that I recently saw that I thought was sublime. Hang on....ah, here we go!

http://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/msg/1774834741.html

$1700 a little pricey? Perhaps. But 1989...ooooooo.

A somewhat newer 330/12 with vintage case at a very very good price. I'd certainly inquire about this one;

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/msg/1843270660.html

Best of luck to you and I hope you get what you are looking for very soon.

Don't forget a 360/12 will be much easier on your right forearm. There happens to be a like new 2010 360/12 FG for sale on this forum... by me!!!! for cheaper than $1700!!! Pm me if interested!!!
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