At a crossroads in trying to get my first Rickenbacker

robw95 · Post by **robw95** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 1:05 am

Hi, I’m a lurker here, an active reader but never post. I am a big Beatles and REM fan and I am looking to get a Rickenbacker to cover that territory. There is a 2005 at my local Guitar Center in very good condition at a fair price but I have always fancied getting a JetGlo (like Lennon and Buck). I emailed a couple of the dealers recommended here and a couple of them have new 330 JG’s in stock and I was almost sold on getting one of those when my head got turned by reading about the 350v63 model. I have not actually played one of these but I'm a bit enamored of the smaller body size and lighter weight as I'm not a big guy and thought it might be lighter around my neck if I were to play standing up. The truth is that I'm not in a band and just play at home sitting down so I'm not sure why I'm thinking about that. In fact, I don't even own a guitar strap! There are no 350v63’s around to try though. I thought I had a lead today as gbase.com showed two in my area but I went to the shop today and they said they were gone and just had not updated gbase in a while.

So if you have any thoughts on the 330 vs. the 350v63 covering the Beatles and REM I would love to hear them. When I wrote to one of the dealers that I have been corresponding with regarding the 330 vs. 350v63 he replied:

“A 350 V63 is also a pretty versatile guitar, and plays as easily as a 330 or a 360 because of the full scale neck. The 3 Vintage pickups would help you dial in the John Lennon or John Fogerty sound.
A 360 or 330 would be perfect for the Peter Buck sound, but not quite as close on the Beatles.”

By the way, I have a silly question. I have only acoustics and all of my acoustics have satin (non gloss) necks and I found myself ‘sticking’ to the neck a bit on the the 330 I tried the other day. I know that Rics are glossed (for lack of the correct term) front and back and that glossing of the front is a bit unique however it seems like I was sticking more to the front. Has anybody experienced this when transitioning to the Rics from acoustics and is it something you just get used to and don’t even notice anymore?

Thanks for reading.

Rob
Southern California

elreydlp · Post by **elreydlp** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 2:59 am

Rob
I have a 620 you might want to check out. I'm in SoCal (Temecula/San Diego). Let me know.

egosheep · Post by **egosheep** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 3:10 am

I would maybe keep an eye on ebay, you might see a deal on an older Ric that would suit your fancy. Otherwise, the new 2010 330's with the slim headstocks are pretty cool in my book.

I don't personally like the look of 350's, I think the long neck looks "off" with the small body.

jimk · Post by **jimk** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 3:43 am

Welcome to the forum, Rob. I was wondering, are you referring by any chance to the finished fretboard?
JimK

robw95 · Post by **robw95** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 3:50 am

Hi Jim

Thanks for the welcome.

I think it was the back of the neck that felt 'sticky' to me. But it might have also been the finished fretboard that contributed to that feeling as coming from an acoustic background I have never seen a finished fretboard and I believe even on the other electrics that I have been auditioning I don't recall a finished fretboard. It might just be one of those things that one has to take a little time to get used to and then once you are you never even thinks about again.

Rob

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 9:22 am

Yes, the "sticky back-of-the-neck" will be an issue for you... but you just have to get used to it, and keep it and your hands very very clean. So wash after eating chicken wings, if you don't already!

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 9:25 am

With your acoustic background I would suggest a 381 strung with D'Addario 11-49 w/ wound 3rd G string. The body is a little thicker like you're used to, and the 11's have a tad more tension and feel to them. Unfortunately, the 381 is also RIC's most expensive guitar, but it's worth it, and with its checkerboard binding, looks absolutely stunning in JG.

jdawe · Post by **jdawe** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 12:31 pm

It's really impossible to make a wrong decision, IMO. My sense is that while there are sonic differences between the various models (e.g., between the semi-hollowbodies and the solid bodies and between the high gain p/u and the toasters), in the grand scheme of things these differences are relatively minor -- they all sound like Ricks.

Since you like a smaller body, I would urge you to consider the 620. It is an extremely versatile guitar that can give you a wide range of tones, including ones that at least to my ears are virtually indistinguishable from what you can get from a 360 with high gains (a la Peter Buck). While it may not give you quite as exact a Beatles tone as you'd get with toasters, you can get awfully close. If you can only have one Rick, I think you'd be very happy with a 620. Of course, I also think you'd be very happy with a 330 or a 360 or a 350v63 or pretty much anything in the catalog.

In terms of playability, while I personally love Rick necks I have come across non-Rick players who don't like them, which I attribute to unfamiliarity. I think you will get used to the feel of a Rick fairly quickly. Worst-case scenario, if you were to get one and ultimately decide it is not the right guitar for you, they hold their value very well and you should have no difficulty selling it.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 3:03 pm

It is possible to cut the gloss on both back of neck and fretboard by going over it with 000 steel wool after removing the strings and taping off the pickups. As long as you're using 000, it can be buffed back to gloss if later you decide to sell.

Ive also recommended using Dr. Stringfellow's Lem-Oil on the neck, strings and fretboard. Just spritz some on the front and back of the neck and polish with a clean cotton cloth. This leaves a slick, but non-sticky surface. You will have to repeat this occasionally depending upon how much you play.

8mileshigher · Post by **8mileshigher** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 3:43 pm

Welcome to the Forum, Rob.

Since you are in Southern Calif, I recall that somebody had a 350 model posted on L.A. Craigs List about a week or two ago, you might want to try and find that seller and give it a test-drive.

Have you contacted all the local authorized Ric dealers for their possibilities of having a second hand 350v63?

I'm sure there are 330 models at local Ric dealers as it is a high-production model.

Rob, we also have local So Calif Confluences and Rickenbacker Jam Sessions on a fairly regular basis .... you might want to check out the gear and meet folks. See the recent thread
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=399591&start=75

rkbsound · Post by **rkbsound** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 5:52 pm

Here's what I might do in your situation:

1. Look for a used 330 pre-2000. That might get you one that has a neck that is less sticky. I have a 2002 360 that is STILL tacky! Also, your price will be a bit lower, perhaps.
2. I don't know what other guitars you play, but you could also find an Epi Dot or Casino to get closer to some Beatle tones. I have 2 '66 330's and neither gives me Beatle tones. My Epi Dot, for some reason, comes a lot closer!

krick · Post by **krick** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 9:07 pm

Looks like "Pick of the Ricks" has a Jetglo 2009 350V63 at a very good price.

http://www.pickofthericks.com

In my opinion, you can't go wrong when dealing with Chris.

jps · Post by **jps** » Thu Mar 10, 2011 11:18 pm

krick wrote:Looks like "Pick of the Ricks" has a Jetglo 2009 350V63 at a very good price.

http://www.pickofthericks.com

In my opinion, you can't go wrong when dealing with Chris.

+100000000000000

robw95 · Post by **robw95** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:23 am

Thanks everybody for all the responses. From the responses a couple of things have become clear to me:

1. The ‘sticky’ neck is probably not going to end up being a huge issue. I like the steel wool idea and even without that I am guessing that I probably would get to use to the feel.

2. As someone mentioned there is probably not a bad decision with either the 350v63 or the 330 as they are both quality guitars that are in demand and that if I ended up not liking my purchase then I could probably resell it fairly easily at a proper price.

3.I think I should throw the 620 into the mix as an option.

I’m not picky about nailing the Beatles or REM sound exactly, I think that just the fact that I am getting that Rickenbacker chime is good enough for me.

Thanks for all your replies.

Rob

robw95 · Post by **robw95** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:25 am

krick wrote:Looks like "Pick of the Ricks" has a Jetglo 2009 350V63 at a very good price.

http://www.pickofthericks.com

In my opinion, you can't go wrong when dealing with Chris.

Thanks for that lead. I have heard nothing but good things about POTR so if it comes down to the 350v63 then I'll definitely be giving them a call.

Rob

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