Ric 660/6...A bit of a mystery..

[david/wales/u.k]

Anyone know anything about the 660/6....Don't see much written about it on the forum and can't see anything about it on youtube. What does it sound like...How does it compare to the 330 or 360...does it still have the distinctive Rickenbacker Chime?
I know the neck is a lot bigger and that appeals to me...if I can't adapt to the 330-360 neck then I'm hoping this would be a suitable alternative but I haven't got much to go on yet

[Ain'tGotNoPokemon]

Anyone know anything about the 660/6....Don't see much written about it on the forum and can't see anything about it on youtube. What does it sound like...How does it compare to the 330 or 360...does it still have the distinctive Rickenbacker Chime?
I know the neck is a lot bigger and that appeals to me...if I can't adapt to the 330-360 neck then I'm hoping this would be a suitable alternative but I haven't got much to go on yet

Sir, I am not sure about the neck size, but I have a 620/12 (Same guitar for the most part - 660 has toasters, 620 has high gains). The neck of my 620 is the same as my old 360. In terms of sound... You can find a video of a guy playing a 620 with toasters on Youtube ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gaq8lAKEkUk), but most of the comments say he's using too much compression for the toasters to standout.

In terms of you neck, as I said in your other thread (I'm guessing that was you asking about the neck?), you will have to practice to get used to the neck of Rics. Don't play your other guitars for a while, and you'll become accustomed to it.

[jfine]

The 660/6 has a little wider neck than other Rics. I like it better than I do the regular neck, although I've played some of those that were nice too. Tonally the 660 is somewhere between a regular solidbody Ric and a Telecaster--probably my favorite Ric, and hopefully I'll be able to afford one someday!

[libratune]

Here's some words about the 660 from someone who just got one: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=402046

[david/wales/u.k]

It sounds like a superb guitar...beginning to wonder if I should go straight for this one

[RIC_FACTORY]

I would say a 660 would be a rarer find as well. It does get our more premium wood and features (checked binding). The newest batch that we did just this past week has some of the most exquisite birdseye bodies that I have ever seen.

Definitely has jangle with more sustain as it is a solid body instrument.

[Ain'tGotNoPokemon]

I would say a 660 would be a rarer find as well. It does get our more premium wood and features (checked binding). The newest batch that we did just this past week has some of the most exquisite birdseye bodies that I have ever seen.

Definitely has jangle with more sustain as it is a solid body instrument.

What's the difference between the 620's Maple and the 660's Charactered Maple? According to Mr. John Hall, it's: ""Charactered Maple" means it will be one type of highly select Maple, whether that be Birdseye, Flamed, Quilted, etc. It is very different than the standard production Maple. However, sometimes the regular Maple is especially nice, coming close to the worst piece of premium Maple you might see."

Why does the 620 not receive the same quality Maple as the 660? Why don't instruments like the 360, 350, and 381 receive the same? What makes the 660 different?

[sloop_john_b]

Why does the 620 not receive the same quality Maple as the 660? Why don't instruments like the 360, 350, and 381 receive the same? What makes the 660 different?

The 660 and the 381 are supposed to be more "upscale" models and therefore get fancier wood.

[libratune]

Why does the 620 not receive the same quality Maple as the 660? Why don't instruments like the 360, 350, and 381 receive the same? What makes the 660 different?

The model description for the 381 states that it is made from premium "charactered" Maple.

[johnhall]

Why does the 620 not receive the same quality Maple as the 660? Why don't instruments like the 360, 350, and 381 receive the same? What makes the 660 different?

The 660 and the 381 are supposed to be more "upscale" models and therefore get fancier wood.

. . . which is also reflected in the price. It allows some instruments to be a little more affordable than others.

"Quality" is also a bit of a loaded word. If you said "aesthetic quality' you would be spot on, but the construction and sound characteristics are the same. It's the same species of wood but it looks different due to the region and climate where it was grown.

[Ain'tGotNoPokemon]

Why does the 620 not receive the same quality Maple as the 660? Why don't instruments like the 360, 350, and 381 receive the same? What makes the 660 different?

The model description for the 381 states that it is made from premium "charactered" Maple.

No, sir.

[Ain'tGotNoPokemon]

Why does the 620 not receive the same quality Maple as the 660? Why don't instruments like the 360, 350, and 381 receive the same? What makes the 660 different?

The 660 and the 381 are supposed to be more "upscale" models and therefore get fancier wood.

. . . which is also reflected in the price. It allows some instruments to be a little more affordable than others.

"Quality" is also a bit of a loaded word. If you said "aesthetic quality' you would be spot on, but the construction and sound characteristics are the same. It's the same species of wood but it looks different due to the region and climate where it was grown.

My question would be how it affects the tone.

(Sorry for the double post, Mods)

[RIC_FACTORY]

Let it be noted that birdseye maple is now among the rarest types of "charactered" maple in existence and arrives at our door randomly. Normally, we see flamed maple when we order charactered maple but this time we lucked out and got birdseye.

If we were to offer 620's and 330's with the same lumber, we would have to increase the price as charactered maple is increasingly more expensive due to its availability. If we order the garden variety maple for a run of 620's or 330's and it has some flame or birdseye in it, well, that is completely random. For those models, we do not SPECIFY that they MUST have figure, so they are priced accordingly.

*TONE IS NOT AFFECTED BY FIGURING IN THE WOOD !

[Ain'tGotNoPokemon]

Let it be noted that birdseye maple is now among the rarest types of "charactered" maple in existence and arrives at our door randomly. Normally, we see flamed maple when we order charactered maple but this time we lucked out and got birdseye.

If we were to offer 620's and 330's with the same lumber, we would have to increase the price as charactered maple is increasingly more expensive due to its availability.

*TONE IS NOT AFFECTED!

If tone is not affected, then why use the "higher" quality woods?

And it seems that when I have said "How does it affect the tone," which I have said in other threads, people might get the impression that I mean negatively. It must affect the tone somehow - That includes positively.

[RIC_FACTORY]

Because it looks nicer.

But, it is all Eastern Hard Rock Maple. The charactered stuff is increasingly hard to come by these days as it is in high demand and low supply. Luckily, it does not affect a Rick's sound, just the appearance...