Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi, everybody. I'm new here, because I don't (yet) have a Rickenbacker . I need some advice from people who know these guitars, and I figure there's no better place to get some answers. I live in Memphis, and we don't have a RIC dealer in town, and I can't really get away to Nashville to go try them out. I've played a used 620 at Guitar Center before and really, really liked the way it felt.

I'm either going to get a 360 or a 620. They're both beautiful instruments. Here are my questions:
* My current band plays a lot of really loud rock music. Do the 330's and 360's have very much trouble with feedback at high volume? I know semi-hollow guitars aren't supposed to feed back a lot, but sometimes they do.
* How big is the body on the 620? I have a hard time judging the size of the body from the clips and pictures I've seen. Is it about the size/width of a Gibson SG body? A Strat or Tele body?
* What're the main sonic differences between a 330/360 and a 620, assuming they both have Hi-Gains? I would figure the hollow guitars are maybe a little more mid-rangey and the 620 a little brighter or maybe chimes a little more? It seems like most of the clips on YouTube and such either have 360's with scatterwound toasters or run through so much compression I can't hear what the guitar actually sounds like. I do most of my playing straight into a (driving) Vox AC15, sometimes with a Tube Screamer, if that helps.
* I play fingerstyle a lot. As in, I hardly ever use a pick. How hard is it going to be to adjust to the Ric neck/string spacing? I don't seem to see very many clips of people playing Rics without picks (wow, that's a rhyme).
* Bonus question: should I start saving for some 11k/12k toasters? They seem pretty popular around these parts.

Thanks. I know the best answer to these questions is "Just go play them both" but sadly that's not an option for me right now. I wish some music store here would become a RIC dealer. You'd think Memphis, of all places, would have a guitar store that carries them. I appreciate whatever guidance you guys can give me, and I look forward to falling in love with whichever guitar I end up getting!

Playing a few Ricks would definitely help you decide. As for concerns about the neck width, the 660 has a wider neck (and toasters), but will cost you more. The 650 is another option--they have humbuckers and no binding/fancy inlays along with the wider neck. You can swap in hi-gains or toasters at will. Feedback...well, I guess it depends. My older semi-hollow Ricks feedback readily, but the newer thicker tops cut down on that somewhat.

You've played a 620, liked it, so go for it. That model, new or used, will cost you several hundred $$$ less than a 360. There are a lot of good deals on 620s these days.

If you play loud, less worries about feedback from a 620.

Also, the 360 body is wider (15") and longer than a 620, but not as big as a Gibson semihollow (335 = 16" wide). If the 620 was comfortable for you, the 360 may take a bit of getting used to. Also, if you do a lot of stage work with it, the solidbody 620 won't be as fragile.

The string spacing at nut and scale length for both guitars is the same, and is not much different IMO than the string spacing on any other standard brand. The string spacing concerns about Ricks are mostly with the 12-strings.

Good luck!

Thanks for the pointers. I'm leaning pretty heavily toward the 620.

One more question: I see that the 660 has a wider neck than the 620. How different is the neck profile? Is it the same basic neck shape, but wider?

deadllama wrote:Thanks for the pointers. I'm leaning pretty heavily toward the 620.

One more question: I see that the 660 has a wider neck than the 620. How different is the neck profile? Is it the same basic neck shape, but wider?

Hmm... This was recently discussed here. All I can tell you is that any Ric I have played had the same neck shape - I have never seen a 660 in person, however.

I'll send you a PM regarding the 360. For the public board purposes: Go for the 620.

deadllama wrote:Thanks for the pointers. I'm leaning pretty heavily toward the 620.

One more question: I see that the 660 has a wider neck than the 620. How different is the neck profile? Is it the same basic neck shape, but wider?

The Radii are different between the two models; the 620 model has a flatter, 10" radius.

Per this thread, I went 620! I put a Fireglo 620 on layaway today . I should be able to pay the rest of it off in a week or two and then, of course, I'll post some pics of it here.

Thanks for the pointers. They really helped me make up my mind.

paologregorio wrote:
The Radii are different between the two models; the 620 model has a flatter, 10" radius.

Not to pick nits, but RIC website says 660 and 620 both have the same (10") crown radius.

Hope you like your new 620, Kevin. I love mine.

deadllama wrote:Per this thread, I went 620! I put a Fireglo 620 on layaway today .

Good for you, Kevin! Looking forward to the photos.

Welcome to the forum and to the wonderful world of Ricks, Kevin! Can't wait to see those photos!

Congrats on the purchase! While you couldn't really go wrong either way, I have two 620s (a 6 and a 12), love them both, and think you'll be very happy with your choice.

Here's the picture from the Dave's Guitars site. I finally managed to pay it off, and it gets here Thursday! I can't wait.

deadllama wrote:Here's the picture from the Dave's Guitars site. I finally managed to pay it off, and it gets here Thursday! I can't wait.

I need a bucket of water dumped on me. Man, that is a guitar.

That's a nice one, good job!

Beautiful! You made a fine choice.