Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

As my first Ric? Hi I'm a new member.

I know about the small scale but it appeals to me because it will be different, and I play a lot of rhythm. I'm in the mood for early Beatles having seen some Beatles cover bands over labor day weekend in DC.

Early 1962-1965 Beatles rhythms...there's only one guitar for that: a 325. Go. For. It.

JakeK wrote:Early 1962-1965 Beatles rhythms...there's only one guitar for that: a 325. Go. For. It.

I. Disagree.


There is no discernible difference in tone (to my ears) if early Beatles are played on any vintage spec reissue Rickenbacker.

I would highly suggest finding a 325 in person first and see how it "fits" you, as they are very cool, very uncomfortable guitars for many people. After all, this is why the 350 model was invented.

I think thats right try and see how it feels and sounds before you buy.Too small for me im afraid...

a 350 should be the right compromise between playability and look
too bad it does not feature an Accent vibrato or the R tailpiece instead of that trapezoidal thing

collin wrote:

JakeK wrote:Early 1962-1965 Beatles rhythms...there's only one guitar for that: a 325. Go. For. It.

I. Disagree.


There is no discernible difference in tone (to my ears) if early Beatles are played on any vintage spec reissue Rickenbacker.

...mmmm...unusually Collin, I am going to have to agree to disagree with you on this one I bought a 320 earlier in the year and respec'd it to a 325. I gotta say to my ears, playing through an all handwired AC30, I felt it more accurately replicated the early Beatles Lennon rhythm tones than any of my other full scale '60's Ricks (or vintage reissues come to that). Now maybe its just self trickery of the ears as a result of some sort of psychological delusions of (Lennon) grandeur when you are thrashing a 3/4 scale Rick, but I definitely felt there was a discernible difference in tone....

Having said all that, I too didn't get along with the short scale at all and I decided to sell it very quickly.

If possible Cliff, I would strongly recommend trying out a 320/325 before purchase as I suspect most of us here while loving the look of them have ended up with 330/360 series guitars as our favourites... Personally I wouldn't go for a 350 at all as they just look unbalanced to my eye..

k43rover wrote: Now maybe its just self trickery of the ears as a result of some sort of psychological delusions of (Lennon) grandeur when you are thrashing a 3/4 scale Rick, but I definitely felt there was a discernible difference in tone....

Nope....just psychological delusions of Lennon grandeur.

Maybe it's not identical tone, but probably close enough for government work, and I think many people don't play Lennon's parts properly enough for a true comparison. The guy definitely liked some strange chord shapes.

We'll have to agree to disagree then!

k43rover wrote:
If possible Cliff, I would strongly recommend trying out a 320/325 before purchase as I suspect most of us here while loving the look of them have ended up with 330/360 series guitars as our favourites... Personally I wouldn't go for a 350 at all as they just look unbalanced to my eye..

Definitely agree with ya there on the 350...not my cuppa at all.

collin wrote: Nope....just psychological delusions of Lennon grandeur.

...you're probably right Collin...it's just like whenever I get my 1998 out, I have to slip into my Union Flag jacket and I am totally convinced I sound just like Pete...(yeah right as dogs bark and babies howl all along the street...)

Thanks for the advice. I did just find a store that has a 325c64 about an hour from me, which I was not expecting. Hopefully they will have some others like a 330 or 360 I can try at the same time.

ces1965 wrote:Thanks for the advice. I did just find a store that has a 325c64 about an hour from me, which I was not expecting. Hopefully they will have some others like a 330 or 360 I can try at the same time.

Excellent, try it out !

I will say this much --- while many people (myself included) have griped about the difficult playing of the 325 models....I have yet to run into a single person who said the reverse, meaning that if you find the 325 cramped at all--->buy a 330 or 360!

The issue of 'uncomfortable' guitars is always interesting to me. It's a fine line between looks and comfort for designers and I think that sometimes, especially in the world of rics it's almost worth growing to love something that is perhaps not 'moulded to the contours of your body'

So I tried it out today. I didn't find it uncomfortable, just different. Some things are easier to play, some things are harder. I've never been that sensitive to changes in neck length or size, as I'll go from playing my precision bass with a huge neck to my guitars, most of which have smaller necks.

So I liked the 325 a lot. I think I'm going to buy, it was really cool! It had a lot of different sounds and seemed very nicely made.

ces1965 wrote:So I tried it out today. I didn't find it uncomfortable, just different. Some things are easier to play, some things are harder. I've never been that sensitive to changes in neck length or size, as I'll go from playing my precision bass with a huge neck to my guitars, most of which have smaller necks.

So I liked the 325 a lot. I think I'm going to buy, it was really cool! It had a lot of different sounds and seemed very nicely made.

...good for you Cliff!! Look forward to seeing pics when you make your final selection

Thanks still getting together the money and getting marital approval

ces1965 wrote:Thanks still getting together the money and getting marital approval

I bet it would drive you nuts to get the second before the first!