Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi everyone, I'm new here and I am about to buy a Rick!
I am a guitar collector and musician, I own 5 great guitars, a couple vintage and the rest custom shop reissues. I only dig "custom made" or original vintage guitars, strictly made in USA, not the standard production ones, asian made.
This introduction to make you better understand my question:
I am about to buy a 330 (I had a 90's 320 but I sold it because I didn't dig the short scale) and I was wondering if actual production 330's are ok or made in China. Since my passion for "best choice guitars" do you suggest a specific year or maybe suggest not to get a recent one and search for a 80's or 90's?
Do the actual production 330's have any downsides?
thanks
F.
ps. do 330's come with toasters or Hi-gain?

Benvenuto Filippo
330s come with hi-gain pickups and are totally made in USA, maybe except for the tuners that are German Schallers

Thanks,
so I understand there are no better years for the 330. Any year is a good year, even recent ones.
ciao
F.

One of the great things about Rickenbackers is that there really are no "bad" years. The build quality has always been top-notch and most of the changes over time have been minor and cosmetic. (For example, some people don't like the look of the new Schaller tuners, but I think almost everyone would agree that functionally the Schallers are excellent.)

Wow, ok...

Um, yeah, there are no bad years, but that's all relative, isn't it? I would have no interest in a 330 made from about '89-current. I prefer the smaller vintage necks. I also prefer the 21-fret guitars to 24-fret guitars, which changed in the early 70's. So if I was in the market strictly for a model 330, I'd aim for a 60's example. Of course, they command more money, and there are reasons for that!

In short, if you get a recent one, you would be getting hi gain pickups, 24-fret pickup placement, and a chunkier neck (not as desirable to collectors and connossieurs).

That said, I am currently playing as my main guitar, a '98 360/12v64 FG. I was able to get the action very low and the neck very straight, so I don't mind the slightly beefier neck. And remember, a v64 has 21 frets and toasters.

Welcome and good luck with your search!

My mid '90's 360 6 string is perfect & still like new. My 2010 360 12 String is perfect & is, well, almost new. I have to agree I don't think there is a bad year. As far as I know all Rickenbakckers are crafted in Santa Ana, Ca. USA

330's are great Guitars. good luck finding the one you want.

Glenn

1967 330s are nice, too.

My Rickenbackers are from '88, '90 and '92, the preferred years!

Addendum: I've never thought of any Rickenbacker as having a "beefy" neck, but I only have three. Good stuff, 330s "rawk."

...wisdom

I own an end of 2010 made 330/6, before I had a 360/6 from 1990 - good for comparing.
Short answer to Your question: YES!

indianation65 wrote:My Rickenbackers are from '88, '90 and '92, the preferred years!

Addendum: I've never thought of any Rickenbacker as having a "beefy" neck, but I only have three. Good stuff, 330s "rawk."

...wisdom

Good necks those years - very slim.

I'm going to agree that Ric really hasn't had a bad year. The Rics I've played have all varied, neck profile wise: 2003 360/12 standard, 1991 660/12TP, 1998 1997, 1989 1997SPC, 1987 360/12V64 and 1986 1997. The '03 was the chunkiest neck and the '89 was the thinnest. The '91, despite having a wider neck, was also quite thin. I've also played a '89 370/12 Roger McGuinn, '87 1998 Pete Townshend (both owned by Gary Clauson) and 1991 1997 (Dan Saifer) and those also had some thin necks. However, the thinnest was Collin Whitley's 1964 Rose Morris 1993 12-string. Dear lord, I could get my thumb all the way over the fretboard. Generally, the '60s will have the best necks.

If cost isn't an issue, go for a vintage '65-'68 21-fret 330. If you have a budget, look for a used 330 from the '80s. You'll be pleasantly surprised!

jdogric12 wrote:That said, I am currently playing as my main guitar, a '98 360/12v64 FG. I was able to get the action very low and the neck very straight, so I don't mind the slightly beefier neck. And remember, a v64 has 21 frets and toasters.

How does your current V64 compare to the one you used to own that I now own?

My preferred years(barring '50s or '60s examples) are maybe 81-84. Good bang for the buck, low production numbers, X-braced bodies, slim necks, slim headstocks, klusons or grover klusonesque copies, iconic Hi-Gain sounds, wide and deep dished ramps... need I continue?

egosheep wrote:My preferred years(barring '50s or '60s examples) are maybe 81-84. Good bang for the buck, low production numbers, X-braced bodies, slim necks, slim headstocks, klusons or grover klusonesque copies, iconic Hi-Gain sounds, wide and deep dished ramps... need I continue?

You could expand that back to '79, I think...

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JakeK wrote:How does your current V64 compare to the one you used to own that I now own?

The one I have now has an average thickness neck. Your '87 is significantly thinner and more comfortable. And you have Rick O Sound, I don't.

In retrospect, I overstated it by saying that the changes since the '80s have all been "cosmetic" (that was original poster's stated time frame). I haven't owned a 330 and am not familiar with all the variations in neck size, etc. over time. But I stand by my main point, which was that none of the guitars produced during this period are "bad" instruments. Some people may like skinnier necks, etc., but this is really a matter of personal preference about design details. For instance, I like the necks on my '96 and '09 620s as they are, and wouldn't want them to be skinnier, but I don't know how they compare to 330 necks in the '70s.

My point was that this kind of preference for certain design details is very different from saying that there are certain years that should be avoided because of quality control problems. While some people might prefer elements found only in '70s and '80s models, a lot of other people are very happy with more recently-made Ricks. Maybe we're just not sophisticated enough to know any better

jdawe wrote: While some people might prefer elements found only in '70s and '80s models, a lot of other people are very happy with more recently-made Ricks. Maybe we're just not sophisticated enough to know any better

I certainly wouldn't put it that harshly, but in essence that's true. Most people who "loooooove" brand new Ricks have never played a vintage one. I know firsthand - I used to rave about recents until I got spoiled!