In praise of the Ric 610

Oskar · Post by **Oskar** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:33 am

I discovered this model early last year. I had been playing Fender Teles for years and have a Ric 360-12 & 360-6. A JG 610 with toasters came on e-bay and decided to take the plunge. It was pretty dirty and dinged up when I got it, but what a wonderful sounding guitar. It's small, light, easy to play, and packs a nice punch. As a result I've retired, after many years, the Teles and now exclusively gig with the Rics. I ended up getting a very nice FG 610 and just recently picked up a JG 610-12 to replace the 360-12 I sold a few months back. I replaced the Ric humbucking pickups in the FG with a set of pole adjusted Ric hi-gains.

There is so much emphasis placed on the classic 360 line that I think these models are under the radar. If you can find one they can still be had for a reasonable price, and I would highly recommend them. I paid under a grand for each of my three.
Just wanted to promote this model since I think it's way underrated. Here's a photo of the two six string 610s. Haven't yet taken a photo of the 12-string.

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 12:05 pm

I'm all about 610's, especially 12ers! Post the 12 please!!!!! I owned a '91 610/12 FG and a '87 610/12 JG/BT which I loved. Nice small 80's necks. I bet the toasters sound killer!

jdawe · Post by **jdawe** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 12:15 pm

Although I've never had a chance to play a 610, after buying my first 620 last January I've been constantly prosletyzing its virtues. Since the 620 is just a 610 with binding, inlays and Rick-o-Sound (which I never use), I agree wholeheartedly with everything you say. I've never understood why these guitars aren't more popular than they are, since I think their quality and sound is every bit as good as the semi-hollows and I find them even more comfortable to play. 610s seem to typically go for a few hundred bucks less than 620s, which makes them to my mind one of the best guitar bargains out there -- if you can find one, that is.

Oskar · Post by **Oskar** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 12:18 pm

I bet the toasters sound killer!

Absolutely! It came that way and the guy who sold it to me said it was originally sold with the toasters. It came with the traditional "R" tailpiece and I installed the trapeze one. It's an '89. The FG is an '86, and the 12 is a '92.

Will post a pic of the 12. I really liked the 360-12 that I had, but to my ears the 610-12 sounds a bit better, more chime.

Oskar · Post by **Oskar** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 12:26 pm

I've never understood why these guitars aren't more popular than they are, since I think their quality and sound is every bit as good as the semi-hollows and I find them even more comfortable to play.

Good point. I think that bands like the Byrds, Beatles, Beach Boys, etc. made the 360 model more desirable, and those models were certainly more visible. And it became synonymous with the British Sound. Of course the 610 wasn't around in the 60s and was considered more of a budget guitar.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 1:13 pm

Gorgeous guitars! There is something special about those 610's.

Tommy · Post by **Tommy** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 2:36 pm

Those are very nice.

I suppose the initial attraction to Rickenbackers has always been the 300 series (it's what we see most of), and then when you dig into Rickenbackers you discover these 600 beauties. And you say under a grand for each of the ones you bought? Wow.

Clint · Post by **Clint** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 2:50 pm

My heart still belongs to the 620.

Ontario_RIC_fan · Post by **Ontario_RIC_fan** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 5:15 pm

A jg 610 sold on CL in Toronto in December for $800... I would have been tempted except i already have one!

I have had mine (made January 1991) since 1994. They are very under rated guitars!

Mine was BT when bought for $500. I added White/Chrome parts a few years back as that is my favorite Ric look...

8mileshigher · Post by **8mileshigher** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 5:29 pm

John, that's a nice pair of 610s !

Ontario_RIC_fan · Post by **Ontario_RIC_fan** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 5:29 pm

Oskar wrote: And it became synonymous with the British Sound. Of course the 610 wasn't around in the 60s and was considered more of a budget guitar.

It was around back then! But with an accent vibrato - hence a 615 or Rose Morris 1995...

Ron Nasty of THE RUTLES - a major 60s band was the most famous player.. lol

ChuckEds · Post by **ChuckEds** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 6:41 pm

I agree that the 600 series are very underated, too bad no one famous beside Ron played one! Although Tom Petty revived interest in them in the late 70's. I have a '67 615 & an '02 620 that are my main go-to guitars.

Clint · Post by **Clint** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 6:51 pm

Shhhh...If we keep the 600 series our little secret, we'll always be able to snach them up, cheap!

Tommy · Post by **Tommy** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 7:43 pm

Clint wrote:Shhhh...If we keep the 600 series our little secret, we'll always be able to snach them up, cheap!

Too late. I had no idea these could be had for under $1,000.
I'm going to buy three of them.

Oskar · Post by **Oskar** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:21 pm

Glad to see so many here appreciate these guitars. And thanks for the history note on Ron Nasty playing one. There is one down-side to the 610 for some, and that is the thin and narrow necks. I have small hands so it's no problem for me, but a friend of mine with bigger hands didn't feel that comfortable with it. Will hopefully post a pic of the 610-12 tomorrow. They do show up on e-Bay once in a while, but they always ask a lot, usually a BIN price of about $1200 to $1500. If someone is just selling it straight on e-bay (which was the was case the two I got; the 12 I found on CL in Texas) you can usually get them between $750 and a grand.

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