Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Is there any reason to go with a mid 80's Rickenbacker vs. a new Rickenbacker? Hasn't Rickenbacker quality pretty much remained consistent, at least since the golden era of the '60's?

pocaloc wrote:Is there any reason to go with a mid 80's Rickenbacker vs. a new Rickenbacker? Hasn't Rickenbacker quality pretty much remained consistent, at least since the golden era of the '60's?

Quality has generally been consistent; features have not. A mid 80's bog standard 330 and a brand new 330, for instance, have different varieties of Higain pickups and will certainly sound different, plus the old one will have a bigger headstock shape, a thinner neck, a larger tailpiece ramp, a different finish type (conversion varnish), a different case, and I believe even a different body shape (rounder horns).

Mid 80's Ricks are great!!! Nice thin necks too, usually.

What would the characteristics be of a mid 80's high gain vs. a modern high gain pickup? More toaster like quality maybe?

pocaloc wrote: More toaster like quality maybe?

A little bit more jangle than the current hotwound ones but the furry Hi-gain sound remains. I'd love a 70s-80s 12 string Rickenbacker....

emac.