Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Mike Campbell (from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers) has a special 350 that the Rickenbacker factory made for him. It has two pickups (a humbucker at the bridge and a toaster at the neck), a toggle switch (in an interesting position), four stove (radio) knobs, gold plastic, and a wider neck.

A stock 350 has a neck width of 1-5/8" at the nut.

Does anyone know what the width of Mike's 350's neck is? 1-11/16? 1-3/4" (like a 660)?

He says it's slighty wider than the standard Ric neck. So it's a 660 neck, but with an unbound 24-fret dot fingerboard.

Thanks, Jake, but it ain't necessarily so.

It was built long before the six string 660s, so could it be that they used a slightly wider fretboard on a standard 350 neck? If that's so, I'd guess the width is 1-11/16".

The deal with the 350 was that they were making the 660/12 Tom Petty model, and asked Mike if he wanted a guitar, which became the 350 we know today. Tom's prototype 660/12 and Mike's 350 were both made in 1989, so there's a good chance they have the same neck.

Could be.

I wonder if anyone knows for sure?

Also, the necks on the 660 and the 350 are different. Aren't the necks on the 350 like the 330 set-necks, while the 660 is neck-through?

LenMinNJ wrote:Also, the necks on the 660 and the 350 are different. Aren't the necks on the 350 like the 330 set-necks, while the 660 is neck-through?

Both are solid body instruments, so same neck construction.

Mike describes it as "more like an acoustic neck". You can see him talk about it here if you are a member. The price is worth the admission just for his series on Guitars.

http://www.tompetty.com/news/title/imik ... und-part-2

Both are solid body instruments, so same neck construction

Yes, they are both solid body, except for the 350 which isn't a solid body.

Also, I have two '89 370/12s, one is 1.94, the other is closer to a 660. So being made in '89 doesn't tell you a size per se.

jsm610 wrote:

Both are solid body instruments, so same neck construction

Yes, they are both solid body, except for the 350 which isn't a solid body.

Oh, I thought a 350 was solid; so, it's a hollow solid? Like a 325?

Oh, I thought a 350 was solid; so, it's a hollow solid? Like a 325?

It's solid like a 4005.

Mine was nice and solid, never had to worry about breaking it.

So it seems that we don't yet know how wide Mike Campbell's 350's neck is. <sigh>

I'm trying to decide between converting a 1991 350JG into either a version of Mike Campbell's 350 or a replica of the turquoise Jackson Browne Limited Edition prototype that's in the Rickenbacker museum.

Anyone have a personal preference?

Buy a 660. I love them.

I love 660s too. Especially my 660-12TP.

But I still have to decide what to do with the 1991 350JG that arrived here this morning.