Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi everyone

This is my first post - so apologies up front if this is not the right place to ask this question.

I have a 1976 330 Fireglo with Hi Gains - but it looks like it should be a 60's model. It's got 21 frets and the pickgard shape looks like its a 60's template. Is it likely that Rickenbacker had old 60's 330 bodies still in the factory that they were using as late as 1976? I suppose anything is possible but if any of you have any further information I would be interested in finding out.

I've attached a couple of 'live' photos - but if you need a better shot let me know and I can take some more.

Looking forward to hearing from people who no doubt have a much greater knowledge than I.

Hi Kieren, welcome!

Very cool guitar you have there. 6-string guitars are rare throughout the 1970s (compared to basses), but 21-fret 330s are even less common. Paul Weller played a couple just like yours, in The Jam era.

Yet, they do turn up occasionally. Two have been on the market this past month, actually. I don't believe the tall tale about "leftover 60s bodies" (heard it before), but the internal construction is the same as 60s models, with x-bracing etc. Orders for guitars was slow in the 1970s, but not slow enough that many dozens of 60s bodies would sit around waiting.

Plus I've played a handful of them and the neck profiles on 70s models are nice, but different than most 60s years.


Cool guitar, thanks for sharing.

Many thanks Colin - yes, I thought the 'leftover bodies' story sounded strange as well but you never do know with Rickenbacker.

Being a big Who/Jam fan, that's why I bought it! I picked it up secondhand in 1979, so whoever bought it new didn't hold on to it for long. At that stage I had no idea about 24 v 21 frets or Hi-Gains v Toasters. This is pre-Internet of course and I used to look in the second-hand shops and a magazine here in Sydney called the 'Trading Post' where people would place 'for sale' ads. Rickenbackers were hard to find. Mind you that's the same way I picked up my 1966 360-12 fireglo, a couple of old Vox amps and a Vox Phantom guitar, so I did pretty well.

Yes a rare one indeed...

There are only five 76 330's in the register... http://www.rickresource.com/register/in ... 76&order=5

So cool.

You can verify the year with the RIC decoder here.
Looks great, welcome to the RRF.

Could the 21/24 mystery be something as simple as them not rotating stock? In accountant-speak, we'd call that LIFO vs. FIFO.