Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi there,

I just registered at this forum to get some things clear about my new Rickenbacker 330w. As I’m not that talented in playing, I mostly buy guitars just to have them as sort kind of furniture. Of course I play every now and then, but I love guitars and want to own all guitars I dreamed of as a little kid…

The Rickenbacker 330 was one of those guitars I always wanted to own. After I saw the Ric 330w I knew that one was mine. As there are not much sellers in my area, I needed to buy it on the internet.

Like I said, I’m not that talented, so I also don’t know much about technical issues and finishing of a guitar. Not that I own this guitar for a month, a friend passed by. After taking a closer look to it, he said that the guitar is not properly finished. I also felt some sharp frets and some glue parts on it, but I thought that was no big deal.

He said that it is not acceptable for a guitar with a price of €2000-.

Now I’m a little concerned if he is right or not, so I thought it would be a good idea to get some feedbacks on the Rickenbacker forums. I read everywhere that Ric’s are greatly finished when leaving the factory, but maybe mine isn’t? Please help me out with it…

I also noticed the G string sounds pretty ‘dead’, and doesn’t tune that solid. It also has a little buzz.

When the finish is really bad, is it usual to send it back to the store after a month?

Please take a look at the pictures, and I hope you can help me out! If there is nothing to complain, so for being an amateur. I usual don’t care for money, and I’m not picky, but this was pretty expensive. So I thought it would be a good idea to sort this out!

Thanks already!

When you look at the warranty card, when does it say is was manufactured? The month and the year.

+1

It does not look satisfying at all, to be honest...

I would play the guarantee card.

I'm not at home at the moment, but dont know if i have a warranty card. I only remember the booklet...

Off course I have a serial number and its from June or july 2014... Does that make any sense?

But the first two replies are not that positive. Maybe it's time tot contact the seller and grab a new one...

Are more people having these issues with a new Ric?

Quadrophenia wrote:I'm not at home at the moment, but dont know if i have a warranty card. I only remember the booklet...

Off course I have a serial number and its from June or july 2014... Does that make any sense?

But the first two replies are not that positive. Maybe it's time tot contact the seller and grab a new one...

Are more people having these issues with a new Ric?

I've had two from Nov 2014 both with problems, but I've returned.

adamborman wrote:
I've had two from Nov 2014 both with problems, but I've returned.

Ok! What was the exact reason you have returned them? Also problems with the finish?

Like is said before, I'm a pretty amateur, but why do I read everywhere that Ric's are almost alway perfectly finished. Or was that years ago?

Stories of customer complaints seem to be on the rise on this board in the last year or three. I would try to get a refund from your dealer. If you like the walnut Ricks, maybe consider a nice used 650D or 650S from the 90's or 2000's?

jdogric12 wrote:Stories of customer complaints seem to be on the rise on this board in the last year or three. I would try to get a refund from your dealer. If you like the walnut Ricks, maybe consider a nice used 650D or 650S from the 90's or 2000's?

Thanks for your reply! Anyway, those are not the alternatives i was looking for, as I'm pretty much in love with the 330 model.

I'm pretty lucky the company i bought it is very flexible with returning. They expanded the return policy to 60 days, so Ill guess its no problem. Just waiting for a reply. After returning I will get a new 330w, and see how that is finished. Otherwise I will return that also. Like I said before, Im not that difficult most ways, but for that amount of money I expect a nice finished guitar!

Quadrophenia wrote:

adamborman wrote:
I've had two from Nov 2014 both with problems, but I've returned.

Ok! What was the exact reason you have returned them? Also problems with the finish?

Like is said before, I'm a pretty amateur, but why do I read everywhere that Ric's are almost alway perfectly finished. Or was that years ago?

The problem is that negative experiences are more in the focus. An example:
1. One writes he has bought a new guitar. Fine. (How many do not write about, at all?!)
2. The other writes he has bought a new guitar that has got issues. - Big story!

What I noticed over the last years the communication about faulty Rickenbackers has become easier here. So that may have encouraged some more to write about - although the percentage of the ones that "slipped" through the QC maybe is the same.

My 330 MID from 2010 shows a stunning paintjob. Even a very experienced carpainter said about that: "That is a really good job, not easy!".
On the other side I had to send two guitars back to receive the right one.
The other two had both a peeling clear coat at the neck. One of them had an area of the coat that was rubbed down to the wood and then clearcoated. In the end this light area of about 2cm x 1cm was covered with a marker. (!)
I am sure my story is not representative for the work of RIC.

My advice for all newer guitars: As long as there is a guarantee go that way first, always.

My Rickenbacker is a joy to play and to look at. So the factory is able to deliver the promised quality.
Go for that!

Hotzenplotz wrote:

Quadrophenia wrote:

adamborman wrote:
I've had two from Nov 2014 both with problems, but I've returned.

Ok! What was the exact reason you have returned them? Also problems with the finish?

Like is said before, I'm a pretty amateur, but why do I read everywhere that Ric's are almost alway perfectly finished. Or was that years ago?

The problem is that negative experiences are more in the focus. An example:
1. One writes he has bought a new guitar. Fine. (How many do not write about, at all?!)
2. The other writes he has bought a new guitar that has got issues. - Big story!

What I noticed over the last years the communication about faulty Rickenbackers has become easier here. So that may have encouraged some more to write about - although the percentage of the ones that "slipped" through the QC maybe is the same.

My 330 MID from 2010 shows a stunning paintjob. Even a very experienced carpainter said about that: "That is a really good job, not easy!".
On the other side I had to send two guitars back to receive the right one.
The other two had both a peeling clear coat at the neck. One of them had an area of the coat that was rubbed down to the wood and then clearcoated. In the end this light area of about 2cm x 1cm was covered with a marker. (!)
I am sure my story is not representative for the work of RIC.

My advice for all newer guitars: As long as there is a guarantee go that way first, always.

My Rickenbacker is a joy to play and to look at. So the factory is able to deliver the promised quality.
Go for that!

Thanks for your detailed explanation, I appriciate that!

It's very true, most people will come forward when something is negative. It wasn't my idea to spit on Rickenbacker, not at all. I just wanted to know if my friend was right about my guitar...

But you mention the thing that is strange for me. I guess this isn't that good for the brand Rickenbacker. The guitars are pretty expensive, so you can expect an almost perfect guitar for that money.

But I will try another one, and hope that one is better finished!

As I said, my experience is not representative. But it happened to me.

Nevertheless your friend is right about the guitar.
And You are right about wanting a perfect guitar for perfect money.

The other part of my experience is that the way the warranty is handled by RIC and the distributors, you will receive the desired one.

To find mine I had to send two back: Originally I wanted a 370/12 MID. So #1 was a 370/12 MID and #2 was a 370/12 MID, too. Then the dealer ran out of these. Being fed up with 370's I wanted now a quite different animal. So I ordered a 330/6 MID with an extra pair of toasters and some other stuff to balance the price difference.
After I changed to toasters, put golden plastic, TRC and some oven knobs on and sold the original high gains.

Now I own this nice guitar since 4 Years - and it is THE one for me.
I play it every week joining a band. It is reliable, with absolutely no tuning or intonation issues, no buzz also. And there is alway a magic playing it. How it feels, how it reacts how it sounds. Indeed it has a certain character no other manufacturer offers.

And even if You do not play it. It catches You all the time when it is around. It is like leaving a nice car and turning around, again and again. You have to do this. - For that You need a good finish, of course.

As somebody that went the looong guarantee way (I live in Germany, bought the guitar in the UK...!) now I say:
Not You will find Your Rickenbacker, Your Rickenbacker will find You. Sometimes.

Good luck!

I have bought at least a dozen new RICs since 2005 including a 330W/6 in 2014. I have never had a problem with any. It obviously happens but my experience is rare. I have never gotten a new RIC and said "OMG". They've always been done well and quite playable right out of the box.

Hope your replacement RIC is ready to Rock!!

manta wrote:I have bought at least a dozen new RICs since 2005 including a 330W/6 in 2014. I have never had a problem with any. It obviously happens but my experience is rare. I have never gotten a new RIC and said "OMG". They've always been done well and quite playable right out of the box.

Hope your replacement RIC is ready to Rock!!

Thanks for your reply! Is it possible to make a photo from the neck into the body, the same as I did? Or is yours complete 'glueless'?

News from the seller front. They agreed it was bad finished and took a closer look too the other Ric in stock, and said that isn't in a good shape also. They were so kind to send me a photo of the one in stock. See photo:
This one isn't that good either, isnt it? I hope there are some other owners who can provide me photo's of that part!

Hope you can help me out again!

Well, better but still not good.

Having a close look at the pic I think the walnut wood has a very open structure.
So if there is glue on it it is nearly impossible to remove it comlpletely.

My guess is that these guitars are build without masking tape in the concerning area.

Now You can see why every manufacturer avoids new models, materials or shapes.

Anyway this would not satisfy me, also.
The idea to ask forum members is a good one, IMHO.