The 620 Appreciation Society

fergs40 · Post by **fergs40** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 1:52 pm

I used to think that my Tele was a wonderful guitar. And don't get me wrong, I still do.

But I get home from work, and I need to, well, spank a plank. And it's the 620/12 that I head for.

There are so many things just wrong with this guitar.

Number one - the way that G C and D sound so fine - particularly as the first three chords of my interpretation of Free Falling (insert your own commas and make that one word as you see fit) are exactly those. Am I in a rut, or is this something which is caused by some fairy dust in the case...?

Number two - I pick up the Tele and the neck is a million miles wide compared to the Ric. Which has twice as many strings.

Number three - I toss off a few blues licks and, well, they just don't work on a 620/12.

But yet, but yet...I want to play the 620. It challenges me to do something different and, painful as that may be, I don't think it's a bad thing.

I have never played a 330/360 - but it seems that, with the possible exception of the 660TP, the 600 series are the poor cousins of the Ric line.

So here's a thread to invite us to celebrate all that is good about the cresting wave.

The floor, people, is open...

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 2:55 pm

Quite simply, the Tele and the 620/12 are different animals. Chords sound better on the the RIC. Other things sound better on the Tele, lol. Almost like comparing a guitar vs. a bass, you know?

fergs40 · Post by **fergs40** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 3:03 pm

You're not playing the game, John.

We know that the Fender and the Rick are different animals - I'm asking you to celebrate (or despair at) the 620 as an axe in its own right...

jsm610 · Post by **jsm610** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 3:14 pm

I think the 620 is for spoiled rich people. Real cresting waver's play 610's. And really real cresting wavers play 450's...

eatswodo · Post by **eatswodo** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 3:29 pm

Welcome, John - you're going to get along just fine here

adam_swapp · Post by **adam_swapp** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 3:32 pm

IMHO, the 620/5 are premier looking guitars. The binding really accentuates the shape, and is particular striking on a fireglo, jetglo, or burgandyglo finish.

Without the binding, however, something is lost. I don't care nearly as much for the 610/5, and I think (opinion here

) that the 650's just look goofy. I'm not a big fan of the gimungo pickguard on the 450, either.

But then, you probably don't care what I think.

jps · Post by **jps** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 3:58 pm

I must not be a real person:

BobKat · Post by **BobKat** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 2:00 pm

I have a Jetglo 610 and it is a great guitar. I have owned it for two years which is a long time for me.

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 4:10 pm

Hello to John M. Its been a while. Hey, didn't you just buy that F body on Ebay??

jsm610 · Post by **jsm610** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 4:44 pm

Hey back John W!

Yes it has been a while - I got burnt out reading the arguments on alt.guitar.rickenbacker about 3-4 years ago and just stopped following - the straw the broke the back was some idiot luthier that sent me a near-death threat concerning my idea to help people with custom Rickenbacker re-wiring details... This looks fun though (and I don't see any posts from the goober)! It is good to be back!

I plead the 5th on the 360F - however, I will disclose that I am now in the market for a 'long R' tailpiece... hehe.

adam_swapp · Post by **adam_swapp** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 6:36 pm

John Minutaglio wrote: "the straw the broke the back was some idiot luthier that sent me a near-death threat concerning my idea to help people with custom Rickenbacker re-wiring details"

I hope this guy doesn't read this forum. I've posted a couple of schematics for wiring mods. Of course, he may take out Peter first for his 5th knob mod. Or Mark Arnquist for some of his suggestions. Or maybe he will come for me first, because I also installed a humbucker with a coil tap. Oh, the horror!

Just to be safe, maybe I should have the wife get the mail for a few weeks.

profjeff · Post by **profjeff** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 6:44 pm

I just finished playing my two favorite 6 strings at the moment. I go through phases and currently I am stuck on my Fender Jazzmaster and Rick 620/6 phase.

I started playing in a new band and we play mostly a nu-metal and modern rock. The guitar sounds are so sterile and non-organic (I've tried my best to keep my Les Paul/Marshall sound "real"), but the other guitar player has his Yamaha electric and Flextone III set to "Bad Horsey." Need I say more?

So when I get home, I turn to my Vox AC 15 and my Rick 620/6. I love the Hi Gains. They complement the 620 prefectly. I enjoy the small neck, the laquered fretboard, the "R" tail, the thoroughly original shape, the beautiful Fireglo finish, and the equally original two tier scratchplate. It just all seems to work.

sir_andrew_of_left_coast · Fri Apr 23, 2004 11:14 pm

A Fender Jazzmaster??? I've got one of them (...only Fender I've EVER owned).

admin · Post by **admin** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 1:45 am

You certainly have to love the look of the 620. I especially like the idea that it evolved from the Model 450.

brian · Post by **brian** » Sat Apr 24, 2004 4:03 am

I had a 620 jetglo, I think it was one of the sharpest looking Rics I have owned. It was nice to play as well. Often wish I had kept it.