Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hello Friends!

I'm trying to get caught up on the forum after being distracted for a few weeks (my wife and I are building a new house in Fort Collins). This summer, I am confined to one of the faculty apartments with my 4 Ricks (620/6 Hi Gains, 650/6 HB, 360 VP/6, 360 VP/12) and two amps...an AC 15 and a Marshall JCM 2000.

Every summer, I take a portion of my overload pay and purchase a new guitar. I usually have a couple of grand to blow, and I would like to buy another Rick this year. Considering my collection, what suggestions would you make? I am a player, not a collector, and I love the Rick sound in all of its variations. Is there a cool sound that I am missing? I'm not interested in basses; I have that covered.

Thanks!

Get a beat-up, butt-ugly 330 "clown glo", strip it, install binding on the body, refin in your choice of color, put a humbucker with a coil tap in the bridge, a toaster in the neck, and a vibrato or trapeze tailpiece. It's unique, and it's pure RIC. That's what I'd do for less than $2000. Of course, I've been breathing a lot of lacquer fumes lately.

If that doesn't excite you, look for something like a 1997. Those are way cool, they're different from anything you have, and they're a lot less than $2000. Buy two - and send me one for giving you this advice.

Hell, for $2000 you might be able to get the 1997 and the modded 330. I'll take the one you don't want.

Can't comment on the solid body RICs as I have no experience with them but how about a different shape in the 300 series. Say a 330/340 or double bound 360/370 (WB, V63, C64, etc.) and 12 string versions. With your options on eBay & other used outlets perhaps you could get one of each!

Jeffrey, I suggest a model 450. I prefer the feel of the 450 over that of the 620. And don't be afraid of 450s with high-gains, my 460's bridge high-gain is as trebly as any toaster I've heard.

Hey Jeff: How about a classic RIC, the 325 short scale model. Completely different feel and tone. Still Ricky sounding bright, but chunky at the same time. Recommend that you try one first. Kind'a harder to play with larger hands. Good hunting in your quest.

You seem to have most of the bases covered, so I would suggest that you look for a 381v69.

http://www.gbase.com/gearlist/guitar_picture.asp?guitar=519508

Those are all good suggestions.... The 325, 1997, and 381v69 are all wonderful guitars, and are a bit different from the average Ric! I certainly enjoy playing my Rics in those models: they all sound great, and they are so cool-looking! The 325 is probably the jangliest sounding of the three, and the 1997 has about the smoothest, creamiest tone of any of my Rics and not only does it jangle beautifully, it also can really rock and crunch when it's overdriven.... The 381 has a really big sound and is the Ric that sounds closest to a Gretsch or hollowbody Gibson to my ear; it is quite a versatile guitar, and drop-dead gorgeous as well; the only drawback is that it's quite a bit heavier than the other Rics.

1997SPC/VB

or

Walnut Laguna 380L (or is it 381?)

Noel

I agree with the above post on the 380 only make sure it is the 380 LPZ option

660/12

That Sunn cabinet is similar to my Sentura II:



Jeffrey, how about a RIC acoustic?



But be prepared to wait an awfully long time for it to arrive!

My Sunn cabinet is a Sorado from '68

jps, my Sentura II is an earlier one as can be seen by the shiny coil covers of its 15" D-130F JBLs. I think I read where Sunn switched to their own label speakers in 1967.

Gary, I used to have a mint '67 Sunn 200S head and cabinet, and it had stock JBL D140's in it, with the shiny dust cap too. And the EMP Museum in Seattle has a 2000S cabinet and head, from '68 or '69 with JBL's in it too. If Sunn switched to their own label on the speakers they put in their cabinets, I don't think it could have happened until the 70's. I know a couple guys who used to work there and maybe I'll ask. One of the Sundholm brothers who started it and ran it until '71 is still in town somewhere too. I suppose I could look him up and ask?

I've got a 200S and 2000S head currently, and am going to have some cabinets made just like the old ones. I already have the JBL's to put in them.

Sunn used JBLs in the Sonic I-40, Sentura I, Spectrum II, Sentura II, 100S, 200S, 1000S, 1500S, and 2000S. The Sunn speakers (CTS) were used in the Solarus, Sonaro, Sorado, Sceptre and 1200S. This is according to a '68 Sunn catalog I have. Currently my Sorado cabinet has Eminence Deltas in it giving me 600 watt rms at 4 Ohms. Perfect for my 650 watts rms @ 4 Ohms Walter Woods amp.