Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've heard it said that they do. Can you describe the difference? What do you attribute it to? Body thickness? Neck shape?

I have one of each, but can't really compare, as my 330 is a 12, and my 360 is a 6.

Thanks, Chris Scruggs

If they have the same pickups, strings, and totally set up the same, I don't think they sound any different. If I'm not mistaken, isn't the 360 a more deluxe model then the 330? Meaning with more rounded body edges.

IMHO, they can possibly sound different since they are hand crafted. One woodworker might have a slightly different approach that might give off a different resonation. But, I personally try not to reflect too much on this science. As long as they're made well and sound well, that's what I'm after.

Yes, the 360 is more "deluxe" than the 330.

I've heard people say things like,"330's resonate more, 360's sound brighter". I personally don't see how two guitars with the same parts and materials can sound all that different, but it seems some people do.

I don't see how the "handcrafted" theory would really work, as the same people would be making both guitars.

Rob and Chris: I think you will find that there is a difference in the mass of the neck (due to binding and shark-tooth fret-markers) and the space routed out inside the body of the 330 and 360 models.

It seems likely that these two structural differences may account for the differences in tonality noted by some between these models.

Whether the diiferences in tonality are such that one is able to hear them in the mix over all the other instruments on a recording, however, may be another matter.

Although I have very little experience of these 2 guitars (basses are my thing)I have always found that 2 apparently identical guitars can sound radically different. I have currently have 4 Rickenbacker 4000 series basses, and even ignoring the actual 4000 (which is a set neck), the guitars all sound radically different, even acoustically. This has been the same for every Rick bass I've ever had. Whereas they all sounded like Ricks individually,in back to back comparison they sounded very little like each other. Most of this will be down to the wood. No two pieces of wood are ever identical, and each instrument will therefore have its own individual voice. I once had a friend who had apparently 2 identical Hamer guitars which were his main live instruments. In the end he sold one because it "just didn't sound as good" and so never got used.

As Peter also points out, minute structural changes can also have an effect. Of course if you are they style of player who tends to impose their sound on an instrument this will matter less. Similarly, it will depend on your ability to differentiate; I recently had a friend who is also a Rick owner play 2 of my basses and to him they sounded the same; to me they sound very different. At this point (and meaning no disrespect to him) his ear isn't developed enough to distinguish between them (possibly a blessing in disguise!). As Peter so correctly points out though, differences between individual instruments are far less likely to be noticed on a recording or in a live band situation (obviously dependant upon what that situation is).

As for the specific differences between these guitars, I would suggest that you maybe try temporarily taking the octave strings off your twelve to give a better idea of how they compare, allowing for differences in mass caused by the extra tuners etc.

To my ears the variation between the "ideal type" 330 and the "ideal type" 360 is less than between two normal 330s or 360s made out of different trees.

I had both and I can tell you that the sound was the same. The only difference I noticed, besides the look was that I found the neck of the 360 easier for playing than my 330... Maybe the adjustment was, at the time, done properly...who knows???

I find they invariably sound different (at least speaking of 60's ones, I don;t know about new ones as much).
330's all have a family resemblance to MY ears that is stronger than their individual differences.
And 330's, to me, sound more 'boxy' than 360's... somehow thicker and more woody.
360's tend to sound more 'alive' (again, to ME)... and the best sound all things added up I think is the 360 with double binding. (yet a THIRD variant that sounds again different).

One also has to be alert, if talking about 60's era Rickenbackers, for those models that have the wooden block inside to mount the arm for the 6/12 converter. Apparently some bodies that ended up as 360's were made 'ready' for the converter... and that definitely changes their sound.

Like Peter pointed out, the 330 has less wood and a deeper route because of it's square edges. So their structures are different, but I've never played a 330 and 360 back to back. I tend to think they'd be very close.

Now wait a minute - what color are they? lol.

I have one of each, both with toaster pickups. Side-by-side comparisons show that they do indeed sound different. I don't have time to elaborate, but I will say this: the 360 sounds better in virtually every way (as does the 1997) -BUT- the 330 does jangle a bit more.

Cheers, Noel

I only have the one Ric 360. But I do have several Strats and they all sound differently even though they should be the same. Since there are no real major physical differences in those guitars then I can easily see how the 330 and 360 Rics would sound different.

I have a 360 and a 370 ( the former a 12 string) and the 370 sounds heck a lot flatter than the 360 . But then I play the 370 more often so maybe its time for a restringing . That may brighten up the tone.

Even within the same family there are variables so from one extreme to the other there may be a discernable difference

I agree with the assessment that the 330 sound more woody than the 360. I think they have more volume for the sound to resonate in the body.

Hah, you said 'woody'