Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'd love to hear any experiences of forum members with a Ric 620/6. I'm seriously thinking about buying one to replace a Tele that I seldom use since getting my 330VP. Toasters or high gains? How does the tone and sustain compare to a 330 or 360? Color preferences on this model?

I don't have a 620 (or 610) yet, but I too have been thinking of trading in my Tele as well.

I'd say, since you have toasters in your 330, I'd go with hi-gains in a 620. I recently popped the hi-gains back into my 330 and I really like them a lot. Nothing against toasters at all, but hi gains are great lead pickups.

I have a friend with a 610 (and I used to own a 456/12) and I'd say that, in general, solid bodies have a much purer chimey sound as opposed to semi-hollows which have a different sort of resonance. I didn't notice a huge difference in sustain, perhaps because both have the R tailpiece, but then I don't actually own a 610 or 620, so take that as you want! I tend to like solid colors or Montezuma Brown on 620s.

Want a GREAT Rick for a lead guitar... I have a Rick 230 Hamburg... I've ownded a Telecaster and this will out Tele the Tele!!! It has 2 humbucking pickups, jumbo frets and plays like butter... If I have one complaint, it's that it is very heavy... I just bought the 230F Glenn Frey from Mike Parks also... I do own a 620/6 FG... I already put pictures of it on the site... It's a fabulous guitar but much different from a Telecaster... Here's pictures of the 230 Hamburg... Find one of these and I know you'll be pleased... 230 Hamburgs were Played by Glenn Frey and Joe Walsh...

I prefer the looks of the 620 over the 610 because, IMHO, the binding really accentuates the cresting wave shape. Having said that, I have a 610 and a 625. The 610 has a new high gain in the bridge and a toaster in the neck; the 625 has a humbucker with coil tap in the bridge and a toaster in the neck. As far as preference - they're different animals. If I were playing a "serious" rock show, I'd probably use the 610, because it's a dirtier sound. However, given the ready availability of replacement pups, you can buy a guitar you like and a couple of extra pups to play with. Once you determine your preference, sell the other pups. You'll break even (or close to it), and you'll have the exact guitar you want.

hello,i can't say how i like the 620 because i don't have one but i just ordered one on nov-24th-04.its jet glo and i had toaster pick ups installed instead of the high gains.i'll let you know how i like it in about 9 to 12 months.thats the amount of time i have to wait until it comes in to jackson music,the store i ordered it from.

can anyone giveme some info on the 620's with toaster pick ups.is the neck wider than the 350 model and does it sound beefier because of the solid body. i play thru a vox ac30tb and fender hot rod deville.any info would be greatly appreciated.thanks,merv

Merv, the neck width is the same on the 620 and 350. IMHO the 620 has more attack in the same way any solid body guitar has more attack than a hollowbody or semihollow. But I wouldn't describe it as beefier.

This may be a stupid question but does anybody know if the 620 sounds good with humbuckers? I really dig on the 'bucker kind of tone, and am afraid of too much jangle when I cut loose =)

Peter, I have a 620 with an unusual three pickup arrangement: neck and middle, high-gains; bridge, humbucker. The wiring is such that when the tone and volume controls are turned down, the humbucker is on by itself. It does not have the jangle of the high-gains, even in the bridge position. (Of course, it is more trebly if the strings are plucked close to the bridge ...)

I got a new 620 from RicsRus in late november to add to my 360s. I really like it a ton. It is pretty versatile, working well both as a rythm and for lead. I also had a 660, but traded for a 360/12 because i did not like the neck (really a personal preference thing). The 620 appears somewhat more rounded and slightly thicker than the 360s. Like the stock 360s, I think that there is a lot of versatility in the 620. Once again, Ric shows that dollar for dollar, for esthetics, workmanship, lutherie, sound, and tone, it is the brand of choice.

I forgot to mention that one of my favorite playing guitars is a Model 460, very much like a 620. With flatwounds on it, it has an incredible range in sound.

Ok, but what would the sound be like if I just switched the bridge pup with a humbucker? Or would it be way better with both singles and the humbucker as well.