Model comparison 620, 650, 350v63
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
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mike2
Model comparison 620, 650, 350v63
Could some of you please offer me your opinions on the 620, 650, and 350v63 in terms of sound, feel, playability, and versatility. Unfortunately I cannot find all these guitars where I live so I cannot evaluate them myself. I am looking for a guitar with a good sound (clean or some distortion) and feel. Thanks for any help!
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tony_carey
- Advanced Member
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- Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:00 am
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Hi Mike, welcome to the wonderful world of the Rickenbacker forum.
The 650 has a slightly wider neck than the 620 or 350, so if you have played Gibsons etc, it should feel very comfortable. It also has humbuckers, so is quite versatile, but not the totaly classic Ric sound. The 620 has the classic Ric neck width (very comfy) with single coil hi-gain pickups. The sound is not quite as 'rounded' as the thinline Rics, but gives a great Ric sound that can either rock or jangle, whichever you want. The 350 is a hollow body, but with no soundhole & three vintage 'toaster' p/ups. The toasters are not quite as powerful as the hi-gains, but a lovely sound that seems to compliment the 350s hollow body status. The neck & middle p/ups are wired as one. The sound is, in my opinion, slightly more versatile than the 620 & the neck p/up combination is really usable. Once again it can rock or jangle, but with a really nice bluesy tone on the neck p/up.
All Rics feel good to play & unless you are talking 12 string, you shouldn't find any problems at all with neck issues.
I hope this helps.
The 650 has a slightly wider neck than the 620 or 350, so if you have played Gibsons etc, it should feel very comfortable. It also has humbuckers, so is quite versatile, but not the totaly classic Ric sound. The 620 has the classic Ric neck width (very comfy) with single coil hi-gain pickups. The sound is not quite as 'rounded' as the thinline Rics, but gives a great Ric sound that can either rock or jangle, whichever you want. The 350 is a hollow body, but with no soundhole & three vintage 'toaster' p/ups. The toasters are not quite as powerful as the hi-gains, but a lovely sound that seems to compliment the 350s hollow body status. The neck & middle p/ups are wired as one. The sound is, in my opinion, slightly more versatile than the 620 & the neck p/up combination is really usable. Once again it can rock or jangle, but with a really nice bluesy tone on the neck p/up.
All Rics feel good to play & unless you are talking 12 string, you shouldn't find any problems at all with neck issues.
I hope this helps.
'Rickenbacker'...what a name! After all these years, it still thrills me.
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mike2
Tony, thanks very much for your comments. I have played the 620 and liked it. However, I am attracted to the looks of the 350v63. I am hesitant to order one without ever playing one. Would you say that the 350 is comfortable to play siting down? I liked the small feel of the body of the 620 versus the 330 series while sitting. Also, do you think that the 350 will sound good with distortion. I mostly play clean but sometimes like to turn on the distortion and would like a good sound with it. It sounds to me that you like the sound of the 350 the best. What would you pick for the type of music you play - sounds like the 350? Thanks for any information!
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tony_carey
- Advanced Member
- Posts: 2055
- Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2004 6:00 am
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I play rock (not hard rock)& very rarely play clean. Any Ric sounds great through a Marshall stack. My very favourites are 360s. I have 3 of them & they are not only the most comfortable gtrs in the world to play, but are totaly classic Ric. They sound amazing with o/drive, but also jangle like crazy if you back off.
I think the 350 is probably similar comfort wise to the 620 & sounds wonderful when overdriven, but like I said the neck p/up does give a genuinely useable tone which does sound incredible when played on the cleaner side. I just think that it has the edge on a 620. You certainly wouldn't be dissapointed in the 350..it is truly beautiful with a great neck & a great sound.
I know you don't want to hear this, but I would urge you to check out a 360. We all have our favourite models, but I think few would argue that the 360 is as classic a Ric as there is, with the advantage of rounded comfy edges.
I know it is difficult if you can't try the guitars, but the bottom line is that ALL Rics are superb, but if you only have one Ric, then the 360 or the 350, is in my opinion the best to go for.
I think the 350 is probably similar comfort wise to the 620 & sounds wonderful when overdriven, but like I said the neck p/up does give a genuinely useable tone which does sound incredible when played on the cleaner side. I just think that it has the edge on a 620. You certainly wouldn't be dissapointed in the 350..it is truly beautiful with a great neck & a great sound.
I know you don't want to hear this, but I would urge you to check out a 360. We all have our favourite models, but I think few would argue that the 360 is as classic a Ric as there is, with the advantage of rounded comfy edges.
I know it is difficult if you can't try the guitars, but the bottom line is that ALL Rics are superb, but if you only have one Ric, then the 360 or the 350, is in my opinion the best to go for.
'Rickenbacker'...what a name! After all these years, it still thrills me.
I've had a 620 and now I've just taken delivery of my new mapleglo 350V63. The 620 had a more "rock" sound due to the solid body and hi-gains. The 350V63 has a crystal clear sound and looks absolutely beautiful. I would definitely go for that one out of the two ! The 350V63 is more unusual (quite rare to see one here in the UK) - everyone has a 360, 330 or 620!