Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Greetings all from Melbourne, Australia

I'm looking at buying a new 330 (Fireglo) and would appreciate any comments.

A bit of background first - took up playing again 18 months ago (after a 30 year break) and I'm loving it. Currently playing a Squire Strat, Brian Moore i8-1000 and Yamaha APX5. I've always drooled over Gretsch and Rickenbacker and played both recently. The Gretsch (G1628T-1962 Duo Jet) was a big disappointment but the Rickenbacker felt pretty good (the neck is a lot thicker than I'm used to but I'm sure I'll get used to it). The action seemed very high but no doubt this can be altered.

I was wondering if it was possible to fit a tremelo to the 330 and if so, could it be a Bigsby.

Rics are very hard to get here (the distributor takes what the factory is prepared to give him) and I know of a guy who's been waiting over 12 months for a 370, so I'm pretty keen. Even the case grabs me!

I've also played a American Deluxe Golden Anniversary Strat and was really impressed. I know they are totally different axes but the Strat may suit my style of playing and taste in music (60s, Jazz, Blues, Floyd, Santana, AC/DC).

Maybe your comments (including any on the Strat) will tip me over toward the Ric.

Looking forward to any feedback.

Cheers

Well, there might be more tremelo options on the Strat, I know Gilmour was a Strat guy, and some of the harder rock stuff you mention are Gibson tones. BUT, it's a STRAT. (yawn...) Just kidding...but believe me, the worksmanship on the Rick as opposed to the Strat are worlds apart. I'm a bassist, not a guitar player (anymore), but I used to play a Strat for a while and it was just OK. I'm more of a humbucker, Les Paul type guy when it comes to guitars.
Hopefully some of the guitarists on the forum can help more than I can. I dont know for sure if you can put a bar on a 330.
Good luck, Howard, and welcome!

Hi Howard, welcome to the forum. You can fit a bigsby to a 330 & it is my understanding that if you fit a B5, you wont need a bowtie bridge & can use the standard Ric bridge. I have looked in to this, as I want to fit one to a 330.
I don't know how you can mention a S**** & a Ric in the same breath. They are worlds apart in quality. The action on a 330 can go low, so the one you tried needs a set up. The neck p/up is suprisingly 'woody' & bluesy with a touch of o/drive & the mid position needs no introduction...it roars if you want it to & gives that famous jangle if you back of a bit.
A Strat is a Strat (two planks of wood screwed together....no offence), but a Rickenbacker is a crafted, quality guitar that stands out from the crowd & more than that, it allows you to find your own sound & not just join the hoard of out of phase (horrible) Strat players. Go on Howard.....go for the 330...you wont regret it!

Hi Howard, I'm in Brisbane where there are a couple of guitar shops now dealing in Rics and they seem to turn them over pretty quickly with inventories changing all the time- ring around in Melbourne there may be more out there than you think.

I've just bought a 330 (November) to add to my 660 12 string. I know what you mean about the thicker neck, I'm still getting used to it. I also play a '96 Strat Plus that's still the best guitar I've owned or played. It beats the 12 string on playability, but for build quality they're even. I guess the thing I'd reccommend is to play before you buy. Strats vary so much in quality it's really a matter of 'buy the guitar not the name' and the same is true of Rics. The 330 is the 'bottom of the range' 300 series model and the ones I've played vary a great deal. Some great, some not so great.

My advice would be to take your amp to the guitar shops and play all they have until you find one that fits you. If the action isn't to your taste have them set it up before you hand over the cash. A Ric is a major $$ item and they should be keen to give you what you want.

Try a 360 while you're at it. They're very different from the 330s. The one's I've played were much more sophisticated sound wise with a lot of subtle harmonics and a whole different feel to the 330. They may give you the range you're after in your playing style. I picked the 330 for the extra bite it has. From rockabilly blues through 80's power-pop like The Jam, Echo & the Bunnymen etc.

Whatever you choose, enjoy - owning a Ric is enormous fun. Cheers, LK

I have a 50s classic Strat and it doesn't get played near as much as the Ric.
You've already got a Squier, right? That's enough - get a Ric.

And welcome to the forum mate.

Your advice is top notch Lee, but I have never considered a 330 as 'bottom of the range', just different. I own 330s & 360s & have always considered them equal. Sure, the extra binding on the 360 looks nice, but the shape of the 330, with its extra cavity space, has always had the edge sound wise. It is also interesting that my experiences are the total opposite to yours...I have found that 330s seem to be consistant in playability & sound quality, while the 360s vary tremendously. Untill recently, I had 3 360s, but only one was truly great & 1 330. I now seem to have 1 360 & 3 330s (somehow), & all the 330s are great. The 360 however, is the most comfortable gtr in the world to play.

Thanks all. The more I think about it, the more I lean toward the Ric. I will be coming into some serious cash later in the year so I guess if I really want a Strat, I'll buy one then (no real point in buying the 50th Anniversary because it will hardly ever be a collector's item - there's too many of them around!!).

Maybe you can offer some advice on strings - the guy at the dealer swears by flat wounds on the Ric. I'm not sure about them myself. I know the standard strings are a bit odd (10 to 42.5 I think) but what do you guys use? I've got Elixirs on the Brian Moore(9 lights) and Yamaha (10s) and D'Addarios on the Squire (9 lights also) but I suspect the Ric is a whole new game. Obviously I don't want to put anything on that's going to give me grief.

Thanks again everybody. Cheers!

Pyramid Flats - .011s.

At least for me.

I tried pyramids & took them off the next day...not for me, although they do suit a lot of people, so worth a try. Frankly IMO you can't beat the Ric compressed round wound, as shipped.

I agree - tried Pyramid flatwounds and it just didn't work for the bright early REM-ish sound I was looking for. Compressed round wound does the trick for me, usually Dean Markley.