Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Please pardon my ignorance but what would be the difference between a 330 (standard?) and a 330 vintage with vintage pickups? How can you tell the difference between them?

I can get either in Australia right now but I need a little bit of help and/or guidance before I buy.

Looking forward to any info.

Howard, the current standard production 330 comes with HiGain pickups. They are single coil pickups but -to my ears- sound a shade harsher and growlier (new word) than their vintage counterparts. RIC offers an upgrade/option for VP vintage pickups, often called 'toasters' for their two black lines. They are single coil also. The current toasters sound very close to real vintage toasters to me. I own 2 Rics and have owned 4 others. The toasters/vintage pickups are a defining part of the Ric sound to me. Others swear by the Hi Gains. ....'course they're wrong.

Best of luck choosing, Noel

Thanks Noel.

Searching through the forum, the general consensus seems to be that the 'toasters' produce a more original, 'richer' sound. Given that there's only a few fireglo's available in Australia at the moment, I'll probably snap up the 330V.

Thanks again! I'm off home for a cold beer (maybe even a Bud). It's 35c here at the moment (just after 5pm). I'll have one for you - cheers!

Depending on the years involved the 330 vintage may have 21 frets and the 330 standard may have 24 frets. This would equate to different placement of the front pickup.

I have a burgundy 350v63 & I am replacing the toasters with hi-gains. I hate the sound of toasters....weak, no bass response...horrible! Of course, I realise I am in a minority here & I could always look for a straight 350, but I do like the 21 fret neck & the small headstock. Toasters do nothing for me what-so-ever, (apart from look brilliant) but you have to try them Howard, because they might suit YOU. Just make sure you try both types side by side & choose which ever works for you personaly.

I'm usually knocked out by the depth of bass response on my toaster-equipped Rics, particularly my 1997SPC/VB. I didn't know there was so much bottom until I got a Roland JC120 amp. Seems the more clean headroom you have, the more ...er... corpulent your Ric can sound.

I do agree with you on the 21 fret versus 24 fret necks, Tony. The classic silhouette provided by a 330/340 with their 24 fret necks IS Rickenbacker, but for my taste and playing style, the 21 fret necks are much more comfortable and natural feeling.

Back to the pickups - I've owned *and sold* two Hi-Gain Rickies, a 340/12 MBlu and a 340 DG. Both were beautiful instruments, but I could never get into their sound.

It's all subjective in the end. Hi-Gains looks boss too. Like an angry pickup, ready to pimpsmack the first Gibson PAF it sees.

Cheers, Noel

You're right there Noel. If a hi-gain & a paf got into a lift, only the hi-gain would come out again!