Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi all.

Can anybody tell me if there is any variation in the neck thickness (not width) in the current 300 series guitars. I tested a 330 a couple of weeks ago and the neck seemed much thicker than a 340 I tried late last week. Am I going crazy?? I am about to purchase a new 330 with vintage pickups and I'm concerned that the neck will be the thicker one.

Thanks for your assistance.

The neck widths are the same on a 330 and 340. 49.2mm at the 12th fret

Thanks Stan.

My concern is over the thickness (depth) of the neck (that is, fretboard to the back of the neck) rather than the width.

Cheers!

Hi Howard. I ordered a 330/12 & when I went to pick it up, the neck was really thick (I have never come across another like it), much thicker than the neck of the 360/12 that I bought in it's place. I have recently bought a mid blue 330/12 with the same depth neck as the 360/12. Furthermore, I had a burgundy 360/6 with a thicker neck than my fg or jg 360/6. It has always been my impression that 330 necks are slightly thicker than 360 necks, but quite frankly, with the experience that I've had, I am not sure about it.

Howard, sorry for my inability to read....you have a real valid question. Maybe Mr. Hall will see the thread and reply because it's bound to have an explanation. Unless your hand changed size. But the two should be the same. The specs are alike.

Thanks Tony and Stan.

Regardless of the thickness, I've take a punt and ordered and paid for it. I haven't seen or played it but given that it's at the distributor's warehouse and is brand new, I'm guessing (more like hoping) that recent ones have the thinner neck. No matter what, I'm looking forward to getting it (I've been wanting a Ric for nearly 40 years).

If it is the thick one I guess I'll just have to completely toss the Strat and Brian Moore and get used to it!!

Thanks again, guys. I'll be posting the new arrival as soon as it comes in the door!!

What's football have to do with it?

Oz colloquialism.

Isn't a "punter" kind of a average joe slacker in Britain?

A "punter" is anybody who sticks his neck out to risk getting ithe axe (i.e., "customer"). More common in the UK than in Oz.

To take a punt in OZ slang is to stick your neck out; i.e., to take a chance. More common in Oz than in the UK.

Hmmmm.....

If the neck's too thick I may end up 'punting' it out the window.

A 'punt' in Oz lingo (language) is a bet (stick your neck out is pretty good, though). A 'punter' is one who bets (or the nickname of the captain of the Australian cricket team). A 'drop punt' is a type of kick (in football) where the ball spins backwards in the air rather than in a spiral fashion (we call that a 'torpedo punt' (or 'torp' or 'barrel'). Unfortunately my US team (Vikings) got 'punted' out of the playoffs!

Any answers on the differing neck thicknesess, Mr. Hall (don't know you well enough to call you John - I'm new in town!)?

Thanks, Howard. Better said by an Aussie than by some pesudo-Brit Californian.

Paul was right about the British definition. It simply means 'customer'. It is not derogatory.

Hmmmmm.... (again)!

You're absolutely right, Tony. Arthur and Terry are always talking about punters. I see you're from Devon - didn't get there when I visited a couple of years ago (mostly London and the north) but they tell me it's lovely!

I'm Irish (Belfast) / Australian, Paul, so please don't take my ramblings as gospel. How are things in sunny CA (didn't get to SF on the same trip, only LA - another Hmmmmm!). Loved Seattle, though.

Hope JH looks in on this thread again - I'm keen to hear what he's got to say about the necks.

I'm planning on buying another Ric later in the year - looking at a 360 or 620 (I prefer the look of the 620) but I may even buy both (got an inheritance on the way). Would that be a bit dumb given that the 330 will still be new to me and I may have difficulty deciding what to pick up when I'm home? You guys are multi-Ric endowed - what do you do? I don't play in a band (mostly jam with mates and play along with CDs). I am also thinking of a 12 string, just to add a bit of variety. As you may gather, I'm all fired up!

Also thinking about a Gretch Duo Jet (am I allowed to mention that here?)

Finally, I have to say that the cameraderie and obvious caring in this forum is wonderful! There is obviously a lot of love out there for Rics.

Cheers
Howard (Dazed and Confused)

Howard, I think I would worry less about the neck & think more along the lines of the Rickenbacker FEEL. I have six Rics & the necks are slightly different on different models, but even if I go from a slim 21 fret neck to a chunkier 24 fret neck, it is still effortless, as the FEEL is the same....if that makes any sense at all! I agree that I could not have used that 12 string neck that I mentioned earlier, but that was a one off. If you really want a slinky, slim neck, then look to the 21 fret necks (350, 1997 etc).
As to the models you buy, it depends what you are after. I have tried & owned them all (nearly), but for me personaly, I have settled on the large body thinlines because they suit ME. I have a specific job to do with them as working gtrs & have very specific ideas about what I need from them. If you follow this thought process through, then if you gig or not, you should still be able to decide which models to buy, once you have established what you want to get out of your guitars.
If you buy 2, then I would argue that you would have to buy a 12 string & a 6 string.....maybe a thinline (330/12) & a solid (620). You could then decide which you preferred, thinline or solid. If you still can't decide, then just buy all of them & see what you like....I'm sure your good lady would understand!!