Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm thinking about getting another Rick to go along with my 360/6, and a solid body would be great.

Trouble is, I kinda have a thing for neck binding. So i'm a little limited here.

Can anyone tell me the differences between these guitars. I know that the 660 has toasters, and vintage style tail piece. It also looks like the nut width on the 660 is a tad wider than the 620.

But other than the neck, pickups, and cosmetic differences, is there anything notable that differs between these 2 guitars? Tone, feel, build quality?

I play pretty dark sounding indie rock. Low to moderate distortion, with a volume pedal for cleans. I use either a Vox AC-50 head, Vox AC-30, or Orange OR-80, depending on the venue (ie, how loud can we get ).

Any comments or insight is much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

-Nick

Hi Nick.

Yep, the 660 has a 1 3/4 neck vs. 1 5/8. To me the binding seems to add a bit (that's probably a mental thing because I've never has a guitar with a bound neck and I'm not used to the visual change - them two white thingies!!). I've found half barres on the 660 more of a stretch than on the 620. But what the hell - play full barres!!

Tone? I think the vintage pups make a lot of diffence if you're playing clean but beyond that....

Feel? I'm blessed with shortish fat fingers but the 660 is extremely playable (I went for the 660 because I felt I would struggle with 12 of the buggers with a 1 5/8 neck!)

Build quality? I don't think so. A RIC is a RIC!

This probably doesn't help much but for what it's worth..........

Cheers

Thanks for the reply Howard. That does help out.

I have a toaster in the neck position of my 360, so i'm familiar with the differences between the 2 pickups. I found the high gain WAY too bass heavy and smooth to have any sort of presence in the band while playing on the neck position. I like it in the bridge though, as it's not overly bright or thin. It may look silly, but as far as sound goes, it's there.

If I get a solid body, I may wind up putting the extra high gain I have in the bridge position anyways. So i'm more concerned with the overall feel of the guitars, and if there's any difference in build quality. I've played a few 620's But I won't be able to play a 660 around here unless I decide to bite the bullet and have it ordered for me. I'll probably pick up a used one, as the wait is too long to justify a new one (at extra cost as well).

At any rate. My other guitar is a Gibson SG '61 RI. The string spacing on that guitar is a bit wider than my 360...so i'm already used to a wider spacing. I actually found myself tripping up on the 360 for a while until I got used to it. I've owned the SG for a number of years, and the 360 was an adjustment.

Thanks again for the reply.

-Nick

The 620 has high gains and is wired for stereo as well as mono, same as teh 300 series. The 660 has toasters and is wired for mono only.

...Dean

Oops!! Didn't think of the wiring. Oh well, I did say 'for what it's worth......'

Cheers

The 1 3/4" nut width sold me on the 660. I've owned a 360 in the past and felt the neck was to narrow.

Aside from nut width, the 660 has the vintage vibe with the gold plastic, trapeze tailpiece and the aformentioned mono toaster pickup configuration. I have yet to meet a Ric player that uses the Ricosound input.

I guess it comes down to feel and cosmetics. Other than that, the 620 and 660 share the same build quality.

A modern 620 has 24 frets. The 660 has 21. Plus all the other noted differences.

620 and 660 both have 21 frets, Ken.

Perhaps you are thinking of the 650 Series? They have 24...

660 has checkered binding! Sexy!

I stand corrected. I thought that the 620 switched in the mid '90s.

Tres sexy!!

Nick - I've got an old SG too - My vote? The 620 - since I heard the CD with the guy using stereo into two different processors, I'm completely sold on that feature.

Paul - Howard - I have checkered binding, so I must be sexy... and I didn't even know it!

(That binding does really "set 'er off" doesn't it?!?)

You betcha, Michael! I think it looks stunning with the Mapleglo.

I think it looks stunning with any kinda glow you can come up with.

Thanks for the replies everyone. A lot of good info has been contributed.

Seeing as I could care less about the stereo wiring on my 360, i'm pretty sure I wouldn't need it on a 600 series.

And if the build quality is the same between them...I guess i'm still at a loss. I'll have to take a look at what's out there in the used market, and see what I can come up with.

Paul- My SG isn't all that old, it's a '61 Reissue, from '98. Great guitar though.

One question though...does the 660 come in all the standard colors? My 360 is jetglo, which has really grown on me. Like the midnight blue.

Thanks again guys.

-Nick