Rickenbacker chat

[GrantB]

I haven't played many Ric's, but have always admired them for their look, sound and coolness. Mike Campbell can make one sing.

My first experience was in the mid 90's in the store by the square in Palmerston North. It was a dark but kinda bright blue 330 from memory. I thought it was possibly the worst guitar I had ever played at the time. Lacquered fretboard, low frets, weird string break over the nut (clearly not set up right - I remember this distinctly). Even though I was in my late 20's I had only been exposed to my Aria Pro II, my then prized Fender Strat, and a few hideous other things. The Ric was WEIRD! AND they wanted like $3600 for it! Fark that.

Fast forward 20 years and I have worked on a few Ric's now. Strummer's comes to mind as a stand out guitar...did a refret and had to source some specific varnish to do the finger board with post refret. When I'd finished with it I played it and was frankly blown away. It was huge sounding.

Today my 381 arrived. Out of the box it was cool...but not WOW cool. A quick setup ensued with a rising of the bridge pickup (by a lot, using rubber hose from a Mitsubishi Pajero washer system), some sharpening of the saddles break area, heavier strings (11-52) and the removal of the bridge cover. Bingo. Crank the Princeton and we're away with chime, and jangle, but with this carved top, a lot of power and fullness not usually there. Impressed.

I may refret it in the future as the frets, although not worn, are not high.

Quick photo of the 381. I'm keen to hear your experience of Ric's. They are their own beast, like (especially old) Gretsch are...not for everyone, but that is some of the appeal.

[Single coil]

I’ve played two, a 330 (360?) - generic Johnny Marr black one with the blend knob, and a 4001 bass.
Didn’t like either, but this was years ago... have since been interested in them but far from my league.
Very nice to look at and other people make them sound good.

[Slowy]

I love the sound, but their necks seem better suited to mandolins than guitars usually.

[GrantB]

I love the sound, but their necks seem better suited to mandolins than guitars usually.

I'd heard that, but I have never experienced it.

This 381 is the same width as my R9 at the nut. It's not as thick...but that's not an issue. It actually very much feels like an R0 neck.

[Dharmajester]

I love the sound, but their necks seem better suited to mandolins than guitars usually.

I'd heard that, but I have never experienced it.

This 381 is the same width as my R9 at the nut. It's not as thick...but that's not an issue. It actually very much feels like an R0 neck.

I've hired loads on album sessions for their unique tonal contribution to the proceedings and briefly owned a 360. Have to say I'm in agreement with Slowy. Killer sound but the necks are an acquired taste. Great that you've found one that isn't outside your comfort zone. I hope you still have a Vox or similar to thrash it through .

[kdawg2a]

I've got a black (jetglo!) 1989 330 and it sounds amazing through a cranked ac-15. Funnily enough playing Smiths songs! The necks are thin compared to most but variety is the spice of life isn't it!

[Danger Mouse]

When I met my uncle Ian (my mum's brother) for the first time when I was 19, I told him I was a guitarist and he fetched his Ric he'd owned since he was a teenager.

No idea what it was but he was a teenager in the 50s and 60s and I remember it being a pretty cool guitar.

[kdawg2a]

Beautiful guitar by the way Grant.

[GrantB]

I think the string spread is a bit narrower than it needs to be at the bridge. I’ll have a look and see if anyone has made the alloy Saddles work where the strings are at the edge....be great to have an aftermarket one you could just drop on to the plate

Edit: Mastery!

[Delayman]

The only one I’ve played was in a shop and I couldn’t deal with the varnished fretboard. But I was a rosewood-only guy then, so I should try again.

[Jay]

I think the string spread is a bit narrower than it needs to be at the bridge. I’ll have a look and see if anyone has made the alloy Saddles work where the strings are at the edge....be great to have an aftermarket one you could just drop on to the plate

Edit: Mastery!

mate of mine did that, can ask him how he did it if you want

[GrantB]

I'll pick up a Mastery in Melbourne next week. Looks to have the 52mm string spread I'm after.

[GrantB]

Jeebus.

Never look online after you've bought something. Unplayed 381, with case, $1000 cheaper than I paid and with case, make that $2000 difference. What a futhamucker.

[Mattallica]

Jeebus.

Never look online after you've bought something. Unplayed 381, with case, $1000 cheaper than I paid and with case, make that $2000 difference. What a futhamucker.

Buy this one as well and average the overall cost?

[rickenbackerkid]

Now this is my kind of thread!

I'm a massive Rickenbacker fan. I've always loved chimey guitar sounds and the first time I played a Ric it all fell into place. That thing just chimed and roared in all the right places.
Went back to buy that one a week later and it had sold earlier that day.

Years later I have finally ended up with a forum slut Ric 360 (ex Conway, ex Eruera) and I've been beating the poor thing up for a few years now.

I think the Ric 'Hi Gain' pickup is pretty phenomenal. It's got the single coil chime and open top end but its massive sounding at the same time somehow.

She's an acquired taste to play for sure. It reminds me of an acoustic guitar, where you have to work for every note, but you get rewarded when you get it right. A lot of electric guitars feel to me like they are designed to be easy to play, every note jumps off the fretboard, but that results in a less dynamic sound (or in my hands it does anyway)

i've been meaning to record some demo tones with my Ric, so I shall endeavour to do that next week