would I like a Rickenbacker 330?

Jax · 12th July 2011

I have a chance to pick up a guitar I've always had a thing for, but don't know if she'd really be my baby. Would a Rick 330 fit me if I like The Byrds, The Who, The Jam and Radiohead (all played a 330 at some crucial point) equally to early Metallica, Black Sabbath, Mastodon and Ministry (never a Rick)?

Would it fit any kind of middle ground, sonically? That's where I find myself making music, nowadays. I know it would be a good chording/songwriting guitar, but at the same time I know there's not even one humbucker in the damn thing.

If you plug a 330 into a Marshall JCM, will it do anything admirable or fall flat on its face? Does it only want to pair up with an AC30 or a HiWatt?

Jax · 13th July 2011

I thought I was done playing guitar for awhile, but this Ric 330 deal came along and I didn't pass it up. I always had a crush on Ric's and now I get to live with one. Traded two good mics for it and got $82, and will be answering the above questions in due time.

So far it is effing nice, plays very smoothly, and has a clear, smooth midrange voice unlike any other guitar maker. The jangle is also euphonic and nostalgic.

Any Rickenbacker observations or comments are welcome, especially from owners. Silence is ok, too. lol

fretless · 13th July 2011

Sweet ! The 330 is a real special guitar . HNGD & Pics !

Jax · 15th July 2011

Thanks! Pics will be coming. What's HNGD?

So far it sounds insanely good through the other guitar player's JVM and my Peavey 6505+ makes it sound kinda crappy. If the Peavey had a good clean tone as a foundation, it would be a different story, but it doesn't.

Got my eye on that Mesa TA-30.

SweMe · 15th July 2011

The Ricks is very sweet but different sounding guitars.. I would not buy one if I wanted an alround to go guitar but if you got one or two guitars and want something different it could be an amazing guitar to own!

Try out some Vox and even a couple of Fender amps and se if you like them with it.. The rick sounds best to me in a clean or slightly overdriven tubeamp

fretless · 15th July 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jax

Thanks! Pics will be coming. What's HNGD?

So far it sounds insanely good through the other guitar player's JVM and my Peavey 6505+ makes it sound kinda crappy. If the Peavey had a good clean tone as a foundation, it would be a different story, but it doesn't.

Got my eye on that Mesa TA-30.

Happy New Guitar Day !

Jax · 15th July 2011

Thank you, good sir!

FFTT · 16th July 2011

We mostly think clean jangle associated with Ricks, but you should
also be getting some pretty cool OD tones with a good hard attack
and with your amp set to the sweet spot.

Jax · 16th July 2011

Indeed, there are some sweet crunch and rock tones to be had from this Ric. Another guitar player friend had his Victoria 35115 cranked to 11 (they really go to 11) with a pair of EL34's (this amp can accept several combinations of tube types) last night. We were quite easily pulling out Townshend like tones and others that I would associate with Brit punk like the Damned and the Buzzcocks.

Also, when I said before that the Ric went through the JVM, it was blasting out some tight, defined crunch then as well. Pairing it with a Marshall was quite favorable; more so than what the owner of that amp's Ibanez metal guitar can do, at least for rhythm. However, I think I'm going to have a go at shielding the axe because it is very noisy with high gain set on an amp.

It's funny how the Brits seem to have co-opted an American made guitar for their two British Invasions. I guess there were no great UK made guitars being built at the time. They certainly had choice amps, however: Vox, Marshall and HiWatt.

All in all, it's a much more tonally flexible guitar than I expected.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FFTT

We mostly think clean jangle associated with Ricks, but you should
also be getting some pretty cool OD tones with a good hard attack
and with your amp set to the sweet spot.

FFTT · 17th July 2011

With a Rick, the choice of strings can make a world of difference.

You can get into a completely different world trying a set of flats
and may appreciate the smoother response or not?

Actually, you may find some of your tones sound more authentic
with flats for earlier Beatles style cleans.

Of course you'll have to re-adjust action and intonation changing to
fatter and thinner strings.

It's a good idea to stay on top of keeping the truss rods just right
to prevent the neck from twisting.

Not sure if it's a pair or single rod in the 330.

Some players prefer to de-gloss the fret board for a faster, smoother
feel. That's a matter of choice.

The 330 is a cool guitar in any collection.

Running it through a Hiwatt or Reeves circuit will let you hear your guitar
in it's own natural voice, better than any other.

My '65 Ampeg Gemini I delivers better specialty Beatles tones
more than I could have imagined when you engage the bright boost.

I would love to try a Rick through this amp.

12th July 2011	#1
Jax Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,779 Thread Starter	would I like a Rickenbacker 330? I have a chance to pick up a guitar I've always had a thing for, but don't know if she'd really be my baby. Would a Rick 330 fit me if I like The Byrds, The Who, The Jam and Radiohead (all played a 330 at some crucial point) equally to early Metallica, Black Sabbath, Mastodon and Ministry (never a Rick)? Would it fit any kind of middle ground, sonically? That's where I find myself making music, nowadays. I know it would be a good chording/songwriting guitar, but at the same time I know there's not even one humbucker in the damn thing. If you plug a 330 into a Marshall JCM, will it do anything admirable or fall flat on its face? Does it only want to pair up with an AC30 or a HiWatt?

16th July 2011	#8
FFTT Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2005 Location: A stoned throw from ground zero Posts: 5,766	We mostly think clean jangle associated with Ricks, but you should also be getting some pretty cool OD tones with a good hard attack and with your amp set to the sweet spot. __________________ Don't look at me in that tone of voice Put music in your heart and heart in your music

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13th July 2011	#2
Jax Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,779 Thread Starter	I thought I was done playing guitar for awhile, but this Ric 330 deal came along and I didn't pass it up. I always had a crush on Ric's and now I get to live with one. Traded two good mics for it and got $82, and will be answering the above questions in due time. So far it is effing nice, plays very smoothly, and has a clear, smooth midrange voice unlike any other guitar maker. The jangle is also euphonic and nostalgic. Any Rickenbacker observations or comments are welcome, especially from owners. Silence is ok, too. lol

13th July 2011	#3
fretless Gear maniac Joined: Dec 2009 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 237	Sweet ! The 330 is a real special guitar . HNGD & Pics !

15th July 2011	#4
Jax Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,779 Thread Starter	Thanks! Pics will be coming. What's HNGD? So far it sounds insanely good through the other guitar player's JVM and my Peavey 6505+ makes it sound kinda crappy. If the Peavey had a good clean tone as a foundation, it would be a different story, but it doesn't. Got my eye on that Mesa TA-30.

15th July 2011	#5
SweMe Gear Head Joined: Jun 2011 Location: Sweden Posts: 40	The Ricks is very sweet but different sounding guitars.. I would not buy one if I wanted an alround to go guitar but if you got one or two guitars and want something different it could be an amazing guitar to own! Try out some Vox and even a couple of Fender amps and se if you like them with it.. The rick sounds best to me in a clean or slightly overdriven tubeamp

17th July 2011	#10
FFTT Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2005 Location: A stoned throw from ground zero Posts: 5,766	With a Rick, the choice of strings can make a world of difference. You can get into a completely different world trying a set of flats and may appreciate the smoother response or not? Actually, you may find some of your tones sound more authentic with flats for earlier Beatles style cleans. Of course you'll have to re-adjust action and intonation changing to fatter and thinner strings. It's a good idea to stay on top of keeping the truss rods just right to prevent the neck from twisting. Not sure if it's a pair or single rod in the 330. Some players prefer to de-gloss the fret board for a faster, smoother feel. That's a matter of choice. The 330 is a cool guitar in any collection. Running it through a Hiwatt or Reeves circuit will let you hear your guitar in it's own natural voice, better than any other. My '65 Ampeg Gemini I delivers better specialty Beatles tones more than I could have imagined when you engage the bright boost. I would love to try a Rick through this amp.