Indie Guitar Company IRK500

One of only a few 'tricky dicky' copies out there (we all know why). But there are those of us who who play a variety of styles who can't afford the real thing for just a few numbers here and there. Korean built (yes still built in Korea) Good attempt at the real deal. 330 lookie likie with a much better finish than 2 other 'replicas' available in the UK. The 'flamebrite' finish is nicely coloured with a hint of the maple body showing through. This beautiful graded colour is replicated on the back. the back body edge is single bound with a nice wide creamy edging. (I think the other clones are finished in all black on the back and no binding).

Nicely presented smallish tuners (Gotoh ?) black acrylic nut. Maple neck, rose f/b, dot inlays, same crean bound edge as body. Headstock of the correct shape but a different shape to the trussrod cover than the real deal (rd). 24 frets (all accesible due to double cutaway).

Indies own Black Top toaster style (single coil ?) pups, rd split level pickguard, raised coverd rd style bridge and casino trapeze tailpiece.

2t 2v rd style knobs and 3wat toggle switch arranged with standard 4 pot working. No 5th rd mixer (1 of the other clones does offer this).

I always wanted that ? Jangle and never thought that it would be possible without a rd. Now I know different. I've got it now, Played through a Roland Cube 30 at home with the bass mid and top EQ controls set at middle (off), and the selected model 'Brit Combo' (Vox AC30) No extra gain, no chorus, no reverb, IV'E GOT IT. Beatles , Who, Byrds, (If you want Paul Weller pop a touch of gain on the amp).

However this thing is not a one trick pony. Set the amp to model the Roland Jazz Chorus, swivel the tone pots down and you get a rich silky sound.

Pretty well set up I reckon but there is an addional Indie UK inspection sticker on the box with a date and name of the man at this end who checked (or did ) the set up. The stings were a bit dry and not the gauge that the rd would hasve factory fitted. I thing they ran about 9 - 50'ish. The rd are 10 - 42 so I fitted a set of genuine straight away.

Pretty solid but even the rd are not the most robust design with lots of stickie outie, stickie uppie bits but I think that this clone would last as well.

Spoke a couple of times with 'Indie' before purchase. Brilliant people to deal with. Very friendly and helpful. Was invited to their HQ to try a few models if I couldn't find a local stockist with what I wanted.

Bought to fulfill a long time rd ambition. Currentl play in public with a jazz/swing quintet (1972 Antoria Jazzstar, 1941 Epiphone Zenith c/w single KA mini humbucker). Harmonica, and vocal with an Epiphone EJS300 upgraded with bone saddle and nut and fitted with Artec Pro preamp and piezo.

In private with an Epiphone Dot, a 1969 Japan Columbus LP copy and a Budget Tanglewood Rebel 4k Bass.

This new baby completes the set. If lost would beat a route to the dealer door for another

Writing this review, it is being judged in comparison to a Parker P-38, and a David Oddy acoustic - stiff competition.

This guitar is essentially a copy of a Rickenbacker 330. I'm pretty certain my guitar was built in Korea in 2005. There are 24 frets along the rosewood fretboard. The neck is maple (set-in) and the body is semi-hollow alder. It pickups are 'toaster-tops', there are two (volume and tone controls for both), and a three-way pickup selector.

I got it in Fireglow finish, and it is stunningly well finished, gloss, I believe. It does scratch easily (as in tiny, tiny marks) so I would recommend definiately using a microfibre cloth. The bridge is basically the Rickenbacker, without the logo - I had some problems with the bridge on mine, which I will go into later.

The guitar came with no accessories, and unfortunately I haven't yet found a suitable case, due to its wide body. In the #350 I paid, I got a strap and a stand thrown in - more than happy, due to it's #420 RRP.

This guitar is brilliant. Being semi-hollow body, it is louder than most electrics when played acoustically, and sounds great. It can do a wide range of musical styles: of course, the classic sixties sound, to rock to blues. This guitar leans more to rhythm than to solos, and is not suited to shredding at all - but it can deliver toneful solos and licks.

As far as I can tell, there is little noise. The sound is naturally bright and jangly, but is versatile. You can change the entire sound by simply upping the gain or mixing the pickups in a different way.

I like this guitar, very much.

The set-up was brilliant. The supplier to the shop where I bought it (Harmony Music in Dorchester, Dorset) sets up every single guitar. As Indie are still a relatively new they are devoted to customer satisfaction. The intonation was near-perfect. My only problems was the bridge: two of the strings sat too close together. I emailed the shop, who said to bring it in for the supplier to have a look at. They were happy to give me an entirely new guitar, if I wanted, so they could sort out the problem.

I don't gig with it, so it has stayed at home all the time. That is not to say I have not been playing it for long durations of time, and as far as I can tell, it could easily withstand rougher treatment. The strap buttons are solid and large, so there is no worry about the strap falling off. It holds its tuning well. Having not actually gigged, I can't give it 10/10.

My contact with Indie has been through my local guitar shop. They sing the suppliers praises, so they've got to be good. The problem with the bridge was dealt with promptly and I was happy to get a new guitar instead.

I've not been playing too long, since October 2005 so just over half a year. I'm told I'm good by friends, but they're not the most critical audience. I've had this guitar for about three months.

If my guitar was stolen, I'd buy the same again. I love its sound, its ease to play, its set-up, its appearance and its value for money. There's nothing I hate.

I was not sure what guitar I wanted when I went to try them out. I chose this guitar over many others: an Indie style, an Indie SG copy, a Mexican Fender Strat, an Crafter Jazz-style, a Brunswick acoustic, an Indie Style Active and a Takamine acoustic. The guitars which came close were:
the SG copy - just didn't seem as special as the IRK500
the Indie Style Active - this was stunning, hand-carved decoration and immense sound but a bit too expensive (when I buy another guitar, this will be it)
the Takamine - played like a dream, but I decided to go for electric

Unfortunately, I haven't yet been able to find a case, but then again, I haven't looked properly. I'd also like to say that I have not played the Rickenbacker 330 this is based on, so don't form an opinion that this is any better or worse than that.

Overall, I am entirely satsified by this guitar, and would recommend it to anyone.

I bought the guitar brand new in 2004. It is apparently made in South Korea (possibly UK assembled), has 24 frets, a semi solid Alder body, maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard, 2 'toaster top' pickups, 2 volume and 2 tone controls. I believe that the rickenbacker on which it is modelled also has a fifth knob to blend between the pickups.

Scale length is 24.75 inches.

I play quite a wide range of styles from jazz to rock to indie and other things that perhaps don't even have a name ;-)

I play through a 1991 vox AC30 and a Laney LC15R. The guitar sounds great through both. Not as high in output as most single coils, but certainly not weak sounding. The bridge pickup is very typical of the rickenbacker sound, and the neck pickup gives a lovely jazzy sound. Unusually, the 'mid' position is very useable.

The action was a little high when I bought it, but the intonation and neck adjustment were spot on. Unlike some expensive guitars I've played, the fretwork was flawless and the finish was lovely and free of blemishes.

The pickups are true to the originals in being non adjustable. AS standard the neck pickup is a little too far away from the strings for my liking (but see the note below)

The hardware all seems to be of high quality and the guitar seems solid (by ric standards - this isn't a tele). I'm not hard on guitars, and I'd certainly trust it to not let me down. I'd prefer a backup, because there is always the possibility of breaking a string (not that I do that often).

I emailed the company about the neck pickup height, and they emailed me back next day offering to make a custom raiser plate free of charge. Bearing in mind that the height isn't a design fault but just the way these guitars are, I think that is amazing.

I've been playing for about 26 years, and I own several other guitars (strat, tele, SG, Epiphone acoustic etc) and a couple of basses This guitar is the first I've owned that could be called a copy. I generally play them through my Vox clean, but I do have several pedals as well.

If the guitar was stolen or lost, I'd go on a killing spree.

It'd be nice if it had the fifth knob, although I've heard that it doesn't really do much. Of course, a truss rod cover that sid 'rickenbacker' would be a nice vanity feature too.

I think this was made in 2004 or late 2003 as it is a new model to their emerging range.
It's made of alder with a hard maple neck with a rosewood fretboard and has 22 frets.
The pickups are rickenbacker copies and their are two of them as this is a 330 6 string clone par excellence. It has two tone and two volume controls and a three way pick up selector.
The only control missing is the Rickenbacker blend control, not sure what this did?
The finish is their version of fireglow and is superb.
I love this type of guitar and don;t need/want a whammy etc so my mark reflects my tastes.
http://www.users.freenetname.co.uk/~kwill/index1.htm

It's a Ricky copy of the highest quality. My guitar hereos tend towards the rock and indie styled players rather than metal shredders so i was thinking paul weller (jam era), george harrison,johnny marr, pete townsend etc.
It is incredibly well suited as these guys and others used the original to very good effect. It seems quiet for single coils but I have not had it up to any serious volume as my amp at home is crap. I did try it through an Orange amp way out of my price range and the valve amp was a good partner for this guitar. I would imagine that a Vox AC15/30 etc would cause a smile in tandem with the IRK500.
The sound is bright as would be expected, however, judicious use of the tone controls provides a suprising amount of control and elicts a warm, full sound perhaps because it is semi-hollow.
I like the tone clean and distorted (valve amp) as we are talking 60's sound through to angry young weller in the jam.
If anyone knows a manufacturer doing a similarly good job of cloning a Vox AC15/30 at such a good price then let me know.
I like everything so far but then it's early days admittedly. The output from the pick ups when playing into my boss multitrack are lower than my usa tele but then noise was not apparent either?

I have very little technical ability or will to alter my guitars too much so I do appreciate it when a manufacturer or shop ensure a good set-up. This was well set-up for my style of staccato chord hits etc and was perfecty intonated. It also stays in tune as well as my tele if not better which is to say very good indeed. I had heard that the originals were bugers to keep tuned up causing paul weller to lob one accross the studio in frustration. No such frustration here.
AS i said before it is early days but the set-up was good as it the general manufacturing quality. Too good for this price!

To early to say, so I emailed the manufacturers after trying ne for first time ( i didn't rush into this purchase) who apparently gig with them so there you go.
I really wanted a black one ala the jam and would consider getting two were I to gig regualrly though not beacuse of worries but just to have an exact back-up.
It is sure to be tested in Total Guitar soon as they have raved about this comapnies models and perhaps they will give it a bashing to see. All looks solid though as did the other models of theirs I tried.

The company responded quicky and seemed good blokes and into their product when I emailed queries. No need to contact them about any problems as touch wood all is a okay.
It does help to have a good dealer as mine spoke direct to them, has lots of their guitars and plays theor les paul himself. He even arranged with them that I could of had any colour I wanted at no extra cost!!!!
That gets a bloomin' good score even thougn I then fell for the standdard and lovely looking Fireglow.

I have been playing for a couple of years and would describe myself as a rythm player and songwriter though not a good enough one yet!
I own a usa tele and had a couple of other guitars one which i part-ex'ed against the price of the IRK500 and another which is being sold so I can get a new amp.
I also own and use a multi-track (boss 1180cd)
I went into this purchase having tried the guitar on two occassions for a total of about 2 and a half hours and more than used up all my songs and riffs! I also got to try it against other models thhey did and can thoroughhly reccommend the E335 dot copy though I can't recall it's code. Their lp's are also bloody good and either of these are likely to be my next guitar with maybe the tele being sold. After all when I have the jangle I will need the contrats of some humbucking tones.
Seriously though check out this make and model especially if you like the groups/people mentioned above as I am super glad to have bought this though it was a struggle to put down the equally nice E335 dot copy and it cam down to influences for me.
If some worthless article were to nick this I would be bloody angry and dangerous to approach so be warned.
I would also not hesitate to go back to the same dealer and head for the IRK500 at once.
I love the look,weight (it's light),and tone of this excellent 330 copy. It has bite but can also be mellow and warm and of course jangle like a bell when required.
I wish it had a hard case but really at tyhe price I am taking the p**s here and will have to shell out for one myself. I also wish they would make basses and cheap valve amp copies of the same quality to set me up completely.
If you like rickys but like me cannot afford one (I saw a original one in Southend and the finish was awful!) then look here and don't bother with any other copies assuming you can find them.
Also try te make generally look at the price tag and buy it then run.