Product: Rickenbacker 230
Price Paid: 450.00 (cdn) used
Submitted
01/29/2006
at
12:56pm
by
P Parent
Features
:
8
Not too sure about the year but from I can read from RIC's lettrature it is probably late 1980's. 24 frets, Maple solid body and slim bound neck, 2 truss rods and the finish is Jetglo. 2 RIC humbuckers pickup mounted and adjusted from the back of the guitar - pretty unusual. Schaller tuners , unique RIC 230 bridge design for the time that model was manufactured (similar to the bridges found on today's model 650's). 2 volume, 2 tone control and 3 way piuckup selector completes the picture. I bought this guitar in November 2005,second hand of course and no original case was provided.
Sound
:
10
Sound is rich and unique with perfect balance between low, mid and high. Every note from strumming chords comes out loud and clear. The only other guitar that comes close is another RIC be they 300's or 600's series. These days I play it through 2 Vox VR-30 and I use a Boss VF-1 effcts processor. Results? well whether I play, clean, distorted or completly weird stuff, it all sounds great to me.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
No idea about the factory setup. I bought this second hand guitar simply because I fell in love with its combination of low action-slim neck. I did not even bother to try it with an amp.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
This guitar surely seen many bars if not many owners therefore this guitar in no longer cosmetically impeccable. That said, this piece of wood will last forever, espicially in my hands cause I take great care of my instruments. The finish in no longer perfect in term of scratches etc, but the paint work still look like new. The harware is solid and still shiny (except the strap buttons)
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Every time I ask Rickenbacker a question I get a reply withing the hour. I even got a reply from Mr. Hall himself not long ago.
I have never dealth with the company for a problem or warranty issue.
Overall Rating
:
9
I have been playing bass and guitar since I am 12 and I will be 52 in February. I bought and sold many guitars and basses over the years and strange enough the only one I still have other than the 230)is a RIC 350 (1988). I admit I sold a few other RIC's in the past only because I had no other means to pay the rent but it was always with deep regrets. I also sold a couple of real Fenders and Gibsons but I never shed a tear over these. If that guitar was stolen I would get another one - if I could find another one.
