Rickenbacker 330/6

This is a 2003 model in Fireglo with the Vintage RI Toaster pickups. If you're even reading this, I'm sure you know all the specs. It came with the standard black plastic case and case candy. The dealer even threw in a new set of strings which I totally didn't expect seeing that he gave me such a great price.

My tastes in music are the British 60s Invasion stuff and the early 70s American FM Radio stuff.

I'm using a 1965 BF Fender Twin amp with factory Jensens. I don't use any effects. Frankly, I don't know what most of them do.

This guitar is not noisy at all, I'm real happy about that.

It gets all those signature Ric sounds that can only be associated with a Ric. I wanted the Toaster pickups because they have Alnico magnets whereas the new High Gain pickups use Ceramic magnets. I find the Alnico more "musical" whereas the Ceramic is too "in your face". And to have the genuine Ric sound, especially for the (now) vintage stuff that I play, high gain and Ceramics just won't do!

Needless to say, this guitar IS all of the sounds one would expect from a 'true' Ric. Loads of variety and it is extremely versatile. It has a wonderful frequency response which surely covers all bases. Just for kicks, I wanted to see how it "dirtied up". Believe it or not, it holds it's own reasonably well.

I don't want to sound like a "rubber stamp" here but I like everything about it.

The factory setup was awful: High action, lousy strings, bowed neck; the neck pickup was barely missing touching the strings because it was up so high and the bridge pickup was set way too low and far away from the strings. ANY guitar I buy is immediately setup to my own personal specs and so, I really don't give much weight to any OEM setup, even if it was 99%. Sure, it would be nice if nothing had to be done, but that's not reality (to me, anyway).

From a construction/hardware point of view, the guitar is flawless. There are no buzzes, mystery rattles, etc.

This guitar is built to last. Rics always were and still are one of the most durably made guitars.

The strap buttons are Schaller Straplok mates and so, no worries.

I'd depend on it as my #1 on a gig but on general principle, I'd never gig with only one guitar on hand.

I perceived them as in a hurry to get me off the phone. They aren't too quick to answer e-mail either.

Luckily, the guitar is first rate and so, I never had to deal with any warranty issues.

Warranty: 2 years for the finish, 5 years for construction. There's a twist: Commencing from the day the guitar was born.

I've been playing 40 years. I own several "high end" Gibsons and Fenders.

Rics are an enigma in a way. It's strange. To those who truly desire one, they will know all about it well before they purchase it. There's never any surprises

Sure, I'd replace it if it disappeared.

I just love the whole Ric thing; you gotta love 'em. Again, and Ric players know what I mean, you take the good with the bad and be more than satisfied with what you've got. And believe me, there really isn't any bad. I honestly can't pin it down to one feature. The guitar has it's own unique personality which works with you and that silly grin you have on your face while just enjoying the heck out of it.

I compared it to other guitars such as my 335, a 137, etc. I chose this one because there's something about the sound, the look and the ease of playability a properly setup Ric gives you. It's truly unique.

I'd like to mention that the guitar is now properly set up. The neck is wonderfully straight, the action's nice and low (not overly) and it sustains like a ....! It is a joy to play and I guarantee, you can get lost for hours playing it.

its got all the same spec as all the other reveiws say its got..However mine has a Turquoise finnish and ive only heard of another Turquoise finnish and that was after reading it on here.. but i must say old chaps it is rather raunchy..

Now onto the juicy bit and most interesting..the sound on this thing is just perfect. The set up i use is Boss Ps2 pitch shifter/-Electroharmonics Big Muff P1/-Electroharmonics small stone/-Unknown brand Chorus(held together with masking tape and cost #30 new about 10 years ago and probibly worth about a quid on ebay now!!!) and then on into a V100 Valvestate Marshall Combo + 4x12 Cab.
The music style that i play is that New blues type, hence the pitch shifter and the fact we dont have a bass player, but also i play other stuff along the indie rock lines. My influences come from british bands such as The Who, Small Faces, Kinks, but also to add to that i enjoy bands such as the Flur de leas and the Chilli Peps along with American 70s funk and even German Techno Techno Techno.
We are a very loud band, by telling you that i dont think you could possibly imagine unless you heard us live but to get to the point this guitar delivers every time, from the inflences ive forementioned and the lineup i use this guitar exceeds all my expectations.
The only problem from playing at high volume is the feedback and as we all know these bad boys can really screach so to offset that i wear earplugs and the crowd have hearing aids during working hours.
To get that warm Townsend sound i use the 3rd overdrive channel without any gain, every thing elce on 10 with reverb on about 6-7, this gives me that warm full thick sound thats clear and you can hear every note then kick on the muffler for that instant fuzz thats trippin me back to the 60s dude...

I bought this second hand and found out that this was made in 94 in America. I thought that when i bought it, it was brand new and i mean 10/10 condition.The guy in the shop just said " we got this off a private collector who needs some cash" and i assumed that it was some kid who bought it, got bored, sold it 2 months later. I aquired this axe in August 2003. A lot of people say the necks too thin, action to high blah blah blah.. i have had no probs with anything play wise or sound wise except the 3rd string rattles but you cant hear it when at volume and when it comes to re stringing the little monster that "R" tailpeice is plop. However i did read two other reveiws who said they found the same things as i. The "R" tail peice thing was resolved by using a capo during restringing manouvers.. what a clever chap.
I think the build of this thing is so tuff it makes me wanna fart.

This guitar will last forever if looked after i think... come and see me in 50 years and i will tell you i guess.
I think the strap nuts could let it down though as they need to be tightened every other song and if you forget it may fall off mid song and make you look a right pratt.
I do gig with a back up. it is an Epiphone Casino. The sound is simmilar but not the same.

none needed so far.

To sum up this axe i would say im very happy. The build, the finnish, the sound, and the classic look that no other guitar can touch make it a true classic.
I also own a Epiphone Casino, Epiphone 335 Dot and although both have reasonable too good qualities, they both feel as if they could snap at the first sign of fire. Two things that spring to mind are when i use the old "turn down the oposite pickup and flick between the two" to give that Pete Townsend stutter, the Riccy could go all day but the Casino after a while, the selector switch came loose then fell off, and the 335 Dot has a crackle when i turn any of the dials around and at times the dot can sound cheap.
People say they would buy another if it got stolen... ive got mine insured for well over and above the value so i would just claim.

june 2003 Mapleglow 330/6.the usual configuration. Bought new with all the case candy -wrenches, cloth, and the like- all harware is high end-consistant with rick standards- Two points keep it from being a 10: 1.the "R" tailpiece is neat looking but, frankly, a bad design from a string-change-on-the-fly-standpoint. 2. I wasn't expecting a les paul "tiger top" but the wood is not only bland but has some knots that detract from the gracefulness much admired in a rick.

If you're not aware of/into the skinny neck, tiny frets, and the whole trancendant quirkieness of a Rick you probably will never read this

This guitar has an amazing tonal variety and range. I bought it for very clean jangle pop (suprised?) but I also play in a very heavy band and this produces everything from punk to thrash tones as well. Listen to the Smithereens or Fugazi if you doubt. The rick's ability to handle distortion is the least understood aspect of this guitar. Try it. Also, The 5th high cut knob can be used to great effect with practice. It will jangle, but also a lot more.

I use it with both solid state and tube amps and get great results all 'round. The major flaw is the typical single coil/semi hollow tendency to feedback at high volume. The rick's thing is bright clean tones and it does the job as advertised.

What you are buying in a rick is not only "the sound" but the quality and reliability it implies. I sort of wish I had gone with black because as I mentioned the maple is a little bland but this is not a reflection on the workmanship. Maple will have knots and variations in it but one always hope. If it leaves the factory there are no flaws. I do wish the bridge had more height clearance but within its range it is infinitely adjustable. Be prepared for itty bitty frets and imagine how cool this would be with gibson jumbos.

With the understanding that it is hollow, this is very reliable. The neck through /carved to combo is tough to beat. the laminated neck is very stable and, while a little goofy looking, is well made. For a grand it ought to be. Having spent more for guitars, this is actually a good value. It will last forever and maintian resale value.

Well, here we go... Rickenbacker seems to feel that if you make 'em right you don't need customer service, or even basic civility. They will NOT return emails and if you call them on your dime they are abrupt to the point of rudeness. Also having owned a pirate/lawsuit rick copy I respect their copyright zeal but making parts impoossible to get only harms the legit customers as the serious pirates will make thier own. Thankfully the product is great because service after the sale is a joke.

I have a thing for retro/ vintage guitars. I have a pre cbs strat and reissue fenders and gibsons and the like. The rick is worthy of the hype. Force of habit is the only thing keeping it from being a sole daily driver -gotta have my strat- and I plan on gigging it this weekend w/o a backup. Built like a brick, only wish I had bought one years ago.b

MOst of the features have been listed in prior reviews. I did a lot of experimentation with the knobs when my Rick came in. Ya know what? The 5th knob is pretty much totally redundant. It's advertised as a "blend" between the two pickups when the selector is in the middle position. In reality, it does NOT role off the bridge pickup volume . But it DOES role off the neck pickup, when the selector is on neck only! In other words, on a 330 it's an extra, reversed neck pickup volume knob. Whoop-dee-doo. Apparently it has more functions with the stereo output that comes on a 360. OTOH, at least there's an extra knob to mess with if I ever want to modify the electronics- no routing necessary.

Now that that's outta the way, this is a 330 6-string in mapleglo. Ordered painlessly from Elderly, in Michigan, and apparently made in June of 2003. I've been looking for a guitar for approximately a year before pulling the trigger on this one. I initially looked at strats and clones. While they are very comfortable to play, I just don;t dig on strat tones at low volume levels. Too thin for my uses. I also looked at some ES-335 styles, but went with the rick for reasons of price and aesthetics. I'll get a vintage ES-335 when the lottery favors me, or maybe a heritage or hamer after my next raise.

Now, let me go over the features of this guitar that stand out after aproximately 20 hours up close and personal.

I like the neck. It's a tad narrow for some people, but I don;t understand what all the fuss is about. My other guitar is a 12 string accoustic. THe backup for that is an MIM Jazz bass, so I was predisposed against the thin nut width, but after about 10 minutes it felt totally natural. I actually consider the lack of neck binding (which comes standard on the 360s) as a bonus, because it leaves more real estate for bending and such.

If overall aesthetics and design is considered a "feature," then highest points in this particular category. This is the classiest looking axe out there, bar none. Not as gaudy as a super-flamed-maple boutique guitar, yet more sophisticated than a mullet-rockers' LP or battle-axe-shred-machine; yet again not nearly so generic as a fender. I'd have paid good money for a non-functioning version of this guitar to admire as fine art.

Overall, some great features, most of which you can read about below. Because of the redundant 5th knob (which actually could have been used for something useful) I'll dock a couple points. This is a qualitative rating, not quantitative, btw.

I play Indie-pop stuff, clean and distorted, as well as faux-jazz and Celtic music. Sometimes I'll get ideas for pieces by listening to Anonymous 4 and other early music groups.

The gear list - right now, I'm just using a cheap peavey SS practice amp, so take the following comments in the proper context. However, I have played many 330s and 360s through tube fenders and a few voxes, so take that into account as well. I'll echo other reviewers' comments - the fenders sound better to me than voxes. This thing has gratuitous upper end, and fenders complement it well.

The sound, unlike some would have you believe, is multi-dimensional. The most prominent feature of the trademark "ricky sound" is upper-mid + treble TO BURN. MOre than most of us will ever need. It's NOT ice-pick-in-the-ear treble like on a mexi-strat bridge pickup, however, so it is quite useful. I'd imagine it's fantastic for cutting through in a live situation, and many prominent musicians would probably agree.
Lurking under the high end, surprisingly, lies a lot of warmth and semi-hollow "woody" tone. The trick is to find the sweet balance between these two ranges of the sonic spectrum. For me, the best way to get there is to adjust tone from the amp, rather than the guitar. I do not know why, but rolling off the guitar's tone knobs seems to take out most of the volume as well, which is kind of a bummer. On my POS amp, I get the best clean sound by putting the treble tone control at about 10 O'clock and cranking the bass and mids. This might sound like heresy, but give it a shot. If ya don't like that setting, use this review as evidence of declining taste and moral decay in our fast sinking culture.
On the guitar, I get mnost of the volume from the neck pickup, with a little from the bridge for bite and clarity. If the tweaks work out right, you get that luscious, ringing chime that everyone knows, but also with substantial bass and midrange. It's an awesome tone. Ricks are famous for the high-end, but a 330 or 360 will blow 90% of all strats out of the water in terms of ballsiness and guts. My pocketbook wanted strat, my ears wanted a rick.I suspect that with a decent amp, the overdriven tones would be fantastic, but that is not the type of music I normally play, so I'll refrain from comments there.

To recap, loads of upper frequencies + warmth that can be brought into the mix with a little creativity. This works for rhythm in a pop-band (duh) but also for blues and jazz!

Positives and negatives here.

Pain first.
On many settings, string volume varies considerably. The G and B string are significantly louder than everything else. The high e sounds underpowered. After talking to a respected Rick luthier about this, apparently the volume unbalance is caused by the pickup design, relating to pole-pieces, bobbins, magnets, and other details. I couldn't solder if my life depended on it, so I'll skip the arcana.
Anyways, I'm gonna try a few things to see what can be done. Already, the problem seems most prominent on the middle pickup setting. Since I mostly use the neck pickup soloed (can you tell I am a bottom-feeder?) the guitar is quite usable as-is. The next step would be to try a different guage of strings, which I would be doing anyway. Options after that get more involved, and range from truss-rod tweaks to open-heart surgery on the pickup to gettting new pickups entirely. This is an annoying problem.

That said, the solution might be quite simple - don;t let this scare you off the brand. Most 330s do not have this problem. Just play your guitar before you buy it.

Cosmetically - WOW. Fantastic finish, beautiful natural-grain maple. The back piece has some nice if irregular quilting, enhanced to a 3-d look by the clearcoat. First rate.
The guitar came with a free special polishing cloth so it's easy to maintain. They lacquered fretboard is quite beautiful, if a bit draggy, but you get used to that fairly quickly. Unfortunately, it looks like some air but under the lacquer where it comes in contact with many of the frets. The lacquer has whitened in these locations. But this is not a big deal and does not really bother me in the slightest.

The action was medium-low and very comfortable when it arrived from elderly. A wee bit of fret-buzz, but it does not transfer through to the amp. Besides, the neck should bow a little bit more when I get around to heavier strings.

One other minor issue- the G string vibrates sympathetically and audibly between the R tailpiece and the bridge whenever I play a note on that string. It does not transfer to the amp, but it's a minor nuisance. Again, I'm hoping something as simple as a string change will solve this. In the meantime, there's the old ALvin Lee feedback-control trick - stick a piece of masking tape on the strings behind the bridge. I tried that, works like a charm, The tape is behind the tailpiece too, so aesthetic sensibilities reman gloriously unharmed.

All in all, an extremely playable and attractive instrument. The workmanship is first rate. I am a bit disappointed with the string-volume issue, and will update this review when I learn more.

Er, not too much insight here. The finish will last forever with proper care, as will the hardware. The schaller strap pins are a bit goofy though, at least until they get fitted with strap locks. I have no worries about the electronics, switches, or tuners, either.

I'd gig without a backup as long as the guitar remained comfortably distant from clutzy roadies and mosh pits. Seeing as this is my only electric six-string, there is not much choice in the matter. I'll probably pick up a 650, 380L, or ES 335 clone as a partner to this guitar at some point.

This is another pro-con category
5 year warranty - con
One authorized repair location, on the left coast. BIG con here.

Prior experience with Rickenbacker - none over an actual guitar. However, I do participate in a lot of online forums. So does John Hall, CEO of Rickenbacker, guitarist, and surf-rocker. He has taken time to answer my questions about particular models. From his dealings with other owners, he has created the impression of intense dedication to the company, but more importantly, to these instruments. Definitely a Positive here!

As far as Elderly is concerned, they did a good job with the set-up. My case arrived with no keys or adjustment tools, however.

On the basis of no actual warranty conferenes with RIC, this category goes unrated.

Been playing guitar since 1989 and bass for a year longer than that. Before that I played Highland bagpipes competitively. (seriously). Before that, it was a kazoo.

I wish I had asked the guys at elderly to check string volumes.

Assuming my rick went away, I'd definitely get another rick if I could afford it. Otherwise I'd simply save up and practice my bass playing.

I love the aesthetics, the uniqueness, the vintage mojo and vibe of this guitar. Is is tremendously elegant, in a classy, understated kind of way. It sounds fantastic, and it is very well-made. I hate the string-balance problem, but there's penty of dead horses to beat over in the discussion forums, if you're up for that.
I looked for a guitar for about a year before pulling the trigger, so this was definitely not an impulse buy. I considered strats (too generic and wimpy-sounding) Gibson semis (Too expensive OR questionably constructed - read ES333 comments here) and Korean 335 clones like the Artcore and the Epi Sheraton. In the end, nothing seriously challenged the Rick that I could afford. MOstly, because the Rickenbacker is unique, perfect for the type of music I play, and cool as all! I also considered a 650 and a 380 Laguna, but since those are as common as Red Sox world Series victories, I never really had the chance to play one before buying.

In terms of finish and 330 vs. 360, those were tough calls. Nothing beats a black 330 for balls-out attitude. OTOH, nothing beats a natural 360-12 for mellow grace. In the end, it was a compromise. NO regrets - it's beautiful.

I wish this guitar came with talent and skill in an easily digestible pill.

Find a guitar you love and play it. I have. If this review leads you to a Rick or something else, more power to you!

1998 Rickenbacker 330 in Turquoise. It has all the standard 330 features but mine seems to be different in that the neck width measures a good deal wider than my other Rics. This is very noticeable in the bridge spacing which is completely different from my '88 360WB. The finish on this guitar is amazing, very deep and tough. These are about the most well built guitars out there and the attention to detail is unmatched in the guitar industry. For a guitar with a fairly basic set up (2 single coil HiGain pu's and a 3 way selector) you can do more with this guitar than just the typical requisite rhythm playing that Ricky's get pigeonholed into. I have a Roland GK2 synth pickup attached to mine which fits perfectly between the bridge and the pickup with the rest of the unit affixed to the R tailpiece. I use mine for anything you could play on a guitar and find it suits every style I can throw at it. The neck (which takes some people getting used to) becomes very familliar and is as fast as any neck you will play as long as you don't hold back. Don't be afraid to push this instrument hard, t will reward your efforts. 9 for a well done standard setup, though I would like humbuckers with coil taps to be available.

Being a largely experimental guitarist I require a greater tonal range and responce from a single guitar than most. Do you like the way a Strat, SG, Les Paul or Telle sounds? Well, I have studied the sounds that those make and with the right pick attack and amp settings you can do them all with this and you can get that amazing Rick tone that is only possible on one of these. Super bright to thick and warm lows are all built in. Just spend the time finding them. I use a great deal of feedback based sustain and you can only do that with a semi hollow guitar. You can really get notes to ring long enough to grab a bite and come back and it would still be playing, Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah! These sound GREAT with an overdriven amp. And yes, you can play metal solos on it.

I bought this at Sh*tar Center and they are known for not treating their stock with the greatest of care so I'm not supprised that the set up was off. Ric's have 4 way adjustable bridges so you know that you can get any action you need. I have had my action so low that it was TOO low yet had no buzz at all. The fit is 100% right on and perfect. All hardware is of the highest quality and nearly bulletproof. Ricks are great about never going out of tune as well.

I have used this guitar live as long as you don't Pull a Pete Townsend on it you should have no worries. I do recomend you get some strap locks because of the position of the strap button, but that is good advice for any guitar. Playing live or for extended periods of time is not a problem as the guitar is well ballanced and fairly light for its size. As long as you aren't prone to breaking strings this is possibly one of the best guitars to gig with for a whole show. Even holds perfect tune for a week or more! SOLID.

Rickenbacker service? Don't bother Emailing them. The guitar is pretty bulletproof but if there is a manufacturing flaw (which is very rare) Ric will take care of you. The warranty is a year or so. Chances are you won't need it, ever. I can have most stuff fixed myself if need be. I haven't talked to them in a while. Be warned, they have a bad rep, BUT you are getting a great instrument at any price. I think the company that sells you an instrument should do more for you than the manufacturer. Oh Ric is very selective about the people that sell them. That may be in their favor. going for the 'ol 5 here

I have been playing 12 years and for 9 of them I've been using Ricks almost exclusively I have a custom Ric 370wb with 3 humbuckers and a 330/12 with a custom finish, also a Riff rick 330 copy which is no comparison to the original. That quality can't ever be duplicated, just the look. I've got 3 danos, an eppi 6/12 a $48 strat a flying v and I play through a 4x10 Fender hot rod and the Ricks and hot rod make a fine combo. If you haven't tried one out give one a chance. trust me, I was a staunch Les Paul guy for a while. Les Paul's a Les Paul but the Rick has proven itself limitless to me. It is fun to do music your own way this is the instrument for me to do just that, be myself.

I own a lefty 330/6 fireglo. I ordered it with vintage pickups. If you're here to read about it, I guess you know the guitar I'm dealing with...a '60ies looking gewel!!!

I play thru a digitech 2112 and two vintage vox ac 30, I also own a standard srtat. I really like bright sounds, a little bit crunchy even when clean, but even setting my amps so, I can run to dark/totally clean sound, just working on the knobs. If I use well the noise gate, or the volumes (one for every pick up) I can totally eliminate nasty feedback, even with tons of overdrive; not so with the compressor on clean sounds, but when you work with fx you never know...
This is not that kind of guitar you can arm on, changing pickups for ex., but it has a soul, I love it like that (nevertheless I tried to play blues metal and so on, just to see where I could go with a Rick, and it worked!!!)

Everything right, the action is lightly high: it helps to obtain that rough vintage sound I love

'don't know coz I've owned it for just one year

kuytcvt

I'm 28, I play since I was about ten, but 'never loved to be a guitar hero, I love tone and melody. If I was a professionist, I would also buy a 12 stringed one, I love Rickenbackers!!!!!!

My guitar was made in late 2000. It is a FireGlo finish. I was going to get the JetGlo and be John Lennon, but I heard from more than one sorce that the JetGol smudges easily then looks lousy. Anyway, the finish should not be your deciding factor. Probably more than anything, the comfort and feel of this guitar is what has blown me away. I have been playing for a long time and have own many guitars, the way this guitar feels on your lap or around your neck is something special. Like nothing else.

Don't let other people fool you into thinking you can only play clean with this guitar. I crank it up with plenty of distortion and sounds full and ballsy. I have found it suprisingly quiet for a single pick-up guitar, of course this could be my sound gate kicking in. Anyway, the sound is unlike anything I have played.

My action is set moderate. The best part about this is that all of the adjustments are accessable and are adjusted with Allen wrenches. I set my own intonation and string height. I leave the neck bow to the pros. Anyway, this guitar plays itself.

Don't know yet

Don't know yet

Best guitar I ever owned, and I have owned quite a few!
After owning one, I would probably pay twice the amount I paid for it.

I bought my 330 second-hand from a trade show here in New Zealand. This is the 3rd I have owned and it will be my last. I should have kept the other 2. I have a 335 and a Tele but still keep coming back to Ricks. I bought it because Paul Weller from the Jam used one so well and the early Townsend/Who sounds that I like('Pictures Of Lilly').
It is a mid '90's model I think in 'midnight blue' with 2 high-gain pickups and came with the usaual Rick case that weighs a ton. I paid NZ$1400 but know that to replace it would be between NZ$3-4000.00.

I read other reviews that said this guitar can cover most sounds and styles. I think that's true but I bought this guitar for what it excels at which is the Weller/Who sounds that can be rung out of it. I play through a 50 watt Marshall JCM 900 and turn it up to 7-8 and it's magic. It's bright, twangy and roars all at the same time. I play loud and cranked up through a valve amp and this is where the Rick comes into it's own. Load's of treble and lot's of bass but I feel it lacks a bit in the mids. I eq all my guitars because I can't leave well enough alone but I think straight through an AC 30 would solve that. I feel there is no such thing as a guitar that marks 10 so I give it the next best mark of 9.

No guitar bought in New Zealand is ever set up properly and finding a good Luthier or halfway decent guitar tech is like finding gold. However, the finish and quality of Rick's is excellent in my opinion and once I had a luthier "set it up" it was great. Great action and nice to play. The frets are small and since I have small hands, that suits me well.

Built to last. I played live a lot with it and had no problems. Never had the luxury of a backup when I gigged with it. Don't drop the fucker though because it won't take to much bad treatment to wreck it as Townsend has shown. Beware of moisture though. I lived in a damp flat with a 330 and it rippled the paintwork.
Hardware is all good and solid

Here in New zealand we never get to deal with the manufacturers which is a bad thing. We have to deal with asshole retailers and I can't slag them off enough. Most music retailers should here should be in prison. They either don't know their products or don't give a fuck because they know they have you buy the balls due to the fact that variety of gear in so scarce.
We don't have rows of Gibsons and Fenders to choose from like USA or Europe. You're lucky if they have one Gibson in the shop. Buying a guitar here can be a horrid experience, especially if you know what you want and don't want to be pushed into buying some crappy piece of shit.

Playing pretty badly for about 25 years but can't leave it alone. I was a wanker to sell the other 2 330's I had. Have a Fender Tele and a 335 but if I would replace the Rick if I lost it. It has a magic of it's own and when you strap it on and play, you know it's great. I'll have one till the day I die. Get one!! They are great

My Rickenbacker is from 1991 and has a gorgeous "fireglo" finish, I immediately fell in love with this guitar because it looks SO impressive!! It has the grace of a Lady... Mine has two pickups (so-called "hi-gain", but don't take it for granted, they are still single-coils), a three way switch, 2 volumes, 2 tones and a special button that works as a mix between the neck pickup and the bridge one.
This guitar was built with skill, all Maple except for the Rosewood fretboard -beautiful-. This is one of the most comfortable guitar I've ever owned, and one of the best-sounding of course!!!
Oh, I had almost forgotten, this guitar has a double truss-rod in the neck, so there won't ever be no problems about it (the neck).

This guitar sounds a bit like a Telecaster thinline on which the pickups would have been changed (they are more powerful). The tone is crystal-like on the bridge PU and delightly warm on the other. The treble is sharp and the bass precise. It is not so noisy as I've had the opportunity to read in other reviews and it suits my music style perfectly (I play in a "grunge" band inspired by the 70's and garage bands from the 60's). The sustain is amazing and I'll give you a hint: get rid of the metal part above the bridge, the guitar sounds even more better! I use my Rick with a Marshall Bluesbreaker combo and the result is great (for clean and crunch sounds). If I want more distortion then I use it with a Tubescreamer TS-9 and I have one hell of a Rock sound!! Great for Indies, Garage, Punk or Pop music. However, you won't be able to play Metal stuff with it and this guitar isn't well suited for solos. It's a "powerchords" machine as said one of the previous reviewers.(think Pete townsend)

This guitar contained no flaws of any kind, everything was great: the finish, the action. I only removed the metal part above the bridge because it had provoked several noises. Well, do it, and the guitar will breathe a lot more!

I 've had it for a year and everything's still prefect. Think it will survive...

No comment. I have never dealt with those guys.

I've been playing for 9 years, I also have a 1991 Gibson LesPaul Standard which I love dearly. It seems to me that those 2 guitars are very complementary. The rick is one trick pony, but it's unique, definitely.

I borrowed this guitar form a friend of mine's cousin to try it out to see if I liked it It was a semi hollow bodied with 2 pickups Everything on this guitar was all standard. Finish was a beautiful fireglow

This guitar had a beautiful angelic tone. It seemed as if it wanted to sing out on its own with a bright full bodied sound. I played it through a Fender 65 reverb twin to which it matched spledidly. Distorion really made it growl. Noticed a faint buzzing, but most likely attributed to the wiring in my house.

All that glitters is not gold!
I flat out did not like the action on this guitar! Why? it seemed to me that the strings were set too close together for any solo work. I didn't care for the rounded feel of the neck either! I play mainly blues (Clapton, Hendrix, SRV) and can easily fire off licks on my 1974 Strat or 1982 Les Paul but this guitar has the kind of action I liken to those Harmony electric guitars that you ordered for around $80 from either the Sears or JC Penny catalog back in the 70's & 80's! I notified the owner to which he informed me thats how they all were! No damn wonder I never have seen anybody play lead on a Ric!

Not much to be said here. Seems to be rock solid. Finish looks fairly durable.

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I was looking for a guitar with a good hollowed or semi hollowed bodied sound, and I found a good one in Rickenbacker. However, I think that it would be sheer stupidity to spend over $1000 on a guitar only to have shitty action. My conclusion is that apparenly the gang at Rickenbacker are still stuck in the 60's with their design. If this is the case, its time that they come out of their time warp and modernize some of their guitars! I give this a generous 6!

American made, fireglo. Features are listed in all the other columns here.

The hi gain pickups are a lot more midrangy than the old pickups and a lot ballsier...still single coils but a bit thicker and louder. I was sold because I like a guitar where I can crash full open distored chords and they don't sound like mush. The lead sound is not exactly as kikken as my Les Paul but it's interesting. I do have to work a bit to get single string stuff to punch through. I give it a nine cause the lead sound is not "quite" there. The sound quality of full chords though is good enough that I don't mind working a little harder on the leads (we're not a "lead-heavy" band anyway)

I bought this thing on a Friday night, off the rack (it's used but if the former owner played it you couldn't tell at ALL) and i gigged with it the next night. The action is very good, intonation was dead on, and I'm notorious for breaking strings and knocking my guitar outta tune. My Les Paul Standard is the only guitar I own that, with a new set of strings, can make it through a whole set with all strings still attached, but I knock it outta tune a lot. This rick just wouldn't go outta tune...nice.

Seems like it will last and I've read really really good things about rickenbackers in that regard. I've only owned it for a little over a week though. I trust it, it seems solid.

Dunno

This guitar isn't perfect (hell, none are for me). I have to admit though, I LOVE the sound I get out of it for the most part. I play in a three piece and the rhythm sound is pretty damn meaty (surprisingly so to me) and let's face it, the 330 just looks goddam cool. My backup guitar is a Les Paul standard if that tells you anything. The Les Paul is a little nastier and leads cut through a little better, but the rhythm tones of the Les Paul just can't touch the rick. I've been playing twenty-five years, I love this guitar. I'd definitely buy another one if this was lost or stolen.

I own a 1994 330 Ric. The color is very rare. I have only seen one other. It is a deep blue color, and instead of crome hardware it has black metal hardware, which could be painted crome. It is not the midnight blue color that you see on the Ric website. This is a much darker blue. When I first fell in love with the 330/360 I was after a fireglo colored instrument. But when I came across this gem I had to have it. This color is amazing. It has all the normal features of a 330 such as 5 knob selector, Hi-Gain pickups etc. I love the thinline neck. The only thing that I don't like about the 330 is the bridge. It is pretty weak.

I play alot of rhythm. I am not much of a lead player. so the 330 suits me just fine. I play it through a Fender Prosonic and it sounds amazing. I eventually would like to buy a Vox ac30. I am pretty sure this guitar would sound good through anything. The five knob selector allows you to use this guitar like an EQ. You can make it sound rich and jingley, or warm with deep tone. That is my favorite feature of the guitar.

I bought the guitar used from a guy who doesn't really know alot about guitars so he didn't mess with the set-up of the guitar. The action is pretty low which is how I like it. The guitar had a couple of dings on the back of the neck. Nothing to cry about. One of the knobs is loose but in no danger of falling off.

Naven't had it long enough.

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I also own a Washburn J-9 hollow body and a Fender American Standard Tele, and the Ric by far is "the catch" of the lot. I have been playing for 7 years. I hope to add a fireglo 360 to my collection soon.

Beautiful fireglo 330 made in March 1984 (while FC Hall was still running the company), and purchased by me in June 1984. Unlike recent 330's, this guitar still has the '60s-style narrow headstock, which I find much more attractive than the paddle-sized headstocks on the current ones. The body shape on my guitar is also closer to '60s spec than the more pointy ones available today. A couple of years ago I swapped the hi-gain PU's for scatterwound toaster reissues. The hi-gains sounded very good (ie: Paul Weller), but the toasters have a more authentic, jangly '60s tone. The tuners are Grovers, although the new guitars have Schallers, I believe. The little "blend" knob is pretty handy. It acts as a bass boost when the PU selector is in the middle, since it boosts the level of the neck PU. Sometimes the bridge PU is a bit thin-sounding on its own (especially at lower volumes), so it's useful to dial in a bit of the neck PU for more oomph. One very odd thing about my 330 - it weighs about twice as much as any other Rick 330 that I've ever played, including vintage '60s ones and even 330's from the same era! Another interesting fact - one almost never sees 1970s/early '80s Rickenbacker guitars for sale anymore! I only know one other person with a 330 from the early '80s (his is an '83). My guess is Rickenbacker was concentrating on producing the more popular 4001 basses at that time, and what 300-series Rickys were made are not for sale (like mine!). I remember my local dealer having to special order my guitar from the factory, and it took a month or so to arrive.

Nothing else sounds like a Rickenbacker. Extremely bright and jangly. If you want that classic early Beatles/Townshend/Jam/REM/Petty jangle, this is the one you want. It doesn't do a lot of different sounds, but what it does do is beautiful. I've used it through a Vox AC30 and a Vox AC50 (the classic counterparts to Rickys), as well as through a silverface Fender Twin Reverb and blackface Fender Bandmaster. You know what? I much prefer it with the Fenders. The Vox's are already very bright sounding amps, and it was too thin with the Ricky (except at loud volumes). The Bandmaster (my current amp) offers more tonal variety, so I can dial in a great complementary tone for this guitar. The neck PU on it's own, with the blend knob up all the way, gives an uncharacteristicly rich, deep, full jazzy tone! Who woulda thunk it?

The fireglo finish on my guitar is beautiful and hasn't faded at all in 18 years. It's much darker than the newer Ricks; more of a brownish red with yellowish center, as opposed to the candy apple with wood-colored center of the new ones. Rickenbackers are known for their extremely slim necks, and many find them to be too cramped, especially if you have fat fingers. I personally love it. In fact, it's the most playable guitar I own. The action is also incredible low, with no string buzz. I have also owned a '60s reissue Rickenbacker made in 1998, and think that the 1984 guitar is much better made. The finish is a much nicer color and seemingly thicker, and the components seem sturdier. Overall my 1984 330 seems to have more in common with the '60s guitars than the later ones; I figure that in 1984 there were still some veteran Rickenbacker luthiers were still with the company, and FC Hall (owner since the early '50s) was still boss.

I've given this guitar heavy use since 1984, and the only servicing it's ever required is an application of contact cleaner in the knobs. The only problem I've ever had is the output jack comes loose once in a while; it just needs to be screwed back in tight. No big deal at all. This guitar will most likely be with me until I die, and then I expect that my daughter (now 2 1/2) will be able to enjoy it as much as I have.

I spoke with customer service a few times about buying replacement parts for another Rickenbacker I own, and have found them to be very helpful and friendly. John Hall (current CEO) even answers questions via email. The parts that I ordered arrived very quickly.

Ever since I began playing in 1977, as a Beatle-obsessed 13 year old, I lusted after a Rickenbacker. I originally owned a 320 which my dad bought for me in 1981, and soon found its short scale limiting. The 330 has been with me for nearly two decades and is a very prized possession. It has helped define the music I've made over the years. I notice that I play differently on the Ricky (more powerchords!) than on the Gretschs, Fenders, etc. that I've owned over the years. If it were lost or destroyed I would be heartbroken. It's an old friend now, and in some ways a part of me.

Rick's SN system is weird, so I don't know the year, but think it's 1990. US made like all of them, came with 2 Hi-Gain pickups and that R tailpiece that makes changing strings...uh...interesting. Thinline mainly maple semihollow with the nice slightly pointy shape (I like this much better than the "fancier" 360 model with the blunted ends of the "new style" body). three-way selector, two tone and two vol, and a weird blender that as far as I can tell, just rolls of the bass pickup a bit.

Like all Ricks, a very classy, top-notch construction job. makes other guitars (especially Fenders, even the nice ones with a few exceptions, like my old Jaguar) look like highschool shop projects.

has everything you need if you are guitar player, but not if you're one of thoe "Guitorgan" or Midi people.

oh, they have these bridge-covers. they don't really get in the way too much but they are kinda pointy, so I took mine off, I was afraid to play it hard and risk a hole in my hand. not a big deal, though.

OK, one caveat: I've REPLACED the HI-GAIN PICKUPS with reissue "toaster-top" pickups. I like these much, much better. These are basically the same as pickups from the 60's so if you want that 60's rick sound, you gotta ditch those hi-gains. (50's pickups were even lower output, wound to about 4 ohms..that seems a bit too far in the other direction to me). The toasters have less gain, so don't distort the amp at low volumes. If you want flat-out distortion, by all means keep those pickups in. but the newer "reissue, vintage" toasters (like mid-60's ones, wound to 7.4 ohms) I think are better. Same basic sound, but not overly loud and bassy like the high gains (neck pickup setting with hi-gains is so bassy, loud, and muddy I would never have used it. ) So, from here on you're reading about a guitar with 7.4 ohm, toaster-top pickups (these are about $80 each new, easy to install, and highly recommended. If you wan't to switch, don't bother with the other, stock, non "vintage" style 15 ohm toasters ...they are just as loud and basically identical to the hi-gains))

these guitars sound smashing, for everything. (I never understand why people thing some guitars "are for" some kinds of music. they'll sound like they do, and you'll like that sound for what you do or not.)

Can I be of help to undecided or unenlightented people who, like me untill recently, were not tipped off to the obvious, whout repeating everyone else..hmmm... Ok, I like the sound of Fenders mostly, but also I like to play Les Pauls for the sustain, where I can do little arpeggios and leave notes hanging and not have to strum away furiously like on a Fender to keep the sound going. But Les Paul pickups (humbuckers generally) lack clarity and the nice bell-tones of a good single coil..also I think the wood blend takes some high end away. Well, this Rick gives me everything the LP does but with clarity, more high and more low, and more shimmery harmonics, overtones, and resonance. It sounds like an INSTRUMENT, something a self-described "real" musician wouldn't snort at. Like a magic, Monet-painted guitar. It also rules on chords. You can play any power chord on it and it sounds like two guitars at once. It sounds great clean or distorted. However, it's picky about amps, I think mainly because it has a very distinctive midrange character. It sounds best through cleaner amps that don't mess with the midrange, i.e. not on amps that thicken up the sound to add body to thin guitars. It sounds better through a Showman (clean, 85 W Fender) than a Bassman (less clean, 45 W Fender). It sounds good through Class A, british-style amps (AC-15, AC-30, etc). It sounds good through Marshalls. just go play one already.

perfect finish, like a mirror. quality of bygone years. dual neck truss rods are very adjustable. Seems like there are a lot of metal peices, but it works.

these guitars look dinky but are not. The hardware is solid, heavily chormed, and looks indestructible. Odd, small strap pegs, though, so either punch your own holes in the strap, get lock-thingies, or stand still. Nice Shaller tuners. You won't complain about stringing that tailpeice once you've played it. Well, ok, you will.

I have no clue, but everything I've heard makes them out to be very helpful, like they'd invite you over and feed you too if you ever called.

I have way too much stuff, mostly fenders, a Les Paul, lots of different amps. This is the guitar sound I've been hearing in my head. It sounds focused but complex. It's literally awe-inspiring. I just sit and stare at it before I touch it, and when I do, I feel like it's taking me to school. It may not be the sound for you, but shouldn't you check to make sure? I did, and I'm happy to say I have been an idiot for a long time.

Same as the others reviewed here. It was made and purchased in '01. The bridge is a disappointment as it's not of the same high quality as the rest of the instrument, and I think it's a misnomer to call these
pickups "high gain" as they are no louder than the Duncan Pro Alnico 11's I have in my Tele. They sound nice and are very quiet, however.

This guitar is a wonderful rhythm instrument. Chords are well defined and there is alot of air and wood in it's voice, and the controls can take you from bright chime to dark chunk. Single notes are very musical, but are weak and don't penetrate.

The near flawless finish is called Desert Sand and is very similar to Shoreline Gold. The construction was very well done save for the nut which was cut narrower than the neck and left some adhesive exposed. The action when purchased was unexceptional, but became very low once I'd straightened the neck and lowered the bridge. The frets are small which facilitates playing funk, scratch rhythms but demands great hand coordination when playing single note lines.

I've owned the guitar too short a time to comment.

I have had no communications with them whatsoever.

This guitar reminds me of an american made 50's reissue Strat. It's a very good guitar but some of it's features are antiquated and I think that the guitar suffers due to this. Ric makes hum-cancelling single coils and I'd like to see them on this guitar along with some medium tall frets and a tune-a-matic brige. However, this is still a good, unique guitar and a very cool design.

Beautiful mapleglo 330 rickie, from 1996. All maple with glossy transparent finish, with awesome grain and same features as other models: rosewood board that is glossy and shiny ( has some sort of lacquer like the one used for maple necks), 5 controls (two tones, two volumes and blend), schaller machine heads, chrome hardware and huge sounding single coils. The neck is quite nice, not too thin and incredibly comfortable for someone with small hands like me.Hard original rectangular rickenbacker case, came with original Rick cleaning cloth.

The sound on this guitar is unlike any other Ive ever tried. Airy open sound because of the semi-hollow construction, but not too open like archtops. The single coils deliver an amazing sound through dirtied up amps, the clean sound on both pickups is quite astaounding. The neck pickup is very bassy and has a jazzy feel, althought its single coil nature comes out. The best sound you can get is when turning up the volume on old valve amps - get that clanging sound like The Jam or even The Who, thats what I use for most of the time.The tones coming from this guitar are so characteristic, albeit a bit limited, but they are so incredible, that just the sound on the bridge pickup is worth it every single cent.

The guitar came spot on. Action was fabulous, pickups needed a little tweaking because they were too close to the strings and distorted a little. The top looks lie heaven, and my girlfriend gets mad at me cause I drool at it, he he. The construction of this guitar is almost custom like, not a single flaw and I have yet to see a gutar so beautifully constructed.

I have used this guitar on numerous gigs and concerts. The only problem is feedback, unless you get to grips with it, you have to turn the knob down constantly, but I guess thats the norm with semi hollows. The hardware is quality and the guitar is all around solid, sometimes I have trouble tuning it after heavy playing, but this guitar is not only a looker on stage, but its sound through a revved up amplifier will leave the audience dropping jaws... I always carry a spare, sometimes after heavy sweating the fretboard can get quite slippery, but thats no problem for a normal gig.

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Finally, this guitar is probably the "best buy" I have purchased, for only 600 bucks I got the guitar almost brand new, with original case, and must say that Pick of the Ricks is a great store specializing in Rickenbackers, so they know their stock. The sound on my mapleglo Rick is so different to my other Fenders or Gibsons that I use it almost exclusively to get that incredible sound. It complements my music which is mostly old style British Invasion type, so the clean vs. kerrang suits my band perfectly. I am now considering buying one of the solid bodied rickies or even a 12 string model. If I had to choose one guitar out of all the ones I own, this would definitely be it!

hehehe. Went to guitar center today and played a bunch of things including this wonderful 1998 Rick. I'm pretty sure everyone knows what this guitar looks like. It's not exactly electronics heaven but it has plenty of features.

The sound was absolutely amazing. I played it through a vox ac 30 hoping to get that Tom Petty thing going but the only ac-30 in the place had a blown speaker. I plugged it into a 59 reissue fender bassman and the sound was breathtaking. The bright pickups were full of life. The neck pickups were a lot muddier but still cool.

The guitar's finish is impecably rick-like. It's nowhere near as lush as the PRS's guitars nor as expressive as the Gretsches but the finish was solid all around. The neck seems long to me. I don't know if this is typical of Ricks but the neck seemed quite long (maybe it's the cutaway that induces that feel). The setup was low and easy to play.

don;t own one but I will :)

The rick was an amazing guitar. It held up well against the Gretsches, Pauls and PRS I played today. There was an amazing sound from the guitar out of its bright pickup. It's not the best guitar I ever played but it was damn near close to it.

I've got several rickies: two of this model, an all black built 1990 and a tomato red from 1999. Usual setup: two superb pickups, 5 knob layout with built in morse coder.

I play mostly full on power pop (Who/Beatles) style and its great for that - a power chord machine Pete Townshend called it - but underrated for other syles like blues/country. This guitar has the richest, warmest single coil sound with singing feedback to die for.

Absolutely flawless from factory in finish fit and setup. The only problem I've encounted is the jack socket which is prone to work loose.

If you treat with respect it will outlive you for sure. You need to clean it occasionally as it has so many hidden crevices and watch out for chips off the old finish.

Never dealt with them. they sound extremely uptight about their babies tho'. Probably that's how they keep the quality so high.

I play it through a Vox Cambridge 15. Sounds fab through just about anything. In a world of massively subjective opinions, heres another. For a combination of style, looks and unique sound, this is the best guitar you can buy. If you play classic rock 'n'roll play it on this

My Rickenbacker 330 is Jetglo and made and purchased in 1999. Same features as all other reviews. Rickenbacker seems to be the only guitar manufacturer to use the "fifth" knob for blend control. It's a neat little feature although I don't use it much. I replaced the "R" tailpiece with a vibrato unit like on the 325 model (like Lennon's) but removed it shortly after. The vibrato tailpiece requires no modification or damage to the guitar so I can put it on agian if I choose. But it cuts down on the chiming sustain and the trem arm is short and more suited for the smaller 325.

There is nothing else that can sound like a Rickenbacker. Unlike Fender and Gibson style guitars that have numerous clones, there is no other manufacturer that rips off Rickenbacker designs (this is probably because of fear of a lawsuit). If you want the Rickenbacker "sound" - get a Rickenbacker. The sound is very unique and versatile. Yes it's known for clean jangle, but it can growl when put through an overdriven amp.

I bought this guitar when I worked for a large guitar retailer so I got the pick of the litter. I just waited until this shipment of Ricky's came into the warehouse and picked through the spanking new 330's until I found this beauty. Rickenbacker set-up from the factory is always great. The reason you see many warped necks and bad action when checking out Ricks at a guitar mega store is because of neglect. Generally employees don't maintain any equipment unless asked to do so. Customers come in and mess around and mistreat guitars. And the weather plays havoc too. For example, my 330 came in set-up perfectly and I took it home with no one else touching it. But after coming from warm, sunny California to dry, cold Chicago it took only a few days for the neck to need tweaking. Also since 330's don't have neck bindind like the 360 models, the cold dry air made my fingerboard shrink ever so slightly and I needed a fret edge file in a couple spots. Never had any problems since then!

Very reliable guitar. I have heard many morons who have never played a Rickenbacker say that those guitars look fragile. This is not true! I play very aggressively and I will fall apart before my 330 does. If you want to confirm very extreme use of Rickenbackers that will not fall apart think about Fugazi, The Church, The Jam, Flickerstick. Don't think of Rickenbacker killer Pete Townshend. The most aggressive I've met was Marty Willson-Piper from The Church who also can play amazing things on a Ricky 360 twelve string.

Never used.

Rickenbackers are classics. Made in USA with no cheap dumbed down versions like Fender and their Squire brand. I recommend this guitar to anyone who lacks a single coil sound that is unique from the usual Fender Strat. It doesn't matter if you don't have a Vox AC30, this guitar sounds good through anything and is more versatile than expected.

Mine is a 1999 Jetglo (black) Rickenbacker 330 6-string, made in the USA, of course. 24 frets, semi-hollow body, 2 Rickenbacker single coil pickups, independent tone and volume controls for each pickup, plus a fifth blender knob for adjusting the mix of the two pickups when both are on. The body and neck are maple, fretboard is rosewood.

Contrary to popular belief about Rics, I've found that this guitar is fairly versatile in tonality, without ever losing that unique Rickenbacker-esque nasality and shimmer. In the bridge position, you can go from twang and snap with the tone knob up high, to smoky, almost acoustic sounds when you turn it towards the bass end. The middle postion with is probably the most useful, because you can get the widest range of tones out of it. In this position, you can do fine tonal adjustments using the fifth blender knob, mixing different combinations of the two pickups (for example: bringing the neck pickup forward in the mix and putting the bridge at a lower volume, all the while adjusting each pickup's tonality with the independent tone knobs). The middle setting gives you the most typical Rickenbacker sound: creamy, yet shimmery. The neck pickup allows for some deep, clear, throaty tones, and turning the tone knob towards the bass end mellows things out and allows for some jazzy, archtop-sounding fatness. Also, the 330 sounds amazing when you lay a slide to it with a little bit of distortion. I use this guitar with my Fender Deluxe 112 amp and a load of effects stompboxes (Line 6 Delay Modeler, Boss Phase Shifter, Chorus, Flanger, etc.) The single coil pickups are actually pretty quiet, especially compared to my Telecaster's pickups. The only gripe I might mention is that when strings start to go dead on a Ric, you can tell right away that they are DEAD. In other words, just keep fresh strings on it and it sounds fabulous. I give it a 9, because no one guitar can do everything.

The factory setup on my particular 330 was perfect, and I haven't adjusted it yet. I've played other Rics at the store however, and their factory setup seems to be hit and miss: some play great, some are hardly playable. The action on mine was just right, not too high so as to be a pain in the butt, not too low so as to compromise tone or clarity. The finish was perfect except for one tiny chip on one of the horns, which I'm almost positive was the dealer's fault and not Rickenbacker's. Rickenbacker finishes are amazing, they look flawless and they're very resistant to scratching and checking.

It seems to be a dependable, well-made guitar; I have no worries about it falling apart any time in the next 30 or 40 years. Like I said, the finish is durable and resistant to wear moreso than any other finish I've had to deal with. I'd gig without a backup, sure. I'm a poor college student, so I'm certainly not about to go out and fork over another thousand to buy a backup.

I've only had one minor dealing with Rickenbacker. The dealer I bought this from does not have his act together at all, and so I called the company to try and ascertain whether or not my guitar was actually new (like the dealer claimed) or if it was simply a used one in "like new" condition. The representative I spoke to was pretty helpful once I explained my situation, but I did have to call back more than once to get the information I wanted.

I've been playing for 6 years. I own currently or have owned in the past a Gibson Les Paul Studio, a Fender Stratocaster, an Ovation Celebrity, and a Fender Telecaster. My Ric 330 is definitely the finest guitar out of all of them. If it were stolen or lost I'd be predictably upset, and then I'd miserably save my pennies and buy a replacement. Admittedly, the laminated freboard takes a little getting used to, but it's not that big of a deal, and it has actually helped improve my fretwork. I use this guitar in way that most people don't traditionally think of Rickenbackers, which is the whole 60's Beatles/Byrds pop-rock thing. I employ it in making ambient, dreamy, textured rhythm parts- sort of a space rock type thing (but I hate that label). The point is, this guitar is definitely not just a 60s revivalist instrument. I got outside the box of tradition and I've found that this a versatile, unique guitar suited to many styles of music.

The 330/6 features neck-through body construction, a semi-hollow maple body with a double cutaway design, and Fireglo finish that I became enamored with immediatley. It has 5 knobs for treble and bass, and one that acts as a mini-EQ for blending the two buttoned single coil pick ups. The bridge is of a unique design and allows you to "customize" the action for treble strings and bass strings of the guitar. It has a classic "R" tailpiece at the end. The neck is thin, (though not thin enough to bust out shredding) with a varnished roswood fretboard. This option may be the most troubling;despite the looks of the varnish, it doesn't allow for easy shifting of the fingers to adjacent frets due the friction between the fingers and the gloss. It is equipped with Schaller tuners that work well. The body had no binding at all (bummer). I also had to pay 100 extra for the deluxe hardshell case.

This guitar is ideal for vintage rock. Obviously the Beatles, the Kinks, and the Who are what this beauty was meant for. However, I can get some very fat jazz sounds out of it through a Fender Deluxe chorus while it is on the neck pick up. The pick-ups are single coils and have a great classic tone, although they are noisy at times. I use two MXR Reissue pedals (Phase 90 and Distortion+)and a VOX wah - they sound excellent. I recommend playing this guitar through a vintage Marshall Plexi-head or a VOX amplifier such as the AC-30 with some Electro-Harmonix pedals to fully utilize the vintage sound.

When I bought the guitar, the factory set-up seemed good but a little too high for my tastes. The pick ups were very high and were almost touching the strings so I had to re-adjust them. Finish on the guitar is vibrant and great looking, and could easily be one of Rickenbacker's greatest craft. My only gripe really is with the saddles on the bridge. The strings seem to pop out of the grooves sometimes and my B string seems to make a clicking noise by the saddle after a bend or vibrato.

The finish is strong and durable, and it only has minor wear. I was glad that Rickenbacker equipped strap-locking buttons on the 330/6. I am quite impressed with it, and it keeps in tune longer than I would have expected.

I have not dealt with Rickenbacker yet, nor do I hope to unless the problem is extremely mundane. I have heard that Rickenbacker is notorious for their lack of customer support and maybe that is why the dealer I bought from gave me a 2 year warranty at no extra charge

I have been playing for five years and play various styles. I think that this guitar sounds and plays great and is, contrary to what others may say, a versatile axe. I like its good sustain as well as its surprisingly fat tone. It is crafted with great care and am not regretting I bought it. One would also be hard-pressed to find an American made guitar with such great features and reliability.

Mine is a 1989 Midnight blue 330 with all black hardware and pickguards & nameplate. Today, all colors come standard with white pickguards & nameplate. It's a semi-hollow body with the classic unique Ric dovetail shape (double cutaway). The body edges are squared and there is no binding; unlike a 360 which has rounded body edges and white plastic binding. Personally, I like the look of the 330 better. I own a 360 (you can read my review if it's posted) and definitely prefer the 330. Same electronics as a 360 except without the "stereo Ric-o-sound" which I don't use anyway; just a single, mono output jack. 2 single coil pick-ups with volume & tone knobs for each. 3-way selector and a blending knob. Double decker pickguard. Set neck (solid) with a glossed rosewood fretboard. Dot inlays. F-hole which is shaped more like a car's tailfin from the 50's. Very retro yet modern look. A classy axe. All of the features it needs.

I really like the sound of this guitar. Very resonant as a semi-hollow should be. I do recommend heavier gauge strings (10-46). I can get classic Ric jangle out of it but I can also get beefy tones. The neck & bridge pick-ups sound very different and many tones can be found depending on how you use them. The neck pick-up can easily do jazz. The bridge will get that biting Tele type sound. The pick-ups suit the guitar well and I've had no inclination to change them. My favorite setting is using them both but favoring the blend toward the neck pick-up. The tone is truly better and more versatile than on my 360, but doesn't do that classic Ric jangle as well. A little overdrive or distortion on a tube amp is truly inspirational. It ranks with my Hamer USA Vanguard (w/P-90's), my Gibson ES-335, my Gretsch 6120, and of course the Ric 360 & 620. I play it through a Vox AC-15, Fender twin reverb, and a Marshall JCM 2000 half stack. It doesn't sound as good (too brittle) through the solid-state amps (Trace Elliot, old Yamaha). The guitar interacts well with Chorus & Phaser pedals (Boss) and an EQ pedal will really round out the sound if you need it (I like more low end, sometimes, which is why I didn't give it a "10" in this category).

The neck is thin, the frets are small, and the fretboard is glossed rosewood which isn't bad, but it ain't a Les Paul. But then it's not supposed to be a Les Paul. Its strength is that playing chords is very very easy throughout the entire neck, even above the 12th fret. Lead playing takes some getting used to, but I've had great success taking it to blues jams. Again, it depends on your hand size, what your preferences are, and what you're comfortable with. The action is low but without buzzing. The guitar plays & sounds great all over the neck. Very consistent. The cosmetics were perfect until I got ahold of it. Now it's a little scuffed, but that's my fault. It was before I learned what belt buckles can do.

Solid. The neck & frets have held up well. It's a professional quality, well-made guitar.

Unfortunately, this category is Rickenbackers greatest weakness, at least in my experience. The full story is in my review of my 360, but the short version is that I've now been waiting 3 months for replacement pickguards and an "R" tailpiece that Guitar Center in Texas has ordered for me. It is possible to order parts straight from the factory, but you are charged full retail/retail/retail. AND, They won't send you a new nameplate for the truss rod cover unless you send your old one back to them first; and yes they still charge you for the new nameplate without reimbersing you for the old one. All just because I wanted to change my other Rics from white to black pickguards. Oh well.

I love this guitar. I think it looks, plays, and sounds better overall than my more expensive Ric 360, but the 360 definitely fills a niche in my collection. I own 26 guitars and no 2 are the same. I go for diversity in my collection. I can't imagine not having this guitar in it. In fact, it's what prompted me to get a 330-12, a 620, and a 360 for the collection. It's fun to play and looks cool. Definitely not another strat, tele, or Gibson copy. If you like playing pop or classic Brit rock, then this guitar is a must have. Players with small hands will also dig this axe. Just hope you don't need to special-order parts for it.

This is a 2000 model Ric 330/6 in Mapleglo. The natural maple finish is really eye candy, with beautiful wood grain polished and buffed to an incredibly durable shine. It has a classic, unmistakable Ric profile. The body is made from maple and has a double cutaway, semi-hollowbody design with the signature Ric "slash" F-hole. The set maple neck is 1 5/8" at the nut and has 24 frets and dot markers on a polished rosewood fingerboard. The headstock is the unique Ric design with the famous slash nameplate and 6 Schaller tuners (3 up and 3 down). Two Ric high-gain single coil p/ups switched through a Switchcraft 3-way toggle are standard on this model, each p/up with individual volume and tone controls. Ric refers to the p/ups as "bass and treble", versus "neck and bridge" or "rhythm and lead". Kind of odd, but accurate. As I'll describe below, although most people think of the jangly, twangy tones you can get from a Ric, you can really get massive bass tone from it as well. The 330 also has a unique fifth tone control, which I find most useful as a master tone control once the individual tone pots have been set where I want them. Output is mono on the 330. The bridge is a unique 6 saddle design and the tailpiece is the Ric "R" style trapeze. The first thing you notice about the 330 when you strap it on is how unbelievably light it is (about 8 pounds). My Tele seems to weigh a ton by comparison. The 330 is a very, very comfortable guitar to play.

I play classic pop/rock from the 60's through 90's and the 330 obviously fits much of oldies set perfectly. Beatles, Beach Boys, Who, etc. - I mean, come on, this is the original article. On the other hand, the 330 is (surprisingly) a very versatile guitar, capable of a wide range of tone from 50's Duane Eddy twang to jazz rhythms to gut smashing metal riffs and most everything in between. It has an airy, live sound that does not rely on any effects or electronic tweaking. I have played it through an Acoustic Simulator pedal and it was practically overkill. It sounds marvelous through a trem pedal, where the ringing, bright tone really sparkles. With the tone turned down and switched to the treble p/up, the 330 is capable of really nasty punkish toned power chords pushed through an overdrive channel. For the classic tones, you need an AC30 or a vintage Marshall. I play it through a DSL401 and it sings.

My 330 was perfect in terms of fit and finish - I literally found no flaws whatsoever. The Schaller tuners, strap lock buttons, switch and controls were all tight and perfectly installed. The guitar was shipped from the factory with a very low action that is incredibly easy to play. It came stock with Ric 10-42 gauge strings, which are a little stiff but add some sustain.

The finish on this guitar is very durable, the parts and components are all first rate - I'd say this 330 will hold up under steady gigging. I currently play out 2-3 times a month and at that pace this guitar should last me a lifetime. The strap buttons are strap locks that are a very nice standard feature. I will always bring my Tele as a backup and for sets where I will use D tuning on the Tele, but I doubt my 330 will ever crap out in the middle of a gig. It is built like a tank.

A 1 yr warranty is standard and Ric is pretty fussy about making sure you get the warranty registration sent in within 2 wks of buying the guitar. Have not needed repairs yet and Ric insists on having repairs done at their plant in Santa Ana (they don't have any factory authorized service centers).

I've been playing for 15 years, primarily as a rhythm guitarist in pop/rock and oldies bands. The 330 makes a very sweet rhythm guitar, perfect for layering behind a hot lead player. If it were lost or stolen, I'd replace it with another Ric in a heartbeat. I compared the 330 to a few other guitar makes: Gibson 335 (way too expensive), Guild Starfire 4 (too heavy) and the Epiphone Casino and Dot (nice finish work, but cheap components). The 330 is an incredibly well built American guitar at a very reasonable price.

Mine's a 330FG, born in the USA Aug, 1994. I purchased it at the Dallas Guitar Show from the Rickenbacker regional sales display the summer of '95. I'm it's original "owner" though this one was being demo'd. at the show. Because it was a floor demo model and probably because the distributor didn't want to crate it back home I got it and the case at what I consider to be a great deal - around $450. Fantastic maple grain under that deep fireglow finish! You know the features: 24 frets glued-in 3-ply neck with rosewood fretboard (laquered), all maple thin line hollow body, 2x Ric single coil pickups, 2x vol and 2x tone plus 5th blend knob, 4-post floating 6-saddle bridge with chrome cover, "R" tailpiece, 2-tiered white plastic pickguard. It always fascincated me that Rickenbacker saddles are just hunks of what looks like lead, with a string notch just crudely cut into them - but they work, and I've had no broken strings.

I replaced the hi-gain "button" pickups (which I liked very much - like a Telecaster on steroids!) with Rickenbacker "vintage" "toaster" pickups. I like the look of that extra chrome, I guess. Huge difference in output, in favor of the modern hi-gain p/us. The modern pickups are more versatile as well - more midrange, lots more output, more "spank" and, especially in the neck position, less muddy. But I like the looks and it sounds like 1964 in the bridge and both pickups positions! But the modern "button" pickups are better than the vintage, in every case, unless you are looking for that specific vintage sound.

Originally, with the "button" hi-gain single coils it was what I refer to as "a Telecaster on steroids". But I wanted the more authentic Ric chime, and liked the looks, of the vintage "toaster top" single coils. The vintage pickups really de-fang the guitar. Not so much variety, not nearly the "spank" or output, and the neck position is very muddy.

Unless you just gotta have the look and sound, keep the "button" hi-gain single coils on your guitar.

I play her through a VOX AC15TB "reissue" (2x10, which I don't believe are made anymore) and a 1968 Fender silverface Princeton Reverb. Through the VOX, with those vintage pickups, it is pure 1964. The "CLANG" of "Hard Day's Night"? - I got it, buddy! Sounds great for those Beatles/Byrds/Beach Boys tunes, but not as versatile as the original pickups.

Factory set-up at the show was not all the great. The neck could have been straighter (and now is) and the action lower (and now is). It was a pretty darned average-playing guitar until I got her set up better. Now running 10s on her, neck is FLAT, action is low but not quite rediculously so. Great player - and very comfortable, to boot.

As with almost all Rickenbackers, fit, finish and construction was flawless. Astounding.

I'm a bass player, so this guitar just gets taken out of its case and admired from time to time and in the safety of my music room at home. It looks and feels like a toy - but I'm not fooled. I own (and play/gig) 3 Ric basses, and play in and have played in bands where Ric guitars were featured. They LAST. They hold up. Sometimes the pickup selector is noisy or feels "loose", but that's just the nature of the switch Rickenbacker uses. The floating bridge often seems to have buzzes in it - but these never get transfered to the amp. Rics also have very small strap buttons. Use strap locks. But I know from experience that Rickenbacker instruments are astoundingly durable and reliable. Case in point, one of the guitarists I play for plays a 1984 jetglow 330 (with original "button" single coils) as his only guitar - no backup. He is the original owner. He plays it ALL the time. In 16 years of ownership and playing he has finally worn a small "hole" in the finish above the low E where his pick often hits when he's flailing. That's just the finish - the rest of the guitar is just as tough. Yes, you can depend on a Rickenbacker.

In another review I gave Rickenbacker a "10". That review was for one of my Ric basses, a 4003JG - which likely won't get posted becuase I gave it straight 10s! Anyway, they (RIC) answered my letters promptly and professionally (this was way before the internet), and I've called them 1 time - years ago. All were positive experiences. But all were years and years ago. They were all for "good stuff". I've NEVER had to contact Ric for any repair/warranty or even to complain in any way except about their old guitar cases (which that year were changed to the plastic anvil cases of today - that's how long ago). Rics give years and years of enjoyment and faithful service - they just don't give problems. But I'll leave this "no opinion", because I haven't contacted them in almost a decade.

Bass player for 20 years. Guitar is for fun and to write with, and to humble myself. I play (gig and studio record) with Fender basses as well as my Rics, but Rickenbackers are my love. And I appreciate Ric guitars as well, wanted 1, have 1. Wish I had 4 Ric guitars (and at least another Ric bass): a 4001/V63, 660/12, 650D, 620 plus this 330. Slowly but surely, I'll get them. There's something about them - they have a soul. And there is no denying that they are works of art.

If my 330 were lost or stolen, I'd probably get one of the 350 reissues and keep working on the collection above. Or maybe a 1997. Or maybe another 330FG and keep the original "button" pickups in it. But I'd definitely get another Ric guitar.

I have other guitars, and other basses besides Rickenbackers. I just plain LIKE playing Rickenbackers. They feel and play great, and sound like nothing else.

For those of you with vintage 3-pickup Rics and want to split the neck and middle pickups, one of my guitarists wired his 350 like a 2-pickup model and wired the middle pickup (volume) to the blend knob. He no longer has the "blend" capability, but now has a more versatile guitar since he can dial in the middle pickup in tandem with the bridge, neck or both.

I own a 1995 rickenbacker 330 fireglo made in USA
has 24 frets
semi hollw body /wood
5 way selector

has that classic jangle

had to sen it to a luthier for complete set up

I would not use it without a backup

playing 30 years...own Fender / Ovation