Rickenbacker 650 DAKOTA

It has everything you need, and nothing you don't. It can be had with or without a vibrato tailpiece. My version is without. The expensive walnut wood used in it's construction is very unusual at this price point. The warm sound of walnut balances the bright sound of the maple neck and results in a very well balanced sound. The nut and bridge are designed for maximum sustain and the wide neck with rolled edges works very well for me. The lack of a plastic finish coating is a plus, not a minus, if good tone is your goal. The natural wood grain is more beautiful than any colored coating could ever produce, in my opinion. The greatest feature is tons of good tone. The rugged machined tailpiece makes a Strat or Tele tailpiece look like the junk it is in comparison. The pickups are quiet, powerful, and versatile. The tuners are quality Schallers, as well as the locking strap lugs. You get a nice hardcase at no additional cost. Rickenbacker has given its larger competitors a major thrashing in the value-for-money category. I dare you to find a similar guitar that sounds significantly better at twice the price, and this is RIC's lowest priced model. They did this one up right!

Writing about sound is like dancing about architecture. The Dakota does country, rock, and metal. It has TONS of sustain and can play in full sustain without having to go deaf in the process. Rings like a piano when not playing loud enough for sustain. The nut, tailpiece, and neck-thru construction are doing their job like a champ. The tung oil finish gets out of the way and lets the tonewood and strings just sing together. A VERY balanced sound results. The pickups sound too bright and clear to be humbuckers, but humbuckers they are as they are QUIET pickups also. It can sound fat, or it can sound a bit jingle-jangle. Gibson, Fender, PRS, and others hope you never play this guitar but instead follow the suggestions of their overpaid endorsers and buy a more expensive guitar with lesser sound quality. I ain't that stupid, Bubba!!! Does Gibson and Fender plan on upping their quality while lowering their prices in order to fully compete? I don't know, and don't really care, because Rickenbacker Rocks! I use a Marshall AVT50 combo amp with my Dakota.

While it may not be the best there is, it's the best at this price, and better in what matters in making good sound than most other far more expensive guitars. It could be an 8 or 9 in the absolute sense, but since it is the best you can get for well under $1000, it gets a 10. The action may come set a little higher than you can actually get out of this instrument, but that is to get a better tone. My action is between 5/64 and 6/64 on the low E (top) string and slightly less than 4/64 on the high E (bottom) string at the 12th fret. The neck has .010" of relief at the 8th fret. This allows for a fairly heavy pick attack without buzzing on any frets. It is very easy to adjust the action due to the dual truss rods and individual string saddles that allow string positioning along all three axis. When you reset the action, it holds steady. You will have no problem adjusting the action to your taste and it is very easily accomplished on this guitar.

It's a tank! Ready for a full frontal assault under any condition. It comes in a very nice hardcase that the hardhead competition would charge you extra for if they could ever figure how to make a guitar this good at this price.

Never had a warranty problem, and I may never have one if their other guitars are built this well. The best customer support is a well made guitar in the first place. Sending a piece of crap back to a manufacturer to be fixed with no questions asked is NOT the road to good sound. You just get back a piece of crap that still sounds less than great. I never heard anybody call their Rickenbacker a sorry guitar, so their customer support must be great. I'll rate this category when I have a problem, which means I may never rate it.

When you look at the qualiy in relation to the cost, you wonder how they can do it and pay American scale wages in California. RIC must have one hell of an efficient factory and none of the overstuffed shirts that obviously plague Gibson and Fender (let's hope the reborn Gretsch company can offer similar value and keep dear old RIC honest). I know they run behind on orders and never have to warehouse instruments. Their business and sales philosophy is vastly different from Fender, Ibanez, and Gibson, or most other guitar manufacturers for that matter. They don't pay stars huge sums of money to play their instruments, but many of the best have used their instruments anyway, such as the Beatles, the Byrds, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Joe Walsh, Glenn Frey, John Fogerty, Pete Townshend, Susanna Hoffs, Carl Wilson, and too many others to list. The 650 series may be their best overall solid body design to date. Not really fair to compare it to the 300 series semi-hollow electrics, but the construction quality is up there with them. I would buy this guitar again without a second of hesitation. I know of no other production made guitar that I would mail order without fear of getting a lemon. I never saw a Rickenbacker that was a lemon, but I bought a Fender that was, so I will never mail order a Fender again. Make sure you like a wide neck (I do) before you try this guitar, but other than that I can recommend it without any reservations whatsoever. Rhoads Music, Ed Roman World Class Guitars, North Coast Music, and several others are good sources if you mail order, which is usually the case if you live away from a major stocking dealer. Most guitar shops will never carry Rickenbackers, which has more to do with RIC's business philosophy than with any quality issues. They are picky as to who they allow to sell their product and stipulate a minimum yearly order in order to be a dealer. It tends to eliminate unstable and uncommitted dealers, and saves RIC a ton of grief as well. That is to the customer's advantage. Join the Rickenbacker fraternity, and you will probably never look back.

I was actually hunting for another Marshall head when I saw this axe. I tried a standard guitar through a JCM900 (of which I already had) and thought, these heads are shit! Why do I bother... then I saw this ugly beast and thought "I just have to play that!"

What a turn around in sound. 2 volumes, 2 tones - no real dynamics there at all. Neck trough design, and nice thin body with huge upper reach (cut away at the 24th fret).

Fat... Loved it... Made that Marshall sound like a GOOD amp! Very nice tail piece if you have come from full floating Floyds.

Sits like shit, doesn't sit well... to much left of center - sitting down is pain in arse as well.... the lower horn is non-existent and the damn thing wants to slip off your leg.

It has been 2.5 years and I still struggle to feel comfortable with this guitar ? but hey! It?s a baby ? and fuck it is tough with fat sound thought marshals? shits over my Ibanez and all other 80?s axes? the tone is apparent.

I was expecting a typical Rickie sound, but this smooth, and fat. I use 15 ? 66 gauge string in E (flat) and short of having to re-intonate and tight the tuning head, I have dropped this guitar and smacked against mike stands and symbols (I get a little carried away onstage) and she holds hard.

The rollers on the tail piece are to soft and get massive grooving which I am sure contributes to my string breakage ? and that 3 way switch is nightmare ? pull it apart and have a look, you?ll see what I mean.

Not really durable out of the box for what I do... Normal guitarist would have no prob... but we are hard, high energy and play 3 nights a week on 10 10.

Like I said great sound? shits over you Jackson?s, Ibanez (whom I love for neutral tones), Hammers, Kramers etc etc.

Not as fat as a Les Paul? has fat with a little rickie in it? nice combination

That?s it! Great driving sound. used it record with (http://www.kindergartenx.com/Recordings/TakeAListen.htm) have what I need to change styles nicely.

Fantastic finish? I couldn?t stop smelling it a year and touching the smooth oil grain finish? beautiful beautiful finish. Nice hardware.

Mine has the soft wood etched out of the grain from some serious rhythm playing above the 6th string? looks kind of cool? really grooved and etched? but you should really look after you baby.

Come with tips and recommended products to help the longevity of your axe. Follow em!

1 point off for poor balance and the whole left of center and lower horn thing.

Tough axe. Like I said ? we play hard? really high-energy stuff? This axe gets it hard 3 nights a week? dropped, surfed on (great floor balance ? the head stock has just the right tilt not to break when you surf the body).

That 3 way switch is on the wrong angle for quick pickup switching? and there is a black stopper on the inside that seem to come of every now and then leaving you with both pickup on full ? that?s a pain in arse when you need a tight bridge sound? the switch just goes all soggy! I super glued mine twice? Ha!!! Bloody thing!

Got a new nut because of my string gauge? string kept jumping off the nut with heavy strumming? got a new one put on? but you really need their nut ? more quality tone than the generic nuts.

The tail piece needs more scope for intonation so wankers like me who need big strings (so they don?t break as may due to aggressive rhythm parts) can intonate properly?

Up to 52?s you won?t need to touch a thing? 60?s need work and some serious machining to fit the string through the saddle? God 66?s ? drop the intonation spring and shape the saddle block ? gets tedious and expensive not to mention putting your axe out of action for a week or so.

Oh Yeah! What with the CRAP strap screws. The thread pitch is is so tighr that I have lost my guitar several times on stage because the thread has such a small bit on it, that it pulls straight out of the body? Mate! It wood! Use a course thread! I hate having to buy strap locks and do little things like that.

Dependability ? well watch out for the switch, strap studs and shitty rollers on the tailpiece that screw you strings eventually? they can really get you in the shit when you least expect it?

BUT STILL A TOUGH AXE! My main guitar for every gig in 2.5 years? some small adjustments (except the rollers on the tailpiece) and she ready to work as hard as your Marshall?s even with a pint a beer over it at every gig.

Has never needed to use it... None here anyway... it's all in the States and who can be fucked talking to some twat whose 13 hour behind the rest of the world.

Strong guitar - nothing you can't fix, so you should never need to bother. Quality craftsmanship for the price.

Well 12 years, only 7 guitars (6 which I still have. I will buy another as a back up... I know the mods I need to make... been there done that... once it is done you shoud be right.

Still doesn't sit right... nice neck feel... can't really compare it anything... I get a guitar I like and I stick to it... so my range is limited... I have played everything... but you can't rate and compare a guitar you have only played a few times... you'll never explore it's character and nuances to compare it fair.

Double Humbuckers, 2 tone and volume knobs. Maple Fretboard. Really rocks. Action a little high.

The sound is wonderful. A hell of alotta sustan. Maybe not the greatest lead guitar but does wonders for rhythm work.

action a little bit high. body was great.

it'll last forever :)

never dealt

its not my guitar, its a friends. i really love it tho'.

2 humbuckers a tone know and volume knob for each pickup and a 3 way switch, maple fretboard

this thing sounds amazing, so clear and warm, the pickups are also amazing,

everything is perfect

this is by far my favorite guitar of the 5 electrics i own, i bought a carvin a few years back and i never played on it much, the rickenbacker puts it to shame, playability, pickups, sound, you name it. The neck on this puppy is super fat, which may take some time if your not used to it but i like it, for 650 bucks you couldnt ask for anything more, and it looks amazing

2000 Model made in USA 24 frets solid body eastern rock maple neck
through the body walnut wings 2vol 2 tone 3 way switch chrome knobs
chrome pick guard. all natural finish dual hum pickups passive.schaller tuners maple fretboard.hardshell case included

I play thru a line 6 amp. Play just about everything from surf,older
rock, METAL and some country. VERY quiet pickups has alot of variety
for many diffrent styles. This guitar has A TON OF SUSTAIN IT GOES ON
FOREVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVER.I was really surprised how well it can
play metal, but it can PLAY all diffrent types.

Set up was a tad high for me but not a big deal.Everything else was
just fine except one of the knobs was just a little stiff.

Excellent solid guitar hardware will last.

Been playing for about 15 years Have a yamaha 812W and a js 1000
I think i will give me nephew the yamaha and probably sell the js 1000
I would buy another one if it were lost at this price made in usa
with a hardshell case inc and the BEST SOUNDING MOST VERSITAL GUITAR
ive seen in years. The neck is a little bit wider than most but
with my big hands its great.

USA Manufactured 04/2000. 24 frets. Solid body; maple neck through beautiful walnut body. The appearance of this guitar is quite exquisite. It looks a hell of a lot better than I can play :). It has 2 volume, two tone, and 3-way toggle pickup selector switch. The pick guard and all controls are chrome plated, Two humbuckers (look like minis). Hand-rubbed oil finish. No laquer. It has a stop tailpiece with insividual saddle adjustment that includes lateral adjustment. Extremely fat neck :)). Comes from the factory with a hard shell case included.

I play mostly rock and blues with the occassional (please forgive me) country-sounding song, ugh. The guitar is quite versatile. I think the pickups are unique in that they are indeed humbucking but they also can be dialed in quite thin to really cut through the mix. The old saing that Ric's all sound the same does not apply here. This guitar is quite thick in it's sound and has enough bottom to play all the black metal you desire. The neck through construction really piles on the sustain, too.

I've not adjsuted anything since I took this guiatr out of the box. The factory set-up is right on for my style playing, but I prefer the action a little higher than most to add to tone. The neck is straight as an arrow and don't imagine (what with neck through construction) that I'll ever have to much adjusting of those twin truss rods.....hope not anyway. The pickup height is right on. The woodwork is exceptional and flawless. Absolutely striking appearance. All controls are tight. This guiatr is manufactured by hand and there is absolutely no slop anywhere to be found. Highest quality statement being made by Ric.

The guitar is rock solid. Comes with strap lock buttons. I would definetely use this guitar without a back-up. Quite frankly I'd be afraid to set it down at a gig for fear that someone would bang into it or something then I'd have to explain to the police why I hit the with the amp headand......

This is my second Ric in 15 years and I've never had any problems when I've contaced the company. They have always been exzceptionally helpful and very professional.

This is the best, most versatile, highest quality, MOST BEAUTIFUL guitar I've ever owned and at last count.........this is the 43rd guitar I've owned ( so I like to trade). I will have this guitar the duration I'm quite sure and probably will have de-tune my others and prepare them for storage. Hamer Standard, Hamer Rick Nielsen Signature, Fender '72 Thinline Re-issue. If you don't have one, get one. Hell, for $800.00 you can't go wrong...hard shell case included!

2000 model. USA made. 24 frets. Solid-body (what? in a Ric?) yes, that right solid walnut with maple neck-through-body, natural hand rubbed oil finish. 2 volume, 2 tone, 1 3-way pick-up selector switch, two humbucking (what? in a Ric?) right again slappy. Conyoured body, crested wave style, stop tail piece with individual height adjustment and are you ready for this one Leo?...lateral string adjustment too! Schaller tuners. Watch out for this one Fender, Gibson heads......hard shell case included. Here's a steak for that black eye.

As anyone know...it has always been said a Ricenbacker sounds like a Rickenbacker sounds like a Rickenbacker....la-la-la-la....guess again snapper-head....this guitar is absolutely unique in it's sound. You can dial in Fender, you can dial in Gibson, but you can also sound totally unique. And if big bottom is you gig Delta Burke....it's got it too. Unbelieveable! This is the MOST VERSATILE GUITAR I HAVE EVER PLAYED IN 26 YEARS!

Out of the Box the action was a tad bit high but for thpose who know tone, you realize this adds to tone so I left it as is. Pick-up height excellent. By the way once again, breaking out of the old school where all Ric pickups were surface mounted, this guitar is routed and the pickups are fully adjustable...(what? in a Ric?)

Neck through body, dual truss rods, chrome plated knobs and pick guard...walnut body for cryin' out loud! You could beat off a groupie no prob! One swing!

Don't know. I've owned 4 Rickenbackers and Never, I repeat, NEVER had a problem.

I've been playing professionally for 26 years. I've owned just about every Make and Model out there at one time or another and this is BY FAR THE BEST AND MOST VERSATILE GUITAR I'VE EVER OWNED, BAR NONE! If this were stolen I would pursue the felon to the ends of the earth long enough to beat him with the walnut body, retune, and play on! All other manufacturers should take notice. Rickenbacker is now full on in the competitive market. And with this guitar coming in at under 900.00, hard shell case included, perhaps many heads will be forced to remove themselves from their collective asses in the corporate world (Gibson) and take notice again.