Got a Frankenbacker!

westtexasred · Post by **westtexasred** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 7:11 pm

hotrodperlmutter wrote:is that a real super distortion in the bridge thar?

I don't know,haven't gotten the guitar yet. It looks like the real one below(2nd photo).

The japanese copies(like the ones in my Greco) only had 2 holes and they don't have the Dimarzio style pole pieces

singlepup · Post by **singlepup** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 4:53 am

Makes me want to trade my Jag for a Ric. Really can't top those fast Ric necks.

And the 480/81 are really great looking models. I never considered these before.

Is it time to start scouring ebay?

Goddamit.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 5:09 am

singlepickup24 wrote:Makes me want to trade my Jag for a Ric. Really can't top those fast Ric necks.

And the 480/81 are really great looking models. I never considered these before.

Is it time to start scouring ebay?

Goddamit.

Can I ask what you mean by fast neck?

My 330's neck is chunky like a mofo

singlepup · Post by **singlepup** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 6:37 am

Nick wrote:
singlepickup24 wrote:Makes me want to trade my Jag for a Ric. Really can't top those fast Ric necks.

And the 480/81 are really great looking models. I never considered these before.

Is it time to start scouring ebay?

Goddamit.
Can I ask what you mean by fast neck?

My 330's neck is chunky like a mofo

Really? Perhaps I need to reconsider then lol.

I was referring more to that strange lacquered feel of the Ric neck. Don't know quite how to describe it. On certain Rics I feel like my fingers just fly up and down the fret board.

I have played quite a few Rics but have never owned. Don't really recall the necks being chunky, but then again I used to own a Les Paul back in the day. I may have a totally different take on the Ric now that I am a Musicmaster guy.

serfx · Post by **serfx** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 6:59 am

all this Ric love that i keep seeing makes me want to at the very least try one some day..

singlepup · Post by **singlepup** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 7:13 am

Nick wrote:
singlepickup24 wrote:Makes me want to trade my Jag for a Ric. Really can't top those fast Ric necks.

And the 480/81 are really great looking models. I never considered these before.

Is it time to start scouring ebay?

Goddamit.
Can I ask what you mean by fast neck?

My 330's neck is chunky like a mofo

OK, have been trying to figure this out so I started scouring other forums.

Nick, what year is your 330?

From what I can tell, those who have newer Rics descibe the necks as chunky. Older Rics (and perhaps less bulky models such as the 480) have necks that some call "toothpick necks" and compare to vintage Mustang necks. Apparently this shift in neck profile is a documented phenomenon in the online Ric world.

The slimmer neck profile is the type of Ric I remember, but it has been a few years. No interest in the chunky monkey at this point

Any input on this topic would be well appreciated!

singlepup · Post by **singlepup** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 8:40 am

Oh no, all this Ric talk got me excited. I had to email this guy:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/msg/2748475669.html

What do you all think about the 610?

westtexasred · Post by **westtexasred** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 9:24 am

Nice! The 610 is like a 620 with dot inlays. They don't make them anymore.

Here is a thin profile Rickenbacker 360v64 neck next to a chunky profile Rickenbacker 360 neck

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:50 pm

singlepickup24 wrote: Nick, what year is your 330?

Thanks for the explanation. My 330 is a 2008, so that makes perfect sense. Now I really want to play some older Rics to see which one I like more.

Also agreed with you on the lacquered fretboard, I love that about it.

westtexasred · Post by **westtexasred** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 4:44 pm

Nick wrote:
singlepickup24 wrote: Nick, what year is your 330?
Thanks for the explanation. My 330 is a 2008, so that makes perfect sense. Now I really want to play some older Rics to see which one I like more.

Also agreed with you on the lacquered fretboard, I love that about it.

Older Ricks have smaller fretboard radius too and the the necks are narrower than modern Rickenbackers.

singlepup · Post by **singlepup** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 10:13 pm

westtexasred wrote:Nice! The 610 is like a 620 with dot inlays. They don't make them anymore.

Here is a thin profile Rickenbacker 360v64 neck next to a chunky profile Rickenbacker 360 neck

WestTex, do you think an 1989 Ric 610 will be more likely to have a thin profile? I love that thin neck, not into the thick one at all.

I tried an 88 Susanna Hoff 350 once. Extremely rare guitar. Had the thin profile. SO easy to play!

Thanks for any feedback. I may well be on the verge of getting that 610. The owner is willing to trade for my Jaguar. I just don't know if I'll have time to check it out before Xmas due to upcoming travel plans, etc.

singlepup · Post by **singlepup** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:40 pm

Also, have just been reading that the 600 series generally have thicker necks than the 300 series? Any truth to this? Seems to be a source of some debate on Ric forums. Some say the profiles vary by year, some by model, and some say it's just random.

westtexasred · Post by **westtexasred** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 12:27 am

Hi,I can't say for sure but I think 610 from 89 would have a thinner neck. I think the Rickenbacker necks didn't start getting thicker until the 90s and after. Do you belong to one of the Rickenbacker forums? Those guys could tell you for sure.

singlepup · Post by **singlepup** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 12:33 am

Nah, I don't as I have never owned a Rickenbacker. I think I might have to hop on a forum, though. All this info I've been spewing has come from lurking on various Ric sites.

Best Ric forum to check out?

singlepup · Post by **singlepup** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 12:35 am

Thanks for all the info, by the way!

westtexasred · Post by **westtexasred** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 12:53 am

No problemlo. Hey check it out... I got my Frankenbacker to day. It is still defrosting so I didn't play it yet.I just took a quick look to make sure it wasn't broken.

singlepup · Post by **singlepup** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 12:57 am

Damn... looks effin sweet!!

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 2:21 am

What year was the cutoff? Now I really want to try a thin neck Ric.

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 2:42 am

singlepickup24 wrote:I tried an 88 Susanna Hoff 350 once. Extremely rare guitar. Had the thin profile. SO easy to play!

One day I will spend a stupid amount of money on a guitar, and it will be that guitar.

westtexasred · Post by **westtexasred** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 4:43 am

So I got to play with my new toy and it is AWESOME!

Check it out:

Neck bucker is a vintage Gibson T top

Bridge is a 70s Dimarzio Super Distortion

30 year old Bowen Handle

Tuning machines are vintage Gibson Deluxe tulips

Still sounds like a Rickenbacker like through a clean amp but it loves to get dirty,ohyeah.