Difference between 330's and 360's... ?

[P Bassarabbas]

Hi all!

I am thinking of purchasing myself a brand new rickenbacker, and so by
checking out the models, I have narrowed it down to either a 330 or a 360,
presumably 12 strings.

By cheking out the rickenbacker.com site and other rickenbacker sites, I
cannot find any notable differences between those two models.

Anyone kind enough to give some enlightening information to rickenbacker
newbie?

In advance, thanks!

Best regards,

P Bassarabbas

[Mordan]

Can't comment on differences in sound or playability, just cosmetics. The
330s have, of course, those pointy ends on the body , or 'broad, sweeping
curves' as Rickenbacker might say. The 360s are rounded.

I think the 360s also have white binding on the front edge of the body,
unlike the 330s. Personally, I prefer the look of the 330, though the 360 is
also a nice guitar.

Anyone else? Isn't there something different about the wood in the
fingerboard on a 330?

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Post by P Bassarabbas
Hi all!
I am thinking of purchasing myself a brand new rickenbacker, and so by
checking out the models, I have narrowed it down to either a 330 or a 360,
presumably 12 strings.
By cheking out the rickenbacker.com site and other rickenbacker sites, I
cannot find any notable differences between those two models.
Anyone kind enough to give some enlightening information to rickenbacker
newbie?
In advance, thanks!
Best regards,
P Bassarabbas

[Steve Lasko]

Post by Mordan
Can't comment on differences in sound or playability, just cosmetics. The
330s have, of course, those pointy ends on the body , or 'broad, sweeping
curves' as Rickenbacker might say. The 360s are rounded.
I think the 360s also have white binding on the front edge of the body,
unlike the 330s. Personally, I prefer the look of the 330, though the 360 is
also a nice guitar.
Anyone else? Isn't there something different about the wood in the
fingerboard on a 330?

360 fretboard has triangular ("sharks fin") inlays. 330 fretboard has dot
inlays. Both have two pickups. 360 has binding in the back and sound hole;
330 doesn't. To my ears, 360s are somewhat more resonant when playing
without an amp, but I'm sure others would dispute that. Both are terrific
guitars.

--Steve
http://www.janglebox.com
http://www.lasko-design.com

[David Ranc]

Post by Steve Lasko

Post by Mordan
Can't comment on differences in sound or playability, just cosmetics. The
330s have, of course, those pointy ends on the body , or 'broad, sweeping
curves' as Rickenbacker might say. The 360s are rounded.
I think the 360s also have white binding on the front edge of the body,
unlike the 330s. Personally, I prefer the look of the 330, though the 360 is
also a nice guitar.
Anyone else? Isn't there something different about the wood in the
fingerboard on a 330?

360 fretboard has triangular ("sharks fin") inlays. 330 fretboard has dot
inlays. Both have two pickups. 360 has binding in the back and sound hole;
330 doesn't. To my ears, 360s are somewhat more resonant when playing
without an amp, but I'm sure others would dispute that. Both are terrific
guitars.
--Steve
http://www.janglebox.com
http://www.lasko-design.com

There is somehting by John Hall, Rickenbacker CEO about the difference
between the 330 and 360 available on the web. Just google for it.

[P Bassarabbas]

Post by David Ranc

Post by Steve Lasko

Post by Mordan
Can't comment on differences in sound or playability, just cosmetics. The
330s have, of course, those pointy ends on the body , or 'broad, sweeping
curves' as Rickenbacker might say. The 360s are rounded.
I think the 360s also have white binding on the front edge of the body,
unlike the 330s. Personally, I prefer the look of the 330, though the 360 is
also a nice guitar.
Anyone else? Isn't there something different about the wood in the
fingerboard on a 330?

360 fretboard has triangular ("sharks fin") inlays. 330 fretboard has dot
inlays. Both have two pickups. 360 has binding in the back and sound hole;
330 doesn't. To my ears, 360s are somewhat more resonant when playing
without an amp, but I'm sure others would dispute that. Both are terrific
guitars.
--Steve
http://www.janglebox.com
http://www.lasko-design.com

There is somehting by John Hall, Rickenbacker CEO about the difference
between the 330 and 360 available on the web. Just google for it.

Great! Thanks for all the replies!

Best regards,

Peter Bassarabbas

[Aristeas]

Hi, I'm in the market for the same guitar and have had the chance to
compare the two side by side at my local guitar shop. Both had higain
pickups. Cosmetics aside I found the two to be remarkably different in
sound. The 360 has to be one of the most sophisticated guitars Ive ever
played. The layering of harmonics just acoustically is beautiful. It
sounds smooth, deep and shimmering. The 330 I found to be a touch louder
acoustically. It's also less subtle than the 360, but has more bite,
more punch and it feels more 'edgey' to play, like it's going to
overdrive the amp. And it's still got that beautiful ringing chord
sustain Ric does so well..

For me it'll be the 330, but only because I can't have both.

Post by P Bassarabbas
Hi all!
I am thinking of purchasing myself a brand new rickenbacker, and so by
checking out the models, I have narrowed it down to either a 330 or a 360,
presumably 12 strings.
By cheking out the rickenbacker.com site and other rickenbacker sites, I
cannot find any notable differences between those two models.
Anyone kind enough to give some enlightening information to rickenbacker
newbie?
In advance, thanks!
Best regards,
P Bassarabbas

[P Bassarabbas]

Hi!

Thanks for the reply!

Did you by any chance feel any difference about the fretboard/neck? Width,
etc...

Thanks!

Regards,

Peter

Post by Aristeas
Hi, I'm in the market for the same guitar and have had the chance to
compare the two side by side at my local guitar shop. Both had higain
pickups. Cosmetics aside I found the two to be remarkably different in
sound. The 360 has to be one of the most sophisticated guitars Ive ever
played. The layering of harmonics just acoustically is beautiful. It
sounds smooth, deep and shimmering. The 330 I found to be a touch louder
acoustically. It's also less subtle than the 360, but has more bite,
more punch and it feels more 'edgey' to play, like it's going to
overdrive the amp. And it's still got that beautiful ringing chord
sustain Ric does so well..
For me it'll be the 330, but only because I can't have both.

Post by P Bassarabbas
Hi all!
I am thinking of purchasing myself a brand new rickenbacker, and so by
checking out the models, I have narrowed it down to either a 330 or a 360,
presumably 12 strings.
By cheking out the rickenbacker.com site and other rickenbacker sites, I
cannot find any notable differences between those two models.
Anyone kind enough to give some enlightening information to rickenbacker
newbie?
In advance, thanks!
Best regards,
P Bassarabbas

[Aristeas]

The fretboards were pretty much the same, although the 330 played a
little easier (for me), possibly because of the guitar's shape and how
it rests against my body .. I have a 660/12 which suits me fine as I
have big hands - my left hand can span from the nut to the 10th fret The
620 I tried looked great, but really cramped me for room, and the 350
and 325 weren't any good (for me) either. The JL 325 felt like a
mandolin up a bove the 9th fret!

Hope you find one you like.
Cheers, Aristeas

Post by P Bassarabbas
Hi!
Thanks for the reply!
Did you by any chance feel any difference about the fretboard/neck? Width,
etc...
Thanks!
Regards,
Peter

Post by Aristeas
Hi, I'm in the market for the same guitar and have had the chance to
compare the two side by side at my local guitar shop. Both had higain
pickups. Cosmetics aside I found the two to be remarkably different in
sound. The 360 has to be one of the most sophisticated guitars Ive ever
played. The layering of harmonics just acoustically is beautiful. It
sounds smooth, deep and shimmering. The 330 I found to be a touch louder
acoustically. It's also less subtle than the 360, but has more bite,
more punch and it feels more 'edgey' to play, like it's going to
overdrive the amp. And it's still got that beautiful ringing chord
sustain Ric does so well..
For me it'll be the 330, but only because I can't have both.

Post by P Bassarabbas
Hi all!
I am thinking of purchasing myself a brand new rickenbacker, and so by
checking out the models, I have narrowed it down to either a 330 or a

360,

Post by Aristeas

Post by P Bassarabbas
presumably 12 strings.
By cheking out the rickenbacker.com site and other rickenbacker sites, I
cannot find any notable differences between those two models.
Anyone kind enough to give some enlightening information to rickenbacker
newbie?
In advance, thanks!
Best regards,
P Bassarabbas

[Phil12]

I have a 360-12 with toasters and a 330 with high gains.
Acoustically, I can discern no real difference, though the 330 seems
just a touch louder. From what I understand, the acoustic routing in
the 330 is a bit larger than the 360's, which may be the reason for
the difference. Through an amp, the 330 has a noticable edge to it,
and gives one tough, full sound when "pushed", though this may have
more to do with the PUPs than the way they are built. My 360-12 is a
bought-new 1967 Fireglo model and has all of the jangle RIC's are
known for, and the crafstmanship is remarkable!. The 330, though
newer (1986), shows the same level of craftwork, but without the extra
"chrome-and-fins" of the 360, and no Ric-O-Sound stereo wiring. As
far as the necks go, my 360-12 has the old "bent-rod" truss rod
system, and has a much thinner neck than the 330, that has the newer
rod system. For my money, you can't go wrong with getting either
model.