RICKENBACKER GUITARS

Rickenbacker International Corporation, also known as Rickenbacker , is an electric guitar manufacturer, notable for putting the world's first electric guitars into general production in 1932. All production takes place at its headquarters in Santa Ana, California. Rickenbacker is the largest guitar company to manufacture all of their guitars within the United States. The origins of today's Rickenbacker Guitar Corporation begin with two men: George Beauchamp and Adolph Rickenbacher. In 1925, Adolph Rickenbacker and two partners formed the Rickenbacker Manufacturing Company and incorporated it in 1927. By the time he met George Beauchamp and began manufacturing metal bodies for the "Nationals" being produced by the National String Instruments Corporation, Rickenbacker was a highly-skilled production engineer and machinist. Adolph soon became a shareholder in National and, with the assistance of his Rickenbacker Manufacturing Company, National was able to boost production to as many as fifty guitars a day.
During the 1960s, Rickenbacker would enjoy an incredible endorsement when a couple of Rickenbacker models became permanently intertwined with the sound and look of the most popular band of the 1960s and arguably the most influential band of the 20th century: The Beatles.
In Hamburg 1960, then-unknown John Lennon bought a 325 Capri, which he used throughout the early days of The Beatles. He eventually had the guitar's natural alder body refinished in black (a color later to be officially known as 'Jetglo' by Rickenbacker), and made other modifications. In its Beatles era final modified form, Lennon played this guitar during The Beatles' famous 1964 debut and third appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.
As both the British invasion and the 1960s came to an end, Rickenbacker guitars fell somewhat out of fashion; however Rickenbacker basses remained highly in favor through the 1970s and on. Perhaps as an echo of the past, during the late 1970s and early 1980s, Rickenbacker guitars experienced a renaissance as many New Wave and jangle pop groups began to use them. Rickenbacker guitars and basses continue to be very popular to this day with demand persistently and exponentially outstripping new factory supply. Demand is particularly high amongst retro groups who have been influenced by the sound and look of the 1960s.


Rickenbacker 360 Review:

Features : 9 1991 mapleglo with black hardware & pickguard. Looks awesome. The Ric-o-sound is a cool item but one rarely used by most. I think Ric should include the box & cables with every stereo guitar. Otherwise it has good features that are well positioned. They've had a lot of years to perfect it.
Sound : 8 If you are primarily a rhythm player (I am)this is your axe. The chime is what we all remember & gave Ric its reputation. I have to admit that I always bring a second guitar for my occasional lead work. Its just not gonna cut like a Strat or growl like a Gibson. Great mid to highs but a little thin on the bottom.I love the sound but it doesn't work for every tune (probably good for 80% of our stuff).
Action, Fit, & Finish : 10 I have 3 Rics & this is why. My first, a 1965 Ric 450-12, I bought in 1966 & still gig with it. I have not seen consistent quality control over the years from anyone else. The fit & action are top notch & the finish will give the PRS dudes a run for the money. Only ever replaced six machine heads on the 450 to keep tune better & just did that 2 years ago.
Reliability/Durability : 10 Well see above. I had a drunk fall over on my 360 several years ago & feared the worse. Amazingly it was perfect except the G string was a little flat. It may look fragile but its a tough bugger. I only have backups for my lead work.
Overall Rating : 9 I would give this guitar a "10" if were just a little thicker on the bottom but maybe then we would lose the patented chime that we all love. This is the most attractive guitar in my whole 14 guitar collection. You WANT to hold it. I will always buy & love Ric's. I have the 450-12, a 1996 620 & this baby. Rock on!

Rickenbacker 650D Dakota Review:

Features : 9 The main feature of this guitar for me is the Rick "cresting wave" body shape. This is about my favorite guitar shape of all time. The fretboard finish is satin rather than the typical Rick gloss, so it feels and plays better than other Ricks.
Sound : 9 The stock guitar sounds good, but I was missing that classic Rick sound. So I bought a Rick "High Output" single coil pickup for the bridge pickup from Pick-O-the-Ricks. It drops right in and the soldering was easy. I checked that the wiring diagrams are exactly the same on the humbucker and single coil 600 series guitars. The sound is now mucho more versatile. I can get that classic Rick bridge pickup sound. Switch on both pickups and I now have a quacky out-of-phase sound that really puts out the funk. And the neck pickup has that darker bluesy humbucker lead sound. Lots-O-choices. I give it a 7 without the mods and a 9 with.
Action, Fit, & Finish : 7 This is a beautiful guitar. Everything works tight and smooth. The neck is more of a "players" neck than other Ricks. But, as delivered, the low E wanted to keep dropping off the fretboard when fretted. I was able to adjust the bridge roller inward so that the string stopped dropping off, but it seems that the nut groove for the low E string was cut a hair too far outboard.
Reliability/Durability : 9 Seems well made.
Overall Rating : 9 This is my favorite guitar body shape and would make anyone stand out in the field of strats. I wasn't real crazy about the stock bridge humbucker pickup, but installing the Rick single coil bridge did the trick for me. Now it sounds like Rock-n-roll.