New Rickenbacker Order Placed...

[Hook]

Just say you accidentally hit the wrong button and surprisingly enough there are no returns.

[chapperz66]

That's a looker!  I bet it is a "sounder" as well!

[Groundy]

Hows it going, is it on its way yet,
I think I am just as excited as you.....


Alex

[Groundy]

Where's our Guitar Cuthbert...

[cuthbert]

Thanks folks for all the nice comments! I really appreciated them all. Been very busy with work lately, and I also had been waiting for a nice day to get some well-lit photos to show off my new baby.

I actually received the Rickenbacker on the night of Thursday, Jan 5. Not too much trouble, except for the fumbled delivery attempt early in the afternoon (the delivery was upon signature-only, and FedEx tried to deliver at the back house. Couldn't have knocked more than once, because I didn't hear it, and so he didn't leave anything but a failed delivery attempt note. All the while, I was working upstairs in my office at the front of the house). I made some phone calls to try to get same-day redelivery to no avail, and ended up driving about 15 miles at the end of day to a FedEx facility in another town to take delivery that night.

And it turned out the missus wasn't upset about the new guitar at all. Demons of the mind, as it were.

I've been playing it almost every day. Here are some photos I took this past weekend (first bright sunny day in quite a while):





Notes and Observations:

• The guitar arrived well-packed, and in the expected factory Rickenbacker case with all the usual Rickenbacker swag inside
• It was already perfectly set up (this due to the setup work the shop I bought it from did before they shipped it - Willcutt Guitars in Lexington, Kentucky - an authorized Rickenbacker dealer and a guitar dealer I will gladly do business with again someday). The owner/luthier called me with the setup details, which I found of great interest (apparently, factory set up isn't so great). I've never had a guitar play this easily right off the bat, and it's balls-on in tune all the way up the neck, with no buzzes or sharp edges anywhere. Very pleased.
• The fit and finish is absolutely gorgeous. There's a thick, shiny coat of poly or lacquer over the wood, and the grain and flame are quite visible underneath. The fretboard is lacquered Bubinga with lots of flame (for more info on Bubinga wood, see https://www.craftsy.com/blog/2014/08/what-is-bubinga-wood/). The fretboard and neck both feel surprisingly good, and I love the darker accent wood strips used for contrast on the back of the neck and on the headstock. It's a Cadillac compared to the guitars I've been used to in the past. Rickenbackers are still assembled in their factory in Santa Ana, California, just south of Los Angeles. There's an undeniable late-50s/early 60s vibe to the design of the 330 model, with tons of 'wing' types of flourishes in the design. Therefore, I stand by my Cadillac comparison.
• When on the bridge pickup or the middle position (between both pickups) is selected, it has that characteristic Rickenbacker chime and jangle. Been working out some Who, Byrds, and Jam tunes, so hopefully those will be among my next few song posts. The neck pickup is quite different: surprisingly jazzy sounding compared to the bridge pickup. This I did not expect. The tone control for each pickup are the top two knobs, and the volume controls are the bottom two. The blend control (the 5th knob) blends the neck pickup, with full-on neck pickup at counter-clockwise, to minimal at full clockwise. It's all quite different than my other guitars, but I do like the flexibility so far.

Anyway, thanks again for all the nice feedback! I feel sure that getting this guitar now was the right thing to do. And do I ever love playing it - more music to come!

cuthbert

[danieldesete]

Man you can sell these photos to playboy magazine !!

[launched]

That is a fabulous specimen cuth! I'm sure it plays as well as it looks

[Farrell Jackson]

She's a real beauty Cuthbert! That neck pickup blend knob seems very useful for tuning in some bottom to the sound when needed. A Cadillac is a good description for it's style...nice....I'm jealous!
Farrell

[Groundy]

I look at this everyday,
One day.......


Alex

[Johnny Robbo]

Rickenbackers aren't really my cup of tea, but you might just have converted me with these pics... this is a BEAUTIFUL guitar... just stunning, mate! Looking forward to hearing what you do with it