The Guitar Diaries Part 10: Rickenbacker 330/6 (September 2005 – April 2015)

I’d been flirting with the idea of getting a Rickenbacker for many years. I’d even tried out a 330/12 five years before and thought it was the most amazing thing I’d ever heard.  In 2004 I’d made serious enquiries about getting a 360/12 but it was just a little too expensive. Then in 2005 I had a little spare cash, had begun to start writing and recording a lot, and thought the time was right to go ahead. Initially I had thought about getting a 330/12 and having it strung as a 6 string, but having made a few enquiries about this possibility on the Rickenbacker foum, it seemed that the flexibility would compromise the instrument a little too much. Although I love the sound of the 12 string, it seemed like I would be paying a lot of money for a niche instrument, so I decided to go with the 6.

I didn’t know what to expect from the Rickenbacker, I knew from the construction, wood and pickups it would sound a lot different to my Les Paul. I wanted to be open minded about it, and I was happy that it would give me a new range of sounds and influence me to play in a different style.

I was lucky enough to spot one on eBay in my city, with a collection only delivery option. I always pay special attention to collection only auctions on eBay, since they effectively limit the sale to whoever is willing to drive and pick it up. I went and took a look at it a couple of days before the auction ended – it played fine – and was then lucky enough to win it.

Rickenbackers are lauded for their ability to jangle, but I was determined to not be limited by that. The first few recordings I used it on, I found out that it was possible to actually get a really good blues tone from it, and it’s semi-hollow construction reminded me – slightly – of the sound from an ES-335, although brighter.

When I got the Rickenbacker I played it like a mad thing, and for several years it was the main guitar. As my tastes swung back a little to cleaner sounds and picking, the Les Paul was only bought out when I needed that specific sound. Because it doesn’t sustain as well as the Les Paul I found I needed to work the notes harder and this improved my technique. I think I reached an all-time high for technique in about 2006 from playing this guitar so much.

I found everything about this guitar perfect, a wonderful Fireglo finish; it always stays in tune and always feels so positive and bright in my hands. The neck feels just the right size and there’s good access all over the fretboard. The quality finish, the custom shop build quality… all Rickenbackers are quality instruments, and I have a lot of respect for the company itself, still family owned and operating in a sustainable and ethical way. You don’t need to worry about what year your Rickenbacker is from, they’ve always been build consistently well and they take their quality very seriously as the expense of greater profits and wider margins.

As I got into electronic music and using synthesizers from about late 2008 – 2012 it got used less, and when I the second Strat arrived I tended to have that out on the stands, and kept the Rickenbacker in its case for safe keeping. However, I do love this guitar and along with the Les Paul I will never part with it. I do lust after a couple more Rickenbackers, a 12 string (would need to try out several versions), and also a 4003 bass.

2022 Update: Sold this back in 2015 when I got the Johnny Marr Jaguar and reacquired my Epiphone Riviera. I had too many guitars!