Rickenbacker 360 Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitar (with Case)
Designed in 1958, this semi-hollow body guitar became a staple for British Invasion guitarists of the 60s. It features two hi-gain single coil pickups to recreate that sound.
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Yesterday's Guitar? Meet Today's Guitarist
Guitarists today are a spoiled lot. While many maintain that any new design and fabrication techniques in the realm of instrument design have already been designed and fabricated (though we'd like to argue that), there seems to be little room left for innovation. As such, guitarists are liable to rest on their laurels and rely on the well-plowed paths laid out by our forefathers. Rewind 50 years, and you'd be greeted by a vastly different musical landscape. In 1958, when the 360 was first introduced by the Rickenbacker corporation, this guitar was a radical departure from anything else readily available to the guitarist, and couldn't have come at a better time. Particularly, members of the British Invasion were quick to snatch the guitar up and make good use of its inherent chiming, bright, sparkling, defined tone.
The Renegades of Handmade
Each Rick 360 is handmade in Santa Ana, California, and because of that there are relatively few 360's out in the wild. While that might mean waiting on the finish of your choice, you can also count on an added level of respect and deference when you show up to the gig or session and crack open your hardshell case to reveal your treasured 360 waiting inside.
Construction, Construction, What's Your Function?
Part of the Rickenbacker 300 series, the 360 adheres to Rickenbacker design traditions while blending in a handful of updates sure to please the guitarist of today. The first thing you'll notice is the semi-hollow design of the deluxe body. Made of Maple, the body has a rounded top edge and body back for the utmost in comfort, and is handsomely bound. Unlike most semi-hollow electric guitars, the sound hole in the 360 is a unique bound crescent moon shape, a very welcome departure from the standard violin-style f-hole. The pickups on the facade of this beauty are two hi-gain single coils of Rickenbacker design, controlled by an array of knobs and a switch on the multi-tiered plexiglass pickguard. Those pickups are wired up to two dual, stereo outputs, allowing you to split your signal in any way you see fit. The bound triple-ply Maple and Walnut neck is set into the semi-hollow body, and the 24 frets on the 24 and 3/4-inch scale length neck will make you feel right at home. The Rosewood fretboard is finished with a clear varnish and inlayed with triangle fret markers, and like many other Rickenbackers, dual truss rods ensure stable tuning and rigid neck strength for as long as you own the instrument. Speaking of tuning stability, further adorning the already handsome headstock are a set of three to a side Schaller tuners, and if you know anything about machine heads, you know that these are the tops (pun intended.)The bridge and tailpiece are an interesting duo indeed: while the tweakable 6-saddle bridge might not turn any heads, the "R" tailpiece sure will, proudly announcing that this instrument is a Rickenbacker, head to toe.
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This guitar broke all the rules of traditional styling when it appeared amid the 'British' sound of the 1960's. Subtly updated through the years, this Deluxe hollow body with its special contour around the entire body perimeter, is still perhaps the most comfortable guitar of all. The bound body and Rosewood fingerboard, inlayed with triangular pearloid markers, provide an exceptionally attractive appearance. Stereo output is standard.
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"Can't beat that Ric Jangle"
Sound:
the sound is Bright, clean, and responsive. This guitar has 2 sides, ranging from the bright jangle to a throaty growl. No doubt, beats my gibson and gretsch in most ways. I play through a vox 100 watt, and use the sterio output to a 50 watt fender bass amp, cuts the little hum to none.
Feature:
the bridge and tailpeice is attractive, the finish is perfect, and the varnished fretboard is something i love. I will never want to play on a bare fretboard again, i will simply tolerate it. the guitar is maple, and is so well built, its as one solid peice
Ease of Use:
every sound is unique and good in some way. the opposite settings completly change the personality of the guitars tone. I havent tried to get a metal sound, but as far as heavy, it is capable of handling anything from the police to a black sabbath fuzz. the neck and fretboard is very fast, and the body is surprisingly light, but not flimsy. it is very sturdy and solid feeling to play with, sitting or standing. all the frets are pretty accessable for me, but im more used to large hollowbodies and acoustics, so some may disagree past fret 17
Quality:
I believe this guitar will outlive me. I can fing no flaw, and factory set up was almost what i use. i lowered the strings a centimeter at most, the only issue I can think of is that the R tailpeice should be strung one string at a time. it is difficult to remove all the strings and re string it, as it is seperate from the other part of the tailpeice and held there, like an off center gibson stop-bar. its not a big deal, but the only thing that can be cited as any sort of flaw.
Value:
I have played several 5,000+ gibson and fender guitars, and as far as I can tell from my impressions, few match a Rickenbacker in terms of how they play and were built.
Manufacturer Support:
the company is friendly and informative with support, as well as user forums. not much contact has been made, but what i have discussed was clear, focused, direct, and correct information.
The Wow Factor:
the shape is unique. the color is appealing. the chrome shines, and the headstock/nameplate and tailpeice is a very cool looking addition.
Overall:
If some disaster befalls this, I would get it repaired and I would also purchase a new one. I have every sound i need, from this. I am keeping an SG handy for lead/solos, and a Gretsch for thicker sounds, but this is easily tweakable to get those tones. This price is unbeatable by any comparably priced guitar, deffanatly not a beginner or budget instrument though. The thing i like the most is the feel of the fretboard, its unlike any other guitar. the thing I like least, if anything, is the R tailpeice being a seperate part. its an irreplaceable guitar, unless you just get another
Style of Music: Blues, Rock, Folk
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"The one and only."
Sound:
Amazing sound quality, though not entirely versatile. This may actually be my mistake as I was only borrowing one from a good friend for a couple tours. He uses his in his own band (Against Me!) and really uses as little distortion as possible, but I play in a crust band. However, I'm not saying it didn't do is duty. Overall, really, great sound, just not entirely versatile.
Feature:
A fitted hardshell case, Ric-O-Sound, what more can you ask for?
Ease of Use:
This is the easiest-to-play guitar that's ever graced my calloused fingers. The neck is rosewood, so it's easy to slide up and down the neck with relative ease. Very, very easy to use.
Quality:
Very well crafted. I'm not sure if they're still hand-crafted, but they feel perfect and are durable.
Value:
If you have this guitar, you will never want to buy another one. Worth every dollar. I'd pay more.
Manufacturer Support:
I did have to replace a tailpiece once, and Rickenbacker answered me swiftly. Shipping was a little slow, but that's okay.
The Wow Factor:
I've been begging to use it for years. From the very first time I say it I knew I wanted one, even when I didn't play guitar.
Overall:
I'm putting every dime in my bank account to buy my own and when I do I'm not gonna feel the least bit guilty for it.
Style of Music: Crust, hardcore, punk, folk
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close [x]More ExpectedWe have been given a date of Dec 22 for the arrival of this item. This date is not guaranteed, rather an estimate based on either information obtained directly from the manufacturer or historical delivery data for the specific manufacturer.
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Really. It's not a problem for us. In fact, we'll thank you
for the chance to live up to our lowest price guarantee!
It's fast and easy
Just tell us where you saw the lower price - another
website, an email offer, your local store - and we'll send
you our lowest price offer in a matter of hours.
Simply click the Seen it for less? link
Next to the item you want, or give us a
call at 800-zZounds (800-996-8637).
A temporary customer reference number is assigned to each customer only while they are shopping on zZounds.com. If you call our customer service department for assistance, this number makes it easier for us to answer any questions you have about products, services or purchases.