Question: Ric 660 or 335 or LP Special, or...?

Which?

  • Ric

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 335

    Votes: 3 75.0%

  • Special/Jr

    Votes: 1 25.0%
  • Total voters
    4
bsman

bsman

b00b
I am limiting myself right now (due to a lack of space and a desire to not leave my heirs - none of whom play - too much to have to deal with) to three electrics at a time. Currently, I have a Fender AVII '77 Custom Telecaster (S/H), a Ron Kirn blackguard ash tele (S/S) and a Reverend Contender 290 (P90s). Even though I'm perfectly happy with what I've got, I am getting itchy to dump the Rev (it's a fine instrument, sounds and plays great) in favor of something new. I doubt I will ever move on from the other two (well - never say never). Anyway - I'm looking at options for a new #3 and so far here are the biggest contenders. I like to buy local when I can, and these are all at Dave's Guitars:

#1: I love Rics when almost anyone other than I plays them. At least the models I've played (330/360) just have never been comfortable to me but the neck on the 620 feels much better in my hands. I know Rics have a reputation as being fiddly and weird, but no more so than Gretsch, etc. Also helps I'm a hopeless Petty fan and a lot of what I enjoy playing would fall into the "Power Pop" category.

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#2: I've never had a "real" 335-style guitar before. I've had a cheap copy or two (which were actually surprisingly decent) but am curious as to how the real thing would fit in my collection. It is considered one of the basics, and since I'm such a tele fan, basic is sort of my happy space.


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#3: One of the few guitars I ever really regretted trading off was a 2012 Gibson LP "Junior Special" - the run with the roasted maple fretboards. That guitar was a beast and had the best-sounding P90s I've heard played. I like the Rev fine, and the BCC does provide a lot of tonal variation but at it's best it can not match the tone of those Gibson P90s. There are a couple LP Jrs (including a double cut) with P90s that would fall into this category as well...

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Significant dissenting opinions welcomed as well. We're talking about a want, not a need!
 
Gibson just brought back double cut LP juniors. That would be a great way to scratch that itch.
 
There is no wrong choice of the bunch.

Right now, my personal tastes swing toward the LPS. I started on the Ric 360, and I loved it's baseball bat neck and round fretboard radius,, but the plastic-y clear-coat rosewood board, a lot of fretwear, and a maddeningly wobbly bridge design were ultimately why I moved it along. I have never owned a 335 style.
 
Reasons in favor of 335. Vintage voiced humbuckers sound great. Humbuckers are the original noise canceling pickups. If you work the volume and tone controls, a 335 can produce an amazing variety of sounds. It’s very versatile in multiple genres of music. It can do great clean. It can do hard crunch. The semi-hollow body allows you to get the feedback loop between amp and guitar at much lower volumes. The semi-hollow body makes the guitar vibrate against the players body in a very satisfying way, making them feel connected to the sound. With certain settings of guitar and amp, there’s a distinct resonant quality to the sound that can’t be produced with a solid body instrument. With other settings, it can sound very much like a solid body guitar. They feel very balanced on a strap.

The downside of a 335. They can produce too much feedback at loud volumes. But, you can always employ the BB King trick of stuffing towels into the f-holes if that happens.
 
I’ve played examples of all of those recently. They all feel real different. I’d shy away from the Special unless prepared to swap the bridge immediately because of intonation annoyances. Also, that one is the least different than yr Contender and unlikely to be markedly different sonically. They also have a chunky 50s type neck. YMMV.

Ric 620/660 types do feel “small” vs “normal” guitars if that sort of thing bothers you. Also, the have a pretty distinct sound so you’ve got to dig that. I’ve played some Rics that are amazing and some that are repulsive piles of shit. So I’d likely want to put hands on it. They can be fussy and rattly.

ES 335s are very nice. But I’m not super into them—despite having weird desires to buy one here and there. I’d rather have a Les Paul type. If I were just randomly buying one of these for kicks. The 335 would probably be my pick for the safest choice.
 
Interestingly, all the guitars mentioned are two-PU models. So, when you have two Teles; one S/H and one S/S, then what don't you have in terms of sonic possibilities, and vibe not least? Personally I'd think the Ric and the 335 would differ more than the Jr, each in very different ways.
 
jrockbridge said:
Reasons in favor of 335. Vintage voiced humbuckers sound great. Humbuckers are the original noise canceling pickups. If you work the volume and tone controls, a 335 can produce an amazing variety of sounds. It’s very versatile in multiple genres of music. It can do great clean. It can do hard crunch. The semi-hollow body allows you to get the feedback loop between amp and guitar at much lower volumes. The semi-hollow body makes the guitar vibrate against the players body in a very satisfying way, making them feel connected to the sound. With certain settings of guitar and amp, there’s a distinct resonant quality to the sound that can’t be produced with a solid body instrument. With other settings, it can sound very much like a solid body guitar. They feel very balanced on a strap.

The downside of a 335. They can produce too much feedback at loud volumes. But, you can always employ the BB King trick of stuffing towels into the f-holes if that happens.
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This.
 
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