Instantly recognizable in both sound and appearance, Rickenbacker offers guitarists something unlike the competition. When the Beatles started using Rickenbacker instruments in the mid-'60s, the new visibility secured Ric's lasting reputation and place in popular music. With different-sounding pickups and eye-catching stylings totally their own, Rickenbackers are a great choice for something different and intriguing—even for just one song a set. It's no surprise that many of our rock-n-roll heroes have chosen Rickenbackers for the stage.
Offered in both 6 and 12-string configurations, the 360 model is a semi-hollow guitar with the distinctive carve and character only Rickenbacker can provide. This Rickenbacker 360 6-string was made in 2004, and it features the blacked-out "Jetglo" finish with a white tiered pickguard. It has one strip of white binding around the back edge, and the top edge is carved and rounded (as appropriate from 1965 onward). Its Rosewood fingerboard sports smaller "shark-fin" triangular pearloid inlays, and it has the thick shiny lacquer finish that makes Rickenbackers feel so different from other guitars.
The original owner swapped this original pickups with Rickenbacker's signature "Toaster" single-coil pickups, which gives this 360 the proper 1960s sound and vibe. Often mistaken for humbuckers, the Toaster pickups are responsible for the crisp, jangly tone that put Rickenbacker on the map.
The 360 comes standard with volume and tone controls for each pickup and a fifth control knob. Often misunderstood, the fifth control knob was designed to serve as a volume equalizer for the neck pickup when in the middle position. With Rickenbacker's designs, the neck pickup is usually louder than the bridge, so in 1961, they introduced this control as a solution. But in practice, it acts more as a tone blender between pickups and as a general EQ between the bass and treble tones of the guitar.
- Body: Semi-Hollow
- Scale Length: 24-3/4"
- Nut Width: 1-11/16"
- Body: Carved Maple top w/ Flat Maple Back
- Neck: Three-piece Maple
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Fingerboard radius: 10"
- Pickups: Vintage Reissue "Toaster"
- Tailpiece: Trapeze
- Tuning Machines: Schaller sealed tuners
This 2004 Rickenbacker 360 is nicely balanced and lightweight (7 lb 9.3 oz). It has been played over the years, so it shows general play wear all around the obvious areas. There are some unfortunate dings on the side edge of the top (by the f-hole and next to the tailpiece—see photos). Fortunately no breaks, damages, or repairs. The strap buttons are set up for Schaller strap locks. The original case is included, which has a little bit of musty smell. This model is equipped with the Rick-O-Sound stereo output, which allows you to plug each pickup into different amplifiers.