Intro Unless you hang out in the right circles you really don’t hear much about Rickenbacker these days, which is really a shame when you consider that they continue to produce high-quality guitars, with truly one-of-a-kind styling and craftsmanship.
In fact, in a world where badly-conceived Stratocaster and Les Paul clones abound, Rick’s unique form factor, finishes, and American-Made quality come as a real breath of fresh air.
My favorite of Rickenbacker’s six-string offerings (and the one I have the most experience with) is easily the Rickenbacker 620 — a guitar that epitomizes what the company is known for: style, tone, and attitude. It’s also quite possibly Rickenbacker’s least known guitar.
What We Liked Ok, it’ll come as no surprise that the 620 excels at jangley tones — a feature that made Rickenbacker guitars one of the signature sounds of the ’60s psychedelic era — but it also has a whole lot else up its sleeve.
The 620’s Rickenbacker high-gain pickups produce an unbelievably lush tone in the neck position, and because it also sports mono and stereo outputs — that’s right… stereo guitar outputs! — you can route the 620 into a pair of guitar amplifiers, creating a wave of sound that really has to be heard to be appreciated.
Add a good chorus effect to the mix and you’ve got a sound like no other.
And those same high-gain pickups make for great, warm overdriven tones, too; particularly in conjunction with a nice tube amp. Add in the 620’s legendary sustain — yes, some people even complain that it’s too much sustain — and you’ve got a guitar that is an absolute dream for playing long, stretched-out leads.
In all honesty (sorry Gibson & Fender,) the Rickenbacker 620 has the lowest action, and fastest playing neck I’ve ever had the pleasure to play. The slim, maple double-bound neck fits easy in the hand, and the highly polished rosewood fretboard is adorned with sleek triangular pearloid inlays.
Topping off its incredible playability is the 620’s innovative solid maple “Cresting Wave” cutaway body design — which is deceptively light-weight, and beautifully carved. Other cool features include a seriously stylin’ chrome Rickenbacker “R” tailpiece, two each volume and tone controls, 3-way pickup switching, and of course those cool mono/stereo outputs.
What We Didn’t Like Well, there is very little I would actually call “bad” about this guitar, though there are certainly aspects of its design that might turn some people off — for one thing, like a lot of my favorite guitars the Rickenbacker 620 isn’t really all that versatile.
What I mean to say is… well, it’s a Rick, and you’re never going to make it sound like a Strat. But then again, you’re never going to make your Strat sound like a Rick either, so I guess it balances itself out.
Another minor quirk that kind of got to me was the “R” tailpiece, which in spite of its good looks is rather difficult to string-up (hint: whatever you do, make sure you replace one string at a time — which is something you should be doing anyways.)
Specs Solid maple body, double-bound maple neck, rosewood fingerboard with 21 frets and pearloid trangle inlays, six-saddle bridge, Schaller tuners, Rickenbacker high-gain pickups, humbucker pickups, 3-way pickup switching, dual volume & tone controls, thru-body neck, mono/stereo outputs.
Final Word In my mind the Rickenbaker 620 is one of the truly great guitars currently being produced, and I have no problem saying that if you’re in the market for a uniquely-styled instrument, with a clear, lush tone and incredible sustain, well… you’d be hard pressed to find a better guitar at this price range.
The 620 is in a class all its own.
June 19th, 2006 at 2:15 pm
As a rookie guitarist (I’ve been playing for… four months now? ha), I’m always looking for a sound that’s not quite common in music these days - rather that’s provided by a fresh, finely crafted guitar or unorthodox effects, so it’s nice to see that my choices have been expanded yet again. The stereo output - especially in light of that wonderful Vetta II modeling amp that you featured a few days ago, could lead to some wonderful soundscapes that are only a switch away.
Not to mention that it looks flat out gorgeous in a way that’s familiar but altogether different. I’m certainly putting this one on my list.
June 19th, 2006 at 3:31 pm
I’m with you on that one Charles. There are so many guitars that look and sound the same these days – heck, even the big boys continue to just keep recreating their own guitars over and over again – so I’m always on the look out for a unique design and sound.
Going with a Rickenbacker means you at least have the benefit of an instrument that stands a bit apart from the rest, both tonaly and aesthetically, but still has a long track record of producing excellent equipment.
I still think the 620 is one of the best looking guitars out there. It’s also feels quite small in your hands, which makes for easy fretting, and the neck is just incredibly fast.
They aren’t all that cheap, but they do run about half the cost of a Les Paul ;)
November 12th, 2006 at 6:46 pm
I own a Ric 660. Absolute prestige and warmest tone i’ve heard from any guitar. Jangles and sings like nothing else. Exact same shame as the 620, but with gold pick-guard, silver ‘art deco’ square tailpiece, checkered body binding and ‘toaster’ style single coil, scatter wound pick-ups. Wouldn’t trade this guitar for the world. The finishing is absolutely superb (red-burst) and is a dream to play. It’s unfortunate that it’s not as well known as it ought, many people are put off by the short-scale 33o’s and such, whereas the 600 series has full scale necks. You also failed to mention the brilliant micro-tone adujustment and twin truss rods. Highly reccomended, and even here in Australia, runs in at less than a Les Paul Standard or Custom. I imagine the 620 is significantly cheaper again. Brilliant.
January 12th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
Can you do serious bending up on the high frets?
January 30th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Heck yes :)
May 1st, 2007 at 1:11 am
bagged myself a 620 about a two months ago and its the hardest guitar to put down it looks better than my girlfriend and i have more fun with it for sure
May 23rd, 2007 at 2:20 am
Glad I read these reviews you guys have just made my mind up, was going to get a 360, but now am getting the 620, I play alot of picking so this is the guitar for me.
May 24th, 2007 at 10:57 pm
Hahaha, Joe.
July 14th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Mine’s a ‘65 620. It was in very rough shape when I got it four years ago, and unfortunately the idiot who had it before had routed out the holes for the pickups and yanked the frets, so now it’s got semi-jumbos, and hot Seymour Duncans. I took it to the local music store (Alto in Poughkeepsie) and they said it was like a ‘57 Chevy with twin four barrels. It’s a road warrior, but I wouldn’t trade it.
August 29th, 2007 at 6:17 am
Hi there! I felt in love with Rickys when I first saw a 660/6 midnight blue model in the uk. Till that moment I can’t think of anything else! Making some research on the web I figured out that there’s no big difference between the 620 & the 660. The one thing that bothers me about the 620 is the tailpiece though I prefer the neck width compared to the 660. The other thing is the difference in the type of pickups. Since I couldn’t manage to compare the sound of these 2 models: can someone please tell me the difference in sound between the 660 Vintage Reissue pickups & the 620 Hi gain pickups? Thanks!
November 20th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
I haven’t had the pleasure to play the 660, but I have a 620, and it is my favorite guitar right now. I also own a Gibson SG, and surprisingly, the Rick can get much darker than the Gibson. It sounds dead on when I play a bit of Cream on it. At the same time, it can almost sound like a strat, but not quite. I have to say that its the best guitar i’ve played so far.
January 7th, 2008 at 5:23 am
For playability, action and range of sound the 620 is the best electric guitar i have owned. It’s more than just a guitar.. it’s a work of art! My only real concern is that it’s a bitch to restring and then settle. Newbies to Ricks need to consider that instead of lacquer, theres wax….. which can be annoying if you don’t buff the neck as it becomes restrictive. If your into serious picking there’s quite a distance between the bridge and the body… so it’s difficult to get a steady purchase with the right hand..I find i have to give up little and ring finger for this purpose… but what the heck… this guitar will open up new vistas in your ability and confidence… guaranteed
March 6th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Rickenbacker makes the best guitar you can possibly have. No question about it. Trade in a PRS or ESP and get a real guitar. Go Rickenbacker!
April 1st, 2008 at 1:30 pm
I’ve got to say by way of confirmation that I experienced pure hell with restringing my 370/12 (McGuinn copy) when I first got it, but later learned that like a fine lady you have to meet IT’s specifications before it can meet yours. If you do change one string at a time, and do reset the bridge to accommodate the slight differences in the strings mounted, it’s not such a labor and the results are extremely gratifying, and with a string placement just above buzz level it not only nearly plays itself but sings while doing it. I just placed a set of Elixir bronze 12’s on it, and the overtones on this piece fill the room even without amplification. These are amazing guitars!
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:04 am
Anyone looking for tone-full, classy sixties looking and real accurate sounding instrument should a least have a try on this little beast and ricks in general. Had a 620 for 6 months : great great full-scale-low-action-fast (a little narrow when you have sweat on a gibson !?) neck, extra sustain (partially due to body-thrue neck building ?), supra sexy look (what’s rock n roll is about, nu ?) .. i said to myself : my research has gone… but .. what made me trade it ? Here it is : i am rather tall (1,85 m) and could not find a nice real comfortable position when playing and singing standing with my long arms on this small body.. my 8 yr son and wife even told me once “looks alike a child’s guitar on you”.. i looked in the mirror : they were true (as often). So decided to trade for a superb flamed neck natural body 330. What i lost : - stereo output (never tried, never heard a ric’ friend trying it here in europe..) - a little sustain i guess but maybe need an extra set up of the 330 What i gained : - half-chambered tone (in that register, noticed 330 is hollower than 360) - full comfort of size and perfectly contoured for me
By the way : anybody knowing a good ric specialist in France (west) ? or any suggestion on the proper way to set up the double acting truss rod ? scares me a bit..
May 31st, 2008 at 5:32 am
until i read these reviews, i wasn’t quite sure to get a 330 or a 620, but i think i’m going to go for the warmer sound of the 620. Thanks guys!!