Well, congrats.

The benefits of having an older, used instrument are: cost, someone probably played it (Worn in frets, better resonance, etc. Most players agree that the best used guitars are the ones that have been played frequently), slightly different designs (Varies with companies choices over the years), older pickups, etc.

One of my most prized instruments is my Gibson LP L6-S 1976. I ended up having the frets replaced, but it feels like it received a lot of love and action. When you have a guitar that someone else used frequently, you're getting an instrument that definitely sounds different than if you buy it new, and one that probably sound better than a guitar of the same age with little playing.

Richard Thompson has written a little bit on his site about this, and you can definitely see others opinions on the subject on other sites. The RickResource forums are filled with vintage and used model fanatics.

You just gotta make sure the bloody neck is NOT TWISTED!

What do you mean with twisted?

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-Lassiebacker

Darn that loving Rickenbacker sound! <3

Here is my tale of woe: http://www.rickenbacker.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=14641 Look carefully at the photos.

Aii!! How does the neck get twisted?? And what is the disadvantage with that, or is it broken?
It didn't seem so good to me...

_________________
-Lassiebacker

Darn that loving Rickenbacker sound! <3

Well, don't worry about problems that it might not have. Get the guitar first and check it out.

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Throw that piece of firewood where it belongs and get yourself a Rickenbacker!

Hopefully a shop won't sell you a guitar like that.

This is good advice! The problem is not very common; just bad luck for me. I did buy mine used, and from an individual seller and not a shop. I fault myself; "buyer beware." However, this experience does nothing to disuade me from looking at other Ricks and hoping that I can buy another one; a 360 with toasters would be nice..., or maybe a 370..., or maybe a 620, or......

One frequent cause of twisting is exposure of the guitar to extreme heat for a lengthy period of time, especially when combined with low humidity. Anyway, do examine it thoroughly (everything - cracks, scratches... any kind of possible damage) as soon as you receive it, as Rickenbrother suggests. To check for a possibly twisted neck, simply look down along the length of the neck from the neck end; the front surface of the headstock and neck should be parallel to the front surface of the guitar body. Like you, I did not know that necks could be twisted until I accidentally discovered this on my guitar.

Anyway, it will be a wonderful day when you receive the guitar. Have fun! Everyone here remembers getting their Ricks, and will be happy for you, too.

I neglected to mention that this twist in the neck can occur with ANY guitar -- set neck OR bolt-on neck. The orientation of the neck's (wood) grain as it is cut could make a neck more susceptible to twisting. I did extensive reading on this topic and its correction. A variety of guitars were the subjects of discussion; I did NOT read of any Rickenbacker guitars being so affected. I simply had cosmically bad luck. The guitar, while in appearance is nearly pristine, had obviously been abused (inappropriately "adjusted") or neglected in some way. I was just too naive to realize this at the time of purchase. I only wish that this could have happened to one of my inexpensive Squiers instead of my Rick....

I'd be upset either way. If I bought a used instrument that was defective, I would be upset. With a Squier, you can easily replace the neck; they're designed for that. If I had purchased a Ric for the average used price, and the seller did not make it clear to me that it had a warped neck, I think I'd call a lawyer. There's no reason you should be screwed out of that much money.