Rickenbacker Electric Guitars
Step into music history with our exclusive collection of authentic, USA-made Rickenbacker guitars and basses. Famous for their distinctive "jangle," striking aesthetics, and unmatched tonal character, Rickenbacker instruments have defined the sound of generations—from the British Invasion to modern indie rock. As a premier independent dealer for Rickenbacker UK, MusicStreet is proud to offer these highly coveted, hand-crafted masterpieces.
Because Rickenbacker production is highly limited, every instrument we receive is a rare find. Each guitar and bass undergoes a rigorous professional workshop setup (worth £75) in our Huntingdon showroom to ensure its unique playability and tone are perfectly optimized before it reaches your hands.
Explore Rickenbacker Electric Guitars at MusicStreet
The MusicStreet Setup Advantage: Why Your Rickenbacker Deserves It
Rickenbacker instruments are built to highly unique specifications, featuring dual truss rod systems, finished lacquered fretboards, and proprietary pickup designs. Because of their specialized construction, Rickenbackers require highly precise, expert adjustment to play their absolute best. Wood naturally breathes and shifts during its journey from Southern California to the UK, and factory setups are rarely optimized for individual playing preferences.
At MusicStreet, we treat every Rickenbacker with the utmost care. We perform a **free £75 professional workshop setup** on every single Rickenbacker guitar and bass we sell. Our expert luthiers adjust the dual truss rods, file the nut slots, level the bridge saddles, and polish the frets to ensure your new instrument plays with a comfortable, buzz-free low action straight out of the box.
🔧 Free £75 Professional Setup
Every Rickenbacker is individually set up in our in-house workshop. We adjust the action, intonation, and neck relief to match your playing style, ensuring it plays perfectly straight out of the box.
🛡️ 12-Month Warranty
We stand behind every instrument we sell. All of our Rickenbacker guitars and basses come with a full 12-month warranty, giving you complete peace of mind with your purchase.
🚚 Free UK Delivery & 7-Day Returns
Get free, fully insured UK shipping on all orders over £99. If the guitar isn't the perfect fit for your hands, return it to us within 7 days for a hassle-free refund or exchange.
Explore the Iconic Rickenbacker Lineup
Rickenbacker's lineup features some of the most recognizable and influential instrument designs in music history. From classic semi-hollow electrics to legendary stereo basses, explore our core offerings:
Rickenbacker 330 & 360
The sound of jangle. The **Rickenbacker 330** features a sharp double-cutaway maple body, a fast neck, and dual Hi-gain single-coil pickups, delivering the classic chime popularized by the Beatles, the Who, and the Jam. The **Rickenbacker 360** offers a contoured body edge, deluxe inlays, and stereo output for a premium aesthetic and versatile tonal routing.
Rickenbacker 360/12 Twelve-String
The guitar that defined the sound of the 1960s. The **Rickenbacker 360/12** features an innovative headstock design that keeps the neck comfortable and compact, combined with a semi-hollow maple body and proprietary pickups. It delivers the legendary, shimmering twelve-string chime made famous by George Harrison and Roger McGuinn.
Rickenbacker 4003 Bass
The ultimate rock bass. Renowned for its thunderous sustain, punchy mid-range growl, and striking cresting-wave body shape, the **Rickenbacker 4003** features neck-through construction, dual pickups, and Rick-O-Sound stereo output. It is the legendary choice of bassists like Geddy Lee, Chris Squire, and Lemmy.
Guitar Trade-In & Part-Exchange Program
Ready to upgrade your current rig? We make it incredibly easy to trade in your pre-owned gear. Through our straightforward guitar part-exchange program, you can bring your old guitar, amplifier, or effects pedals into our showroom (or send us details online) and put its value directly toward any new or used Rickenbacker instrument in our store.
Visit Our Huntingdon Guitar Showroom
If you are searching for premium guitar shops in Cambridgeshire, come visit our showroom in Huntingdon. Located at 10 Chequers Court, our showroom features a dedicated acoustic room where you can sit back, play, and compare different body shapes and tonewoods side-by-side. We are easily accessible from Cambridge, Peterborough, and Bedford, with convenient parking nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rickenbacker Guitars & Basses
Where are Rickenbacker guitars made? +
Every single Rickenbacker guitar and bass is proudly handcrafted in Santa Ana, California, USA. Rickenbacker has maintained its manufacturing in the United States since its founding in 1931, ensuring strict quality control, premium materials, and authentic heritage.
What is Rick-O-Sound? +
Rick-O-Sound is Rickenbacker's proprietary stereo output system featured on deluxe models like the 360 guitar and 4003 bass. It splits the neck and bridge pickups into two separate signals, allowing you to route them to different amplifiers or effects chains (for example, sending the neck pickup to a clean bass amp and the bridge pickup to a distorted guitar amp) for an incredibly wide, multi-dimensional sound.
Why do Rickenbacker guitars feature a dual truss rod system? +
Rickenbacker uses a dual truss rod system to provide maximum stability and precise adjustment across both the bass and treble sides of the neck. This is particularly important for their slim neck profiles and twelve-string models, allowing our workshop technicians to dial in a perfectly straight neck and exceptionally low action.
Can I trade in my old gear toward a purchase? +
Absolutely. We offer a highly competitive part-exchange program. You can bring your gear directly to our Huntingdon showroom for an on-the-spot valuation, or contact us online with photos and details to receive a preliminary trade-in estimate.
The Sound That Shaped Generations: The Rickenbacker Legacy
Since the 1930s, the Rickenbacker company has been a pioneer in electric instrument design. However, it was the 1960s that cemented Rickenbacker's place in rock-and-roll royalty. When John Lennon, George Harrison, and Roger McGuinn plugged in their Rickenbackers, they unleashed a bright, chiming, "jangly" sound that defined the decade.
Today, Rickenbacker continues to handcraft their instruments in Santa Ana, California, maintaining the same classic construction methods, unique electronics, and striking finishes (like the legendary Fireglo and Mapleglo) that made them famous.
Explore Iconic Rickenbacker Models
The Rickenbacker 330
The quintessential Rickenbacker. The Rickenbacker 330 features a semi-acoustic maple body, a traditional crescent-moon cutaway, and dual high-gain single-coil pickups. It delivers the perfect balance of warm acoustic resonance and sharp, articulate bite, making the Rickenbacker 330 guitar the ultimate choice for rhythm and lead players alike.
The Rickenbacker 360 & 360/12
Refined elegance. The Rickenbacker 360 takes the foundation of the 330 and adds deluxe appointments, including a contoured top edge, bound fingerboard, and triangle inlays. For the ultimate chiming sound, the Rickenbacker 360 12 (12-string version) is the gold standard, featuring a unique headstock design that keeps the neck comfortable and easy to play.
The Rickenbacker 4003 Bass
The king of punch. Famous for its thunderous sustain, growling midrange, and distinct treble punch, the Rickenbacker 4003 is one of the most iconic bass guitars in history. Favored by legends like Paul McCartney, Geddy Lee, and Lemmy Kilmister, the Rickenbacker bass features neck-through construction and dual pickups with a push/pull vintage tone selector for incredible versatility.
The MusicStreet Difference: Workshop-Prepared Playability
At MusicStreet, we don't believe in "box shifting"—especially when it comes to highly coveted instruments like Rickenbackers.
Every single Rickenbacker guitar and bass that leaves our Huntingdon showroom undergoes a rigorous, multi-point inspection and a professional workshop setup (worth £75) by our expert guitar techs. We adjust the action, relief, intonation, and fretwork to ensure your new instrument plays flawlessly straight out of the box.
- No Drop-Shipping: Every guitar listed on our site is physically in stock at our Huntingdon store.
- 1-Year Warranty: We back every instrument we sell with a comprehensive 1-year warranty.
- Free UK Shipping: Enjoy free, fully insured UK shipping on all orders over £99, with competitive rates worldwide.
- Flexible Financing: Buy with confidence using Klarna or PayPal split payments.
4. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why are Rickenbacker guitars so hard to find?
The Rickenbacker company deliberately maintains a relatively small, highly focused manufacturing facility in California to ensure strict quality control and preserve their traditional handcrafting methods. Because they do not mass-produce their instruments, global demand consistently exceeds supply, making new Rickenbackers highly sought-after and rare.
What is the difference between the Rickenbacker 330 and 360?
While they share similar semi-acoustic maple bodies and electronics, the 330 has sharp, traditional body edges and dot inlays, whereas the 360 features rounded, contoured top edges, a bound fingerboard, and deluxe pearloid triangle inlays. The 360 also features stereo "Rick-O-Sound" outputs, allowing you to split the pickups into two separate amplifiers.
Does my Rickenbacker come set up?
Yes. Every Rickenbacker purchased from MusicStreet receives a professional, custom setup in our in-house workshop before dispatch. If you have specific preferences for string gauge or tuning, simply let us know when placing your order, and our techs will configure it to your exact specifications.
Can I try these guitars in person?
Absolutely. We welcome you to visit our independent showroom at 10 Chequers Court, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. You can get hands-on with our collection, test them through premium amplifiers, and get honest, expert advice from our team of working musicians.
