Rickenbacker’s New 3030 Pairs a 330-Style Body With a Super-Short Scale Bass Neck
Rickenbacker has introduced a new bass model called the 3030, which combines the body of a 330 guitar model and a bass neck for a super short scale thumper. The company’s Ben Hall teased it back in March on Instagram, saying, “Just a fun side project we had been kicking around for a few years. Same 24 3/4 scale as the 330. Will come with flat wounds because they make this bass really sing.”
That makes the scale of the bass 9 1/4 inches shorter than a standard long scale and 5 1/4 inches shorter than a typical short scale.
The semi-acoustic bass is built with a maple body, a maple/walnut neck, and rosewood fingerboard in Jetglo, Mapleglo, and Fireglo finishes. A Walnut version features a walnut body and maple fingerboard. Rickenbacker fits it with a pair of its Hot Toaster pickups.
“The control layout is the same as the 330/360 models,” Rickenbacker’s Brendan Duff tells us. “A single mono output, three way selector switch, two tone, two volume and a blend knob that acts as a secondary volume knob for the neck pickup.”
Other features include the “R” tailpiece, a four-saddle bridge, mono output, and Schaller M4 tuners.
The Rickenbacker 3030 is now available in limited supplies on the company’s Boutique site for $2,149. The Jetglo and Fireglo have already sold out, but the 3030 is expected to be offered in small batches via the Boutique from time to time.
Rickenbacker 3030 Photos:
Rickenbacker 3030 Specs:
| Construction: | Set Neck |
| Scale: | 24.75″ |
| Body: | Maple (Walnut for W model) |
| Neck: | Maple & Walnut |
| Fingerboard: | Rosewood (Maple for W model) |
| Fingerboard Radius: | 10″ |
| Frets: | 21 |
| Inlays: | Dot |
| Pickups: | Hot Toaster |
| Bridge: | 4-Saddle |
| Tailpiece: | R |
| Tuners: | Schaller M4 |
| Finish: | FG, MG, JG, W |
| Weight: | 8 lbs |
| Other: | Ships with Flatwound Strings |
| Orientation: | Right-Hand Only |
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
