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12 string R tailpiece on a 6 string?

Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2020 12:47 am
by 73lemon
Hi-
Can a 12 string "R" tailpiece be used on a 6 string? If so, are there any issues to be aware of? This would be in the context of an 80s 330 or 360. Any thoughts on this appreciated. Thanks!

Re: 12 string R tailpiece on a 6 string?

Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2020 11:15 am
by admin
Will here is the underside of 12 string and 6 string tailpieces. I have never done it but suspect it could work. I would like to hear what others have to say on the matter.

Re: 12 string R tailpiece on a 6 string?

Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2020 12:42 pm
by iiipopes
Sure. The tailpiece comb fans out slightly anyway. Just pick six anchor slots that are straight enough in relation to the bridge saddle groves and go. Occasionally a 6-string has been known to come from the factory with a 12-string tailpiece.

Re: 12 string R tailpiece on a 6 string?

Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2020 8:43 pm
by 73lemon
Thanks for the replies and info. I have heard that some 6 strings came with 12 string tailpiece from the factory. I think I read somewhere that 60s vintage Rics all came with 12 string tailpieces.

I'll give it a shot and see how it works out...

Re: 12 string R tailpiece on a 6 string?

Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 12:39 pm
by admin
Will, please let us know how it goes.

Re: 12 string R tailpiece on a 6 string?

Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 4:04 pm
by scotty
73lemon wrote:Hi-
Can a 12 string "R" tailpiece be used on a 6 string?
Absoulety, no problems at all.

Re: 12 string R tailpiece on a 6 string?

Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 4:04 pm
by scotty
73lemon wrote:Hi-
Can a 12 string "R" tailpiece be used on a 6 string?
Absoulety, no problems at all.

Re: 12 string R tailpiece on a 6 string?

Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 4:08 pm
by collin
73lemon wrote:Thanks for the replies and info. I have heard that some 6 strings came with 12 string tailpiece from the factory. I think I read somewhere that 60s vintage Rics all came with 12 string tailpieces.
As far as I can tell (from owning a bunch of vintage Ricks), the original heavy duty cast "R" tailpiece (with cuts for the strings, not moulded) was never even offered in six-string form. These were used from around Oct/Nov 1964 until mid-1966, on any guitar with an R tailpiece.

From mid-66 onward, six string models typically got the six-string R tailpiece and 12-string models obviously got the 12 version.