370/12 or 330/12? need some advice - quick!!

golfo · Post by **golfo** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 9:51 am

okay... i'm going to try a 12er. how does that extra pickup enhance the sound of a 12er? is it worth the extra dough for the sound? i've been told by gary (at north coast - great guy and operation, btw) that the fingerboard on the 330/12 is a little broader than the 360/370 models. that's a plus. but that extra pickup intrigues me. need some suggestions and info if you could.
thanks again
geoff

golfo · Post by **golfo** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 10:17 am

forgot to mention - both these guitars have the hi-gains. i could also select a 360/12 with VP (in turquoise). comments? ops? suggs?

thanks again
geoff

squid · Post by **squid** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 10:20 am

You could always get a 340/12(330 body and neck with the extra mid-position pick-up).

The difference between the 330 and 360 fingerboards is that there's no binding on the neck of the 330/340. The actual width of the board is identical, but the absence of any binding gives the impression of having more room at the first and sixth string sets.

I have a 370/12 and I like it a lot, but I use the bridge pick-up more than anything else, particularly for lead work. I think a two pick-up model will more than satisfy your craving and it will save you a fair amount of money, too.

Go for the 330/12.

goldenoldie · Post by **goldenoldie** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 10:23 am

I've never tried a 370, but I've heard the extra pick-up doesn't add much. Also, the necks on 330's are a bit 'broader' than a 360.

Some people complain that the center pick-up gets in the way of strumming / picking...
Other people just like the looks of a 3rd pickup. I don't think it'll provide a wider range of tonal possibilities, but if it does, I'm sure others will chime in.

I'd recommend the 360-12c63.

golfo · Post by **golfo** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 10:54 am

good thoughts.
i have the toasters on the 360 i just picked up. the 330/12 has the hi - gains and i'm wondering if having the toasters on the 12 is the preferred way (around here) to go on that one. the hi-gains are a bit 'hotter' and aren't supposed to nail the vintage rick sound. but i like edgey pups (particulary on my teles).
whadduya think?
geoff

wormdiet · Post by **wormdiet** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:35 am

I wouldn't worry about what types of pickups that the conventional wisdom suggests. I have guitars with both toasters and hi-gains and. . . the hi-gains may just edge out the toasters in my ears. Your ears are different.

steverok · Post by **steverok** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 5:09 am

I like toasters on the 12-string, if available. If you want, you can swap the toasters from your 360 with the hi-gains from your 12-string. If you read my previous posts, if you are going to buy a 360/12 or 330/12, or any 12 for that matter, without playing it first, I would damn well want to see up close pictures of the string spacings at the nut and neck positions. I had to put a new nut on mine, the string spacing was designed pretty poorly. If optimally set, I don't think the 330/12 will give much more playing room than the 360/12, if any. Anyway, if I were you, I would go for the 330/12 with hi-gains, since you already have a 360 body style with toasters, provided that the nut spacing looks OK. I would then consider swapping the pick-ups between the two guitars. The 12-string produces such a full sound, that works well with toasters, IMO, while the 6-string could benefit from the higher gain pick-ups.

golfo · Post by **golfo** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 10:42 am

thanks to you all for the suggestions/opinions. i have ordered a 330/12 from north coast (great place to do your business, imho). in fireglo!! it's coming stock with hi-gains and will be here shortly. i'll post some pix of this one and my other newbie rick when the 12er arrives.
regards
geoff

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 11:14 am

Good one, Geoff!! 'C' series next?

BTW, I didn't offer any recommendations because I've never played a 1-5/8" neck 12 string. My 660/12 FG is 1-3/4" and my podgy fingers (and lack of ability) struggle with that.

Great color selection, too. Just ask Anthony Carey!!

golfo · Post by **golfo** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 11:43 am

howard
thanks for the good words. i'm hopeful about the narrow board - i know that's a point of contention with some. i tend to adapt my playing to what i'm playing. i have several martins with 1.75" at the nut, another with 1 7/8", another with 1 11/16", and several teles and strats. i switch between them all fairly well. actually, i don't really think much about it at all (unless i have a huge reach on the 1 7/8" - a 016ny).

yeah - i've sseen a couple of a.c.'s pix. he does like fireglo. i think it's the traditional color i associate with ricks - except for perhaps jetglo. i'm excited about it - and really excited about it being a 12-string!!

regards
geoff

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 11:50 am

I reckon 1-11/16 would be about perfect for me (my Yamaha acoustic has that).

I know what it's like waiting......... I was pacing up and down the office corridor like a caged lion waiting for my 330!! The 660/12 was easy - phone ordered it one day, picked it up the next!!

Make sure you wash your hands before you pull it out of the case - there'll no doubt be a serious build-up of sweat on the palms in the interim!!