Correct Stringing For 330/12

rathnewman · Post by **rathnewman** » Fri Apr 25, 2003 2:22 pm

I just purchased my first Ric 330/12. It is a nice 1981 in burgandy. When it arrived, I found that the D and G string pairs were reversed, i.e., the heavier gauge string is on the top. Please, someone tell me this is a mistake, and not some strange Ric 12 string convention.

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Apr 25, 2003 2:41 pm

This, strange or not, is indeed a Rickenbacker convention.

mortivan · Post by **mortivan** » Fri Apr 25, 2003 3:55 pm

Umm, the low E and A were also this way. Correct?

grsnovi · Post by **grsnovi** » Sat Apr 26, 2003 7:14 am

James - As you hold the guitar, looking down at it, the strings should go: thick/thin on the E, A, D and G pairs and then (obviously) the two high pairs are the same and in unison.

The order of the heavier/followed by the octave is part of the characteristic RIC sound. Some have said that the octave string being on the "treble" side of the instrument allows the octave note to "ring out" longer following a downward playing stroke.

rathnewman · Post by **rathnewman** » Sat Apr 26, 2003 12:07 pm

Thanks everyone. I've never run across this Ric stringing convention, so I'll just plead total ignorance.

The really confusing part of this is the E and A pairs are strung the traditional way, so there didn't seem to be any consistency. The B and (high) E pairs are the same gauge and in unison as Gary describes above.

So, I guess I need to reverse the E and D pairs. Learn something new every day. Guess that goes with owning a premium instrument.

Thanks one and all.

grsnovi · Post by **grsnovi** » Sun Apr 27, 2003 7:50 am

James - One would wonder about the guitar as the nut would have to be cut differently to accomodate "reverse RIC" stringing - I would think??

mortivan · Post by **mortivan** » Sun Apr 27, 2003 10:07 am

That's bizarre.

admin · Post by **admin** » Sun Apr 27, 2003 10:43 am

There are lots of 12 strings out there that have been adjusted by technicians who are unfamiliar with the RIC stringing convention.

Also, some owners request the "standard" non-RIC stringing as they have had experience with other makes of 12 strings.

When I received my 1966 450/12 I had to change the nut and switch back to the RIC stringing.

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Mon Aug 18, 2003 2:34 pm

I have a freind who wants to change the stringing of his 660/12 to the octive/low configuration because his big fat fingers usually just end up muting the octive. Is there a nut manufactured for this purpose? I, er, he also wants to use thinner strings(starting with 9's on the highs). What make would you recommend for these lighter gauge 12 string sets?