12-String Battle Royale

leesh · Post by **leesh** » Wed May 24, 2006 10:10 am

I have a confession to make: I've never actually played a 12-string Rickenbacker before. Not that I could afford one in the near future, but what are your opinions on if, hypothetically speaking, one were only required to put down a deposit (hypothetically of course)?

This includes the following 12'ers: 660/12, 330/12, C-Series.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Wed May 24, 2006 10:35 am

The 660/12 is my favorite. It's got all the deluxe features you could ever want, not to mention the best part - the wide neck.

Before it, I owned a 370/12 for a while but could never really get on with it. It usually sat in the case. I traded it, along with a beat to hell 4003 for the 660/12, and it was one of the best things i've ever done.

Rather than just being a novelty item, I now play 12 string a lot more often - this is thanks to the wide neck, which makes playing everything really effortless, and the awesome-sounding toaster pickups.

If they put the wide neck on other models (350, 360, 381), i'd probably own more then one 12 string. But for now, the 660/12 is the only one for me.

winston · Post by **winston** » Wed May 24, 2006 10:41 am

Alisha,

I have a 360WB. I would not trade it for all the tea in China, hypothetically speaking of course.

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Wed May 24, 2006 10:44 am

Alisha, if you have normal-sized fingers/hands for a woman, a narrower 330/12 might actually play and feel better than the wider 660/12. I'm not being sexist here, rather it's pragmatism based on the reality of sexual dimorphism.

You should try to make it down to the Southern California Confluence this August, as there will be a variety of 12-ers (among others) to try out.

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Wed May 24, 2006 10:46 am

I've always suspected you of being a raging pragmatist, Gary...

dswp · Post by **dswp** » Wed May 24, 2006 10:50 am

The 660/12 is my favorite as well.

However, I do have big dopey bass player hands.

tony_carey · Post by **tony_carey** » Wed May 24, 2006 10:51 am

I had a 360V64-12 which I used exclusively for gigging, having owned 360/330/450/660-12's in the past, the V64 IMO was the best of the lot. However, I used my 381-12 for a gig not long ago & was knocked out/blown away/stunned/you name it! The sound was the best by far that I'd ever heard....so today, my loyal 360V64 was traded for a second 381-12.

381's are STUNNING 12 strings (especially through a Marshall stack!).

leesh · Post by **leesh** » Wed May 24, 2006 10:51 am

I don't know what's normal for a girl as far as hand size, but I've never been accused of having "man hands"....

winston · Post by **winston** » Wed May 24, 2006 10:55 am

Tony,

you are so fickle. Here today, gone tomorrow. Your poor V64 has probably been relegated to the minors somewhere.

bitzerguy · Post by **bitzerguy** » Wed May 24, 2006 11:13 am

Nother vote for the 660/12. Very versatile tone wise, and the sustain from the solid body is heaven. But I too suffer from sausage fingers.

On the plus side, I can bend leads on the 660/12.

...Dean

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Wed May 24, 2006 11:26 am

660/12 for me... without even trying a 330/360. I thought I would struggle with the regular 1-5/8" neck.

And I wanted the checkered binding too!

expomick · Post by **expomick** » Wed May 24, 2006 11:39 am

I'll take them all, but I have a 360-12, and it took some getting used to it , but now it's fine. If you take the time to get used to it, if you have smaller fingers, if, if if...

Okay, maybe it's not for everyone.

tony_carey · Post by **tony_carey** » Wed May 24, 2006 12:00 pm

Yeah...I know Brian, but I had my 381, but never gigged it, as it was too 'nice'! It was quite a surprise when I decided to give it a go....

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Wed May 24, 2006 2:23 pm

Tony, what finish is your new one in?

Two 381's, unbelieveable!

teb · Post by **teb** » Wed May 24, 2006 5:05 pm

Of the three I've owned, a 360-12, a 660-12 and a 360-12 WB, the WB is my favorite. It just like the feel, sound and cosmetics a little better than the others, though all were superb instruments. The 360 and 360WB did have the string spacing modified so that I could play them easier, which helped a lot. All in all, the differences weren't really extreme between the different models and I think you could safely go with whatever you like the look and feel of and be quite happy.

What does make a huge difference, however, is what you plug it into. There are some great amps and speakers out there that just don't do a good job at getting the most out of a Ric 12. Something that may well be phenomenal with an old strat and a pile of stomp boxes may sound kind of half-hearted, or even dead and boring with a Ric 12-string. Look for something with a nice range of response coupled with an excruciatingly bright top end. Add a little compression or better yet, a Jangle Box and you'll have "that sound". There should be no doubt in your mind if you're testing amps with a Ric 12. If the sound and the jangle factor doesn't absolutely blow you away, you haven't found the right amp/cabinet yet.