600 Series 12 vs. 300 Series 12

[brianeharmonjr]

I would like to hear everybody's opinion on the differences between 600 series 12 strings (620/12,660/12) and 300 series strings (330/12,360/12). I own a 330/12VP and am considering purchasing a 660/12. My 330/12VP has a great thin neck and I love the tone of the semi-hollow body, but I also own a 620/6 that I love. I've never had the opportunity to play a 620/12 or 660/12, so I would love any input that you folks may have.

[jdogric12]

Quick and dirty:

The 660/12 has a wider neck. Pretty significant. I can't even play 'em anymore, because I've gotten used to the regular Rick necks.

Solidbodies (600 series) sustain much longer and are a little brighter.

300 series, though, are just COOL.

[grazioso]

just my 5c - 660 - 660/12 can take great abuse of live playing and touring, they are much more stable during temperature changes. in my own experience if you gently run them through old rockman acoustic simulator they can sound just like 360s. now 660 necks judging from all those i had during last 17 years (660/12tp, another 66012tp, 660/12fg, 660/12mg, 660/6mg - each bit different. 660/12tp had somewhat more flat c like profile to me than later 660 models. and comparing them for the playability with 300 series is bit like comparing apples and pears. the best would be to simply give it a try and see.
some poeple like the wider neck (i sure wish for one 360/12 with it) and some don't .i can live with older 91-92 360/12v64 and for some reason i am not all that happy with newer ones. if you are happy with 330/12 it might take bit of adjustment of your playing style to 660/12.

grazioso

[jdogric12]

Hey Dusan. Been a while! Nice to see you. -J

[sloop_john_b]

I've owned a few twelve's and have stuck with the 660/12 - but not just because of the comfy spacing. I've found it to be the brightest sounding 12'er, due to the solid body, and for me, brighter is better when it comes to 12's.

[gregga41]

Hey Mike, great to see you here as well! Been awhile! I bought my first Rick from Mike a few years back, a burgundy 320/6! Added a few since then!

[sharkboy]

I have a 360/12 and a 660/12. I might like the sound of the 360/12 just a hair better (the semi-hollow top gives it an unusual harp-like resonating quality) and I do prefer the Ric-O-Sound. But I play the 660/12 a _lot_ more. It is easier to make chords on a 660/12 than on the 360/12 when you have hooves like mine. I have only gigged the 660/12 since I bought it (I had the 360/12 for 15 years before) and have only used the 360/12 for a few things in the past few years.

I'm more of a vocalist, and the 660/12 gives me just a little more confidence that I'm going to grab that chord without putting my nose on the fretboard- although I have been known to finger with my nose before.

In general, it's hard to imaging going wrong with either guitar. Or both. Or several of each- there are people here who swear by that, as well.

[sodbuster]

I wrestled with this decision (620/12 or 660/12) and opted for the 620/12, I must admit I like the looks of the 660/12 slightly more, but I feel the narrow spacing will work better for me, plus the Rick-O-Sound feature is a plus

[beatlefreak]

They're really two different animals - Solid body / semi-hollow , wide neck / narrow, small body / larger. I suggest you see if you can try out one of each (Yeah, I know - Just run down to your nearest music store and grab one of each off the wall...), and see which one fits, feels and sounds better to you.

[epitreture]

I've owned a few twelve's and have stuck with the 660/12 - but not just because of the comfy spacing. I've found it to be the brightest sounding 12'er, due to the solid body, and for me, brighter is better when it comes to 12's.

I completely agree. The neck thru body construction also gives better sustain.

[JakeK]

The 660/12 is, in my opinion, the BEST Rickenbacker 12-string EVER created! I love my 660/12TP to death. If you have the chance to buy one, jump on it!

[doctorwho]

...it's hard to imaging going wrong with either guitar ...

You high-tech guys! We old-timers would have to use our minds and imagine it ...

Dusan and Miguel, good to read you again!

Here's my take, and keep in mind that how a guitar 'feels' is extremely subjective. I thought that that the neck on my 330/12 BBR (now owned by another Forum member) felt a little 'chunky' ('clubby'?) compared to my other twelves (620/12 TUR, 370/12RM FG, 370/12RM MG, 660/12TP JG, 660/12TP FG, and 370/12v64). I still think that the 370/12v64 (made in 1993) is the best playing twelve that I have played. I really can't tell that much of a difference between the RMs and the TPs, they both feel OK (I play the FG RM most often). I don't have a problem with the 620/12, either.

Brian, if you can make it to a Confluence, do so, because it probably would give you the opportunity to 'test drive' the various twelve-string models.

[sharkboy]

...it's hard to imaging going wrong with either guitar ...

You high-tech guys! We old-timers would have to use our minds and imagine it ...

Yow. I'm either a little wild with the g's or gest butcherigg the Egglige laggwage.

It's hard to imaging anything.

Remember, "Verbing weirds the language." -Calvin