Should I use 11s or 12s on my 320 Rickenbacker???

LON · Post by **LON** » Sun Jan 28, 2001 12:34 am

I have always wondered what most people used on their 320-325 guitars, I thought about a set of 12s but I dont want to put too much stress on the neck....also what brands of strings and would you use flatwound or roundwounds???
LON

markthemd · Post by **markthemd** » Mon Jan 29, 2001 9:59 am

Use what ever FEELS comfortable .

The neck will be okay.

Think of the gauge this way ....if you want all your guitars to have the same tension in feel...and the bending of strings about the same ,here is a guide for you;

Strat or 25&1/2" scale....... .009 to .042
Les Paul or 24&3/4" scale ...... .010 to .046
Jaguar or 24" scale ......... .011 to .048/.050
shorter scale than those (the Rick 325 series or equivolent) .011 to .050 or heavier

Now you fingers will know the chording difference,but for staying in tune and bending...this is a fair guide to making things work.You may NOT like a specific gauge on one of your guitars (say you hate .009's on a 25&1/2" scale )and you like .010 to .046 strings...then adjust the gauges accordingly....you can see the pattern ,can't you?

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue Jan 30, 2001 1:29 am

Use 12s! I always had 12s on my '88 320, even roundwounds, they give you a great sound for rhythm to my opinion. It's hard to play lead with that strings, but who would be playing lead with a 320? Okay, it's possible, I used it as a lead guitar for recordings...makes your finger get strong...but it's a rhythm monster. 10s or even 11s dont't feel 'real' somehow, there's not enough tension with them...Lennon didn't have them, right?
The neck had absolutely no problems with 12s, I think it's built for 12s, as far as I can remember the information in RIC's owners manual...
Shame on me, I sold that 320...gorgeous mapleglo, black trim...boohoo!

FATRAT_II · Post by **FATRAT_II** » Tue Jan 30, 2001 11:48 am

thanks, I just wasnt sure if the neck would hold up with 12s, I use 10s on all my guitars and my friends cant stand them...I just think anything lower sounds bad and I pull them out of tune....
Dont feel too bad about selling old guitars....
When was 15 I had a original 1970 Rick 381...I paid 325.00 for it and sold it for 500.00 a year later...i had to have a Rick 320.....

FATRAT II (LON)

admin · Post by **admin** » Wed Jan 31, 2001 5:02 pm

Yeah, and talking about old guitars: Never sell a 320!