Top thickness on the 360OS, 360V and 360c

ukdk · Post by **ukdk** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 10:22 am

Hi Ric experts!
Being on the hunt for that classic Rickenbacker tone I am so interested in knowing how thick the top and back was on the old GH 360?
I own a 95' 360 12V64 and the top and back thickness on this is approx. 1/4".
I wonder if the difference in accoustic responce between the 360c and the 360v will be reason enough for me to consider either ordering a new 360c, or making a new more accoustic body for my 360v (maybe routing out more wood from it and put a new back on it?
Best
UK-DK

beatlefan · Post by **beatlefan** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 10:27 am

Uffe -

Welcome to the forum!

Please don't even consider routing your v64 or altering it in any way!! Think about selling it and ordering the new C series....

Just my 2 cents worth...

jps · Post by **jps** » Thu Apr 01, 2004 1:26 pm

The thickness of the top on my '67 4005WB is 4mm, I hope this helps some.

ukdk · Post by **ukdk** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 12:53 am

Thanks Chris and Jeffrey!
Also I think that John Hall has said that neck pickup of the new 360c will have the short polepieces, I wonder what effect this will have on the tone??

UK-DK

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 2:50 am

Jeffrey: So comparing the thickness of the top on the 360/12V64 to the 4005 the difference in millimeters is roughly 6 mm versus 4 mm. Quite a difference when you think about it.

jps · Post by **jps** » Fri Apr 02, 2004 3:13 am

I suppose the top on my 4005WB would resonate at higher frequencies compared to the 360/12V64. Interesting that the new 360C will have the flush polepiece toasters. The bridge toaster on my 4005WB has the long polepieces while those on the neck toaster are the flush ones. Nice to know that if I wanted to put new toasters on it I don't have to do any cutting on the body.

ukdk · Post by **ukdk** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 12:46 am

Jeffrey,
If the top is more stiff (thicker), the resonant frequency will be higher than if the the top is thinner.
Are there anyone that can confirm a top thickness of 4mm on the sixties Rickenbackers.
And how about the back, is that the same approx. 4mm or perhaps 6mm?

Thanks
UK-DK

36012 · Post by **36012** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 9:48 am

I have a 66 360/12 with a 6mm top and a 1/4" birch plywood back.It sounds alot louder and lighter than newer ones(other than cw and c series).However my guitar has less bracing than your v64.All the v64's that I have seen have a mostly solid center section.

360dave · Post by **360dave** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 10:41 am

I have a 60' 360 and the top measures 7.5mm on the edge of the slash closest to the pickups. The other (small) end of the slash measures 5mm.
I can't measure the back because the instrument is double bound.
It weighs about 7 1/2 pounds....rather heavy compared to today's 360 I imagine.
The tone is very clear and defined and the controls can be adjusted from a screaming treble to a overpowering bass from hell or anywhere in between.

Oh....I forgot to mention that the acoustic volume is pretty loud, much louder than other instruments I have heard that are intended to be played through an amp as the 360 is.

tonewerks · Post by **tonewerks** » Wed Apr 07, 2004 10:51 am

my 68-370 is 2.045"

360dave660 · Post by **360dave660** » Thu Apr 08, 2004 6:04 am

you could also try getting a 360/12 carl wilson. I have a CW six string and the difference in the thinness compared to my normal '96 360 is noticable. The CW has more "pop" in the bass notes. I know that Mike Smith has a used one at RicsRus in the UK : www.ricsrus.com

ukdk · Post by **ukdk** » Thu Apr 08, 2004 11:54 pm

Thank for all the inputs!
I'm beginning to see why the 360c model
is delayed.
You have to be a historian to find out about Rickenbackers.
(nice to know that the factory is still on family hands)
It's quite funny that we all talk as though we know that there exist a certain "Rickenbacker sound" the fact being that due to different construction, ex. a sixties 360 Rickenbacker has little in common with a "new" 360v.

David Chase Lopes, how thick is the top and back on your 360cw?

Thanks again
UK-DK