Choosing a 12 string

fred_meade · Post by **fred_meade** » Thu Mar 22, 2001 8:27 am

For the first time in my life, I finally have the disposable income to buy a RIC 12 string (somewhere in the 360 range). Don't know if it's the setup, or variations in manufacturing, but I find as I shop (and I've played a few in stores over the years) on some occasions strings are high off the neck and hard to press, and necks seem to be vary in width - to the narrow range - and thickness.

Help. I really want one, but one I can play.

scoobster28 · Post by **scoobster28** » Thu Mar 22, 2001 9:20 am

The 360's have the "slim, tapered" neck which is quite different from a normal one and takes time to learn. However, so many famous artists have used them that it is quite definate that the necks are good. You just have to practice for a while. The string height is adjustable to some degree, and your guitar store could probably do it for you. Good Luck.

markthemd · Post by **markthemd** » Thu Mar 22, 2001 10:27 am

The solid body guitars have the wider necks .

The 360,330 etc have the narrow necks .
the 360 has even narrower string spacing as the frets are inside the binding and this gives you less playing room.The 330 has the 1 and 5/8" nut width as well but has the full width of the neck in frets.

The fingering will definately take some getting used to .If you have large fingers ,go the solid body road.If you have tapered fingers like R.McGuinn...go with the semi solid.

Classic tone -toasters
1980's to current sound ...high gains

Get the 12 saddle bridge...you will hear a difference.If you think you won't need it ,think of it this way.... would you want a Strat with a 3 saddle Tele bridge set up ,or do you want to intonate ALL the string correctly?

How about basses... the 1951 P.Bass bridge with two saddles or the current 4 saddle setup?

I think you see my point .

rick12dr · Post by **rick12dr** » Thu Mar 22, 2001 1:58 pm

Mark, make that read, "the model 660-12 solid body has the wider neck". The rest of the solid bodies don't...

admin · Post by **admin** » Thu Mar 22, 2001 2:20 pm

Don: I suppose some would say you may be getting a bit "Petty" in your post. Sorry, enough of the Tom follery. Nothing like the "great wide open" neck. Fred, I would go for the 660/12 solid body.

markthemd · Post by **markthemd** » Thu Mar 22, 2001 3:16 pm

I agree,and make that ;with toasters and 12 saddle bridge ...you will love it .

fred_meade · Post by **fred_meade** » Fri Mar 23, 2001 4:04 am

What about the 380L ? Is there a 12 string version? Have never seen one in the stores, or price on this model. Any idea?

Great input folks!

markthemd · Post by **markthemd** » Fri Mar 23, 2001 4:10 am

I could come up with at least 3 viable model of 12 string ,sort of custom shop ideas,but if it is not at the Rick site..."we are at maximum capacity and there is no room for more models or a custom shop."

No sorry ...I don't believe that there is a 380-12 yet.

rhp335 · Post by **rhp335** » Fri Mar 23, 2001 10:16 am

I think another reason players find the 3xx series hard to navigate is that many of the retail outlets that handle Rickenbacker, especially the large chain stores, don't take the time to set them up for decent playability. I know the local Mars store hangs the RIC's near the ceiling and it takes an act of God to have them get one down. When you do, what you'll find is the same set up it was shipped from the factory with, which may be great but may not. Even the smaller stores sometimes lack real RIC expertise. I purchased a 660 recently and was surprised to hear the salesperson say "Toasters ??"

Teleologist · Post by **Teleologist** » Fri Mar 23, 2001 12:17 pm

I suspect it's also all those wide/flat shred guitars and the modern chord books that show fingerings the way they do. I learned way back when on narrow neck guitars and Ric 12s are not really a problem for me despite my fat fingers. Switching to my Martin acoustic gives me more trouble than the Ric 12. There's also a lot of people that don't realize that vintage Fenders(and many of the RIs) have the same 1 5/8" neck width at the nut as a Ric 12. Just forget it's a 12, pretend it's an old Tele and go 'fer it. If a string gets muted now and again, it's not that big a deal - it's an electric 12

)

admin · Post by **admin** » Fri Mar 23, 2001 12:35 pm

Fred: RIC has looked at a 380/12 but as yet cannot get a piezo pickup to work effectively with the string pairs. Perhaps John Hall will explain this in more detail. He has commented on the technical problems relating to a 380/12 before.

fred_meade · Post by **fred_meade** » Fri Mar 23, 2001 3:30 pm

I continue to be gratified by the supportive info here. Thanks and thanks again.

I'm learning more in these posts than I have in multiple repeated tries on the alt site. Keep em coming.

Is there a forum where suggestions to John Hall are appropriate regarding "things we'd like to see Rickenbacker do" (only meaning design and function attributes without changing the core values of the instument - maybe a contradictory statement - wink wink) without being overbearing?

Don't want to screw up this thread on finding the right 12 string. Email me direct or tell me where to post otherwise...

Thanks again!.