Fret board width, 12 string.

Vintage, Modern, V & C Series, Signature & Special Editions

Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4

User avatar
The_Running_Man
New member
Posts: 23
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 7:51 pm

Fret board width, 12 string.

Post by The_Running_Man »

Hi,
This question has probably been asked several times before, but here goes : -
Is there a Rickenbacker 12 string model with a wider fret board than a standard 330-12 / 360-12?

I did buy a 330-12 many years ago and found to my absolute horror that the fret board felt to small with 12 strings on (it felt fine with 6 on) so after 3 or 4 months of struggling with this 330 I eventually sold it... and it went taking with it one of my childhood dreams.
I now own a '94 330-6FG, a '96 360-6MG and an '08 330-6MG.
I have other 6 string guitars and the 12 string I use is a Burns Double Six, a huge guitar that weighs a ton and it doesn't really nail the 60' Mersey Sound or a decent Byrds sound.
Anyway, back to the original question before I started rambling... Is there a Ric-12 model with a wider fret board than a standard 330/360?

Thanks in advance
G

By the way, if the Avatar is a bit scary or disturbs anyone with a fear of Clowns (can't remember what that fear is called just now, I must look it up) then I can soon change it.
User avatar
doctorwho
Veteran RRF member
Posts: 12652
Joined: Tue Jun 11, 2002 3:28 pm

Re: Fret board width, 12 string.

Post by doctorwho »

Welcome, Gareth!

The Model 660/12 has a slightly wider fretboard (44.45 mm (1 3/4'') at the nut, according to the specs at the RIC factory site) that is definitely "roomier" than the 330/12 or 360/12.
The_Running_Man wrote:... By the way, if the Avatar is a bit scary or disturbs anyone with a fear of Clowns (can't remember what that fear is called just now, I must look it up) then I can soon change it.
You obviously haven't yet seen enough of the other avatars ... :lol:
It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing. - Seneca
User avatar
beatlefreak
Senior Member
Posts: 6160
Joined: Wed Jun 14, 2006 5:45 am
Contact:

Re: Fret board width, 12 string.

Post by beatlefreak »

Yes, the 550/12 has a fretboard width of 1.75" at the nut and 2.107" at the twelfth fret, which is wider than the 330/12 or 360/12.
Ka is a wheel.
User avatar
jps
RRF Consultant
Posts: 37496
Joined: Wed Feb 12, 2003 6:00 am

Re: Fret board width, 12 string.

Post by jps »

Welcome, Gareth! :D

The 660/12 will definitely feel roomy, so you should be happy with it. BTW, Kitty Kat can take out the clown, no problem! :mrgreen:
Clint
Intermediate Member
Posts: 727
Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2008 2:03 pm

Re: Fret board width, 12 string.

Post by Clint »

I'm with beatlefreak, go with the 550/12. But they are very, very rare .
Jangle, Chime & Twang.
User avatar
beatlefreak
Senior Member
Posts: 6160
Joined: Wed Jun 14, 2006 5:45 am
Contact:

Re: Fret board width, 12 string.

Post by beatlefreak »

Obvious typo...
Ka is a wheel.
User avatar
The_Running_Man
New member
Posts: 23
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 7:51 pm

Re: Fret board width, 12 string.

Post by The_Running_Man »

Thanks for ther info and the welcome, much appreciated.

What are the "sonic" (for want of a better word) differences between a 330/360 style semi-hollow 12 string and a 660-12?
... or the very rare 550-12 :lol:

Thanks
G
User avatar
beatlefreak
Senior Member
Posts: 6160
Joined: Wed Jun 14, 2006 5:45 am
Contact:

Re: Fret board width, 12 string.

Post by beatlefreak »

The 660/12, being a solid body, will sound very different acoustically from the semi hollow 330/12. Electrically, there may be some difference, but it will be small. The biggest difference would be in the pickups - Single coil hi-gains on the 330/12, and toasters on the 660/12.
Ka is a wheel.
User avatar
The_Running_Man
New member
Posts: 23
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 7:51 pm

Re: Fret board width, 12 string.

Post by The_Running_Man »

beatlefreak wrote:The biggest difference would be in the pickups - Single coil hi-gains on the 330/12, and toasters on the 660/12.
Hopefully I will be getting a pair of 7K4 scatter-wound Toasters anytime soon for one of my guitars (not sure which one will get them yet).

Were there any Signature semi-hollow models made with wider fretboards?
I seem to recall hearing in the dim and distant past that one of them was made with a wider fretboard... or did I dream it?... :?
I probably dreamt it...
its my age you know...
they said it would happen...
:lol:

Cheers
G
User avatar
The_Running_Man
New member
Posts: 23
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 7:51 pm

Re: Fret board width, 12 string.

Post by The_Running_Man »

doctorwho wrote:
The_Running_Man wrote:... By the way, if the Avatar is a bit scary or disturbs anyone with a fear of Clowns (can't remember what that fear is called just now, I must look it up) then I can soon change it.
You obviously haven't yet seen enough of the other avatars ... :lol:
Coulrophobia... that's the fear of clowns. There you go, I said I'd look it up.

Cheers
G
clementc3
Member
Posts: 287
Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2009 3:22 pm

Re: Fret board width, 12 string.

Post by clementc3 »

A (meaning "one") 360/12 with a wide neck apparently does exist:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=389065

The thread contains a reference to another believed-to-exist one but there is no photographic evidence.

The 380L has a wide neck but does not come in a 12-string version. Others have converted 6-string guitars into 12-string guitars, though, so it could be done if you were determined enough ...
User avatar
jsm610
Intermediate Member
Posts: 1074
Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2004 5:00 am
Contact:

Re: Fret board width, 12 string.

Post by jsm610 »

The thread contains a reference to another believed-to-exist one but there is no photographic evidence.
I'll submit this to the jury as "Relevant evidence" as defined by the Federal Rules of Evidence Rule 401; all pictured have a >= 44.45 mm (1 3/4'') neck width and are semi-hollows:
wide-necks.jpg
The defense rests.
:)
clementc3
Member
Posts: 287
Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2009 3:22 pm

Re: Fret board width, 12 string.

Post by clementc3 »

Impressive!!! :D :D :D

Is there a story behind each of the three 12-strings?
xpitt
Intermediate Member
Posts: 1082
Joined: Wed Aug 29, 2007 7:38 pm

Re: Fret board width, 12 string.

Post by xpitt »

The_Running_Man wrote: Were there any Signature semi-hollow models made with wider fretboards?
The RCA 12 string guitars were the prototypes of the 380 L Laguna, so I guess they had the wider neck as well; they were custom made for the RCA record company . About two years ago one showed up on ebay.
Recently I could get a Laguna without the PZ option for a reasonable price in Amsterdam . These days a luthier here in Munich is converting it to 12. No finish repairing neccessary , as it's all natural. I will post pics here when it's done. Can't wait...
Look here..
http://www.rickresource.com/phpBB3/view ... 50#p212850.
User avatar
The_Running_Man
New member
Posts: 23
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 7:51 pm

Re: Fret board width, 12 string.

Post by The_Running_Man »

jsm610 wrote: I'll submit this to the jury as "Relevant evidence" as defined by the Federal Rules of Evidence Rule 401; all pictured have a >= 44.45 mm (1 3/4'') neck width and are semi-hollows:
wide-necks.jpg
The defense rests.
:)
They do exist, I didn't dream it.......
Right, where or how do you come by one of these?

Cheers
G
Post Reply

Return to “Rickenbacker Guitars: by John Simmons”