Believe it or not I learned this trick from a 12 year old student who owned a Rickenbacker 350v63. Lay guitar flat. Use a small pillow or whatever you have to hold the neck up slightly. It's simple. Run a string through the tail-piece and bridge one side at a time. ON the low and high E. Made sure the bridge is straight. Snug the strings and hold down at the 12th Fret with a Capo. Slip the capo on just enough to hold down the string. This method works extremely well and makes changing strings on your Rick simple. You have 2 free hands to work with.
I am sure someone else mentioned it. My student had seen it on You-tube but I can't find it.
Rickbacker String change made simply
Moderator: jingle_jangle
Rickbacker String change made simply
Rickenbacker 350V63 325C64 Jetglo Ric 620 FG Fender Masterbuilt Tele, LaCabronita , Crook Pink Paisley Relic, Lentz DB HSL, Martin 000-18
Dr Z Zwreck Dr Z Maz 18 NR Vox AC15 HW
Dr Z Zwreck Dr Z Maz 18 NR Vox AC15 HW
- jingle_jangle
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Re: Rickbacker String change made simply
This is the usual way that techs approach this.
Now, try a 12 string "R"! These take awhile to master.
I think that every Rick Confluence should feature a 12-string "R" tailpiece string-changing competition. This would be great fun!

Now, try a 12 string "R"! These take awhile to master.
I think that every Rick Confluence should feature a 12-string "R" tailpiece string-changing competition. This would be great fun!
- electrofaro
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Re: Rickbacker String change made simply
I put the guitar on the feet end of a one person bed;
standing at the feet end, I keep the tailpiece in my hand, put the strings in;
use a bit of paper tape to keep the strings in the R-tailpiece;
replace tailpiece;
pull strings, attach capo;
restring left side, right side alternatively (e, E, A, B, D, G);
then pull the paper tape off;
tune!
No idea if it can be done easier, but like this it's a 5 minute job!
standing at the feet end, I keep the tailpiece in my hand, put the strings in;
use a bit of paper tape to keep the strings in the R-tailpiece;
replace tailpiece;
pull strings, attach capo;
restring left side, right side alternatively (e, E, A, B, D, G);
then pull the paper tape off;
tune!
No idea if it can be done easier, but like this it's a 5 minute job!
'67 Fender Coronado II CAB * '17 1963 ES-335 PB * currently rickless
Re: Rickbacker String change made simply
I normally just close my eyes, click my heels together 3 times,wiggle my nose and say Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo.When i open my eyes all my guitars are restrung and polished with zymol.
Re: Rickbacker String change made simply
It must be the Scottish accent that does it, didn't seem to work for me...scotty wrote:I normally just close my eyes, click my heels together 3 times,wiggle my nose and say Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo.When i open my eyes all my guitars are restrung and polished with zymol.
I'm gonna have to get this figured out for when I need to change the strings on my 26-stringer...
I have NO idea what to do with those skinny stringed things... I'm just a bass player...
