12 String, Need Input

[Folkie]

Wow, Scott! Once again you've given a very elaborate, detailed, technical (and sometimes over my head) response to a general question. I hope someday to have your knowledge in these matters. It's nice to know we have some true experts on this forum.

Robert

[8mileshigher]

Here's the best advice you can get from any forumite:

Buy a 360/12 C63 in Jetglo. It's double bound, sounds like and has the specifications of George Harrison's Rick 12 string, and it's in JETGLO, which makes it far more unusual and striking that the atypical Fireglo finish most people buy that double bound model in. Plus, the double bound models have pointier horns, which look far more rock n' roll than the round front 360/370 models, which, IMO, always look chubby to my eye, and in any case, by his own admission, Roger McGuinn was looking for a double bound model Rick 12 string when he first went shopping for one back in the1960s, but couldn't find one, so he had to settle for a round front 360. The 360/12 C63 costs more, but in a couple of years you'll forget about the price you paid and be happy with having one of the coolest guitars on the planet.

Cheers,

Paul

*Full disclosure/disclaimer: Every Rickenbacker I own (six total) is a double bound model, so one could argue that my statements might contain the slightest hint of bias. . .
.

Paulie, I thought you were going to give Ron an unbiased "argument" countering him saying WBs are visual only !!!!!

[libratune]

Uh, I hate to correct one of my elders, but it's neck and middle in parallel, meaning the hot lead of each pickup goes to the same lug on the selector switch to engage in the "up" position. Series wiring would be the ground of one pickup wired to the hot of the next pickup without actually grounding the 1st pickup.

Correction welcomed, Scott. I am not expert in electronics so I should be more careful in my terminology. I meant to say that the two PUs are wired "in sync" or "together," which seems more like the technical definition of "in parallel" than "in series."

[drumbob]

It's really all a matter of taste and preference. I always get a kick out players who ask, "what guitar should I buy?" You should go with your gut feelings, try lots of guitars, and trust your hands, heart and ears. The right one will find you. Not meant as a putdown at all. It's like finding the right woman. When she appears, you'll know.

I play Beatles/Byrds/Searchers/Petty stuff in my band, and use my 330-12 with custom installed toaster pickups and a Janglebox compressor. My amp is a Sommatone Slick 18, which is a boutique amp that's a across between a Fender and a Marshall. In other words, even when it's running clean, there's still some hair on the signal. It's not squeaky clean at all, but the Rick sounds great running through it. I have even played the Rick with a little overdrive and it sounds great. Why not? You don't have to run it clean. There's no law.

Again, trust your ears!

The thing about the 330-12 I don't like is the narrow width of the neck. I wish John Hall would just put a 660 neck on all his 12s, but that's not gonna' happen. I deal with it because I love the guitar otherwise. I have adjusted to it, but some suspended chord shapes are very hard to pull off.

[idealassets]

Folks,
Thank you for all your assistance to date. I am archiving all the good info to retrieve a when needed. For those who have offered to sell me a guitar, thank you for the offer. I am very fussy, and have always like natural wood grain. My drums are also mahogany finish. I will be having an NGD ("new" guitar day) shortly. A New York dealer is sending me a used maple 2011 360/12, which I paid for. The cost was about 1/2 of the new MAP.

Unless I am wrong this seemed like a good deal. I will look really close to see if everything looks OK. I would like to ask: is there anything that would be typical of a bad manufactured guitar, or any tell-tale signs of bad maintenance or storage?

I ask because on the acoustic side I have learned a lot about what setbacks a guitar can have. I don't know as much about electrics. You might say: take a drive to Detroit with it and get an opinion. That might be just the ticket!

I am not too worried about the neck width, since if we like playing, anything can seem good if we can convince ourself of it. Perhaps in time I will get to know these guitars better and attempt to improve with other features as time permits. (And if I get to see a few more of them). I can guarantee one thing, I have been into the Rick basses and 12's ever since I took notice recently.

Already I have discovered a big advantage locally with the Rick. I don't see any musicians using this sound in any of the local bands, whether they are bar bands, or really good musicians. Detroit is 100 miles away, and I am certain there are many seriuos Rick players there.

The next item will be to try the guitar out on variuos different amps to get. I don't think it will mess anything up if I temporarily practice at low volume on my 40 watt Fender Acoustasonic. I know for certain that if there is any downside to this idea, someone on this forum will comment.

Thanks in advance,
Craig

[toofmullets]

I'm in Ann Arbor, and I don't see a lot of Rick players locally around here either. But it might be selection bias...

congrats on your 360/12. That's what I'm playing and I beyond love it. The best of the best.

[idealassets]

Andrew,
I lived in A2 from 2006-2007 and really liked it. I Wasn't playing much guitar at the time, but I am now. I got the guitar and have played it a couple of hours now through my Fender Acoustasonic amp. Already I do like it more than my acoustic 12 strings. It is essentially all new, with just one small nick on the pickguard, at a very good used price.

This coming week I will be jamming at a large get together. when its my turn to call the song it will be mostly Birds with a few Beatles songs. I am looking forward to good things using this guitar.

Thank you,
Craig.