Are Most First Rics Bought 12 String Models?

[Tommy]

if it wasn't for George Harrison and Roger McGuinn playing their respective 12'ers, I would probably never have made my first Ric purchase

I and thousands and thousands would agree with that -- no George playing that Ric, no sale. And the weird part about that is it was John who played his Rickenbacker - a six string - a lot more and a lot longer than George played his 12, yet George's 12 is the one that probably sold more Rics than John's.

[manta]

The main reason for me to buy a RIC 6-sting is that, for me, nothing I have tried is easier to play. This started when I was about 15 and has continued for a few decades. I have had a couple of Teles that I liked, but a good RIC 6-string just feels right. And it is the same for a RIC-12. Great action and easy to play. I have had a nice Eko acoustic 12 that played well and played a great PRS 12, but RIC-12s, especially for rythm, chord easily and have a great range of sounds. So I would say most buy 6s and then add a 12 or two to compliment the 6-strings. That's how it has been for me.

[libratune]

And the weird part about that is it was John who played his Rickenbacker - a six string - a lot more and a lot longer than George played his 12, yet George's 12 is the one that probably sold more Rics than John's.

Of course, part of the reason John's 325 wasn't more popular is the extremely limited production/ availability of that model. Plus its being a short-scale didn't help.

Another "Beatle/Rick" irony is that there were only a handful of double-bound 12-strings of the type given to George produced at that time. The 12-string production following George's popularization of the electric 12 ramped up with the 1993 Rose Morris export model and the "new style" rounded-top 360-12 models. There were very few double-bound 360-12-strings produced after 1963 until the V64 reissue came out in the mid-'80s.

The story goes that McGuinn wanted a double-bound 12er "just like George's" but couldn't find one, so he went for the "normal" 360-12.

[Tommy]

Another "Beatle/Rick" irony is that there were only a handful of double-bound 12-strings of the type given to George produced at that time. The 12-string production following George's popularization of the electric 12 ramped up with the "new style" rounded-top 360-12 models.

That's a good point.

When I sought my Ric Beatle 12 string over 20 years ago there really was just the rounded new style available to me. I was not going to buy that rounded style until I stumbled across the fact that George owned and played one of those, too. I had never known that. Yeah, we associate George with the pointy horn 12 string, but he did play the rounded one so that was good enough for me.

[libratune]

Sascha may be correct in that the proportion of 12-strings listed on the Register is "artificially" greater than the proportion of 12-strings overall. Nonetheless, here are some interesting statistics as to the high and low points of production of Rick 12-strings in the '60s: there are 125 12-strings and 154 6-strings listed as made in 1966 (regardless of model); however, in 1969, those numbers declined to 4 12-strings and 28 6-strings.

As per the Register, the all-time post-1963 low for Rick 12-strings was 1971, with one (1) listed as made that year, along with 32 6-strings.

[collin]

When I sought my Ric Beatle 12 string over 20 years ago there really was just the rounded new style available to me. I was not going to buy that rounded style until I stumbled across the fact that George owned and played one of those, too. I had never known that. Yeah, we associate George with the pointy horn 12 string, but he did play the rounded one so that was good enough for me.

So....you wouldn't even consider a rounded-top 360 until you found out George played one?

Do you let George Harrison's tastes dictate what shirt you wear each day too?

[wmthor]

I had two six string Rics before I bought myself a twelve string.

[David Watts]

I had two six string Rics before I bought myself a twelve string.

Same for me.

[Tommy]

So....you wouldn't even consider a rounded-top 360 until you found out George played one?

I'm a Beatle fan. You clearly are not up on current events but guitar manufacturers sell a ton of guitars based upon what the three guitar players in the Fab Four played. Do a little research and start with these companies: Rickenbacker, Epiphone, Hofner, Gretsch. Check out what models sell consistently strong.

Do you let George Harrison's tastes dictate what shirt you wear each day too?

And this coming from a guy who has Pete Townshend as his avatar. Talk about idol worship. Hey, I bet you have Pete posters all over you room. I love playing a fine guitar similar to what George played. You love looking at photos of your favorite guitarist. I'd rather be me.

[jdawe]

I had two six string Rics before I bought myself a twelve string.

Same for me.

Me three. I bought a 430 as a teenager and it was my main guitar for many years. At the start of this year I bought a 620-6, and then a 620-12 a few months later. While I love them both, the 620-6 still gets more playing time than the 12.

[Tommy]

I had two six string Rics before I bought myself a twelve string.

Same for me.

Me three.

I find this interesting. TWO six strings before you went 12? I am going to be buying myself a 6 string Ric and seeing that a number of you guys were buying two of them makes me excited to get a 6.

[Rhythmer]

My first Ric was a 360/12. The six string came later...

[kiramdear]

I owned 5 or 6 ricks of every description before I bought a 12er. Sure glad I did, though. I made up for lost time with a Carl Wilson model. My very first rick was a Combo 900 or 950 ... it was sooooo long ago I can't quite place it in my mind.

[shamustwin]

After two Rick basses, my first skinny string was a twelve. I felt I needed the sound on something I was recording.

[jimk]

When I first considered going electric, I was looking for something different; a different sound, a different look, and something that I felt comfortable playing where I wouldn't have to start learning to play guitar all over again from scratch. The Rickenbacker 360/12 string filled all requirements. And it was stereo, to boot!
JimK