New 360

[Aclempoppi]

Hi, I'm new to your forum, also a new owner of a 2012, 360 12-string. Got the guitar in May. Just wandering about maintenance. Is there anything I need to keep an eye on? Yeah, I did read the manual. I'm an amp tech-player. I do electronic, neck relief, intonation work on six strings. But, this is the first Rickenbacker, for me. So I'm a newbie!!! Thanks in advance! Art

[Aclempoppi]

OK, so nothing to maintain. Very good! I'm pretty much of a Mark Knopfler, finger style player. I use a Peterson virtual strobe tuner and the guitar has seemed to stabilize pretty well in the last month. It was shipped slack tuned. How long would you folks figure for a real stable situation? I mean, I know it's a new piece. But are we talking a year or two? BTTW The guitar goes through choice mid '60 Fender amps. So the sound of the guitar is very evident. Thanks, Art

[doctorwho]

Art, if the time was relatively short (e.g. a week or less) from when the guitar strings were loosened to when you received it and retightened them, then I would expect that the tension would be stable by now. It's only if the strings are loose or off for long periods of time that requires more 'settling in' time.

BTW, there are a number of previous threads on the pros and cons of shipping instruments with the strings loosened/tight.

As far as maintenance, just the standard stuff like wiping down the instrument (and maybe polishing it every so often) and checking the neck relief occasionally is all that I do on mine between string changes.

[Aclempoppi]

Thanks for the reply, Doc ! This is the first new guitar that I've purchased since my '72 Guild F48(which still gets regular use). Got it on line, so I have no idea about how long it was slack. Any way, it's coming around. Noticed the unison B strings are kind of dominant, when finger picking. Is this just a typical sympathetic resonance situation(neck pup only)? The pole piece, seems to be seated as low as possible. When using a pick, the balance is fine! Gotta tell ya, pulled out the coricidan slide tonight, this guitar loves it ! I'm really getting to know this guy. Thanks again, Art

[Tommy]

My B strings are also dominant on both my six and 12 string Rics. I think many Ric owners have this occur.

On my new 330 I just lowered the polepiece. Give it a try. My polepieces were hard to get moving (I was afraid something would snap) but they eventually gave way and I think I have corrected the loudness of the B string.

My 360 is twenty years old and those guitars did not come with polepieces that could be adjusted. I lowered the bridge pickup on that side, switched string gauge...tried different things but the B still rings out louder.

I seem to have that happen on just about all my guitars. B strings really seem louder on all my guitars. I'm starting to think a louder B string is some sonic phenomenon that affects my ears.

[Aclempoppi]

I'm with ya' bro!!! Maybe we just have those dog-ears, that react to those frquencies! Art

[kiramdear]

Art, as long as you're set up correctly and it plays well and everything works then there is nothing you need to do for your 360 except keep it clean and dry. Do you have the adjustable pole pieces?

[Aclempoppi]

Yeah, Kira, the guitar has the adjustable pole pieces. But it seems to be fully seated. Suppose, I could raise the others and then lower the pup. It's not too bad , but it is an unbalanced situation. Thanks for all of your responses! Art

[Aclempoppi]

Yeah, found a nice sweet spot!!! Using the fifth knob and adjusting the pup volume and tone controls(also some fingering techniques), the balance is just fine!!! Just a novice, with this great guitar!!! Thanks for all of your input. Art