What Model would you buy for your second Ric?

armybass · Post by **armybass** » Sun Oct 07, 2012 10:11 pm

I have a MG 330 that I dearly love and have intended on purchasing a 360 next. I have been toying with the idea of a 360/12 although that is not the most practical guitar for me.... I want one. But a 360/6 would work too. But I have recently had the idea that a 325 or a 620 would be a guitar that I could become very find of too. Just wondering if any of you 360/12..360/6, 325, 620 and or any other model suggest which one and why. I am primarily a bass player but do get guitar gig s from time to time in country/bluesy kinda gigs. I am a huge R.E.M fan so a black 360 is really my deisire but want to hear what other Ric owners have to say.

jps · Post by **jps** » Sun Oct 07, 2012 10:33 pm

You may find the 600 series guitars to have too small a body size, and the 325 models are very short scale instruments. The 360 would be great but what is different enough about them for you to consider having one along with the 330 you already have. Not trying to minimize your RAS or anything like that

, just trying to put things into perspective here.

I played a very nice '68 360/12 at my local Sam Ash a couple days ago.

It is MG, though.

Folkie · Post by **Folkie** » Sun Oct 07, 2012 11:14 pm

Go with the 360/12. It has a totally different sound and vibe from your 330/6. I own one, and it's my favorite of the seven guitars in my collection. Unless there are serious reasons that it's "not practical" for you, I wouldn't hesitate to get one.

jimk · Post by **jimk** » Sun Oct 07, 2012 11:43 pm

Folkie wrote:Go with the 360/12. It has a totally different sound and vibe from your 330/6. I own one, and it's my favorite of the seven guitars in my collection. Unless there are serious reasons that it's "not practical" for you, I wouldn't hesitate to get one.

+1. I positively love my 360/12. And were I to get a second Rick, it would be a 330/6. But since I already have a Gretsch 5120, and a Tele, my GAS has pretty much been under control for quite a while.

JimK

armybass · Post by **armybass** » Mon Oct 08, 2012 12:03 am

Are the 12 string versions comparable in price to the 6 string versions? And although the 330 and 360 are Similar, I prefer the 360 looks and I want more than one Ric guitar...same reason I have three 4003's I guess.

Coach · Post by **Coach** » Mon Oct 08, 2012 9:31 am

I have a 650F now that I love to play, and so my next Ric will be a 12 string and I am leaning toward the 660 either in blue or Jetglo.

I did get a chance to play a couple of 360/12s and while the narrow neck made me work a little harder to play clean chord forms, I think that I could learn to love it. I often times play my daughter's Les Paul copy and the neck on that one is about the same size as the 360. The big thing will be what I can work a nice deal on.

We used last year's bonus on house improvements so the missus has said I can have a piece of this year's bonus on a 12 so it is just a matter of actually doing well enough at work to get a bonus ! !

! !

-H

Moped10 · Post by **Moped10** » Mon Oct 08, 2012 9:58 am

I have a 360/12 and LOVE it! It's more versatile than I thought it was going to be, and have used it for all the shows I've played for the last month, solely! There are a few things to do to help the sound and feel of this guitar, which I'm sure you've seen all over this forum- MY next Rick's going to be a 330/6! With a bigsby! That's the only thing I miss on the 12; no tremolo-

armybass · Post by **armybass** » Mon Oct 08, 2012 10:32 am

LOL....thanks guys....so far y'all are really making me think that the 360/12 is the way to go. I really really want one and I think it would be a good second Ric. I just am a fanatic and dig the 620's and 325's too.

JakeK · Post by **JakeK** » Mon Oct 08, 2012 11:19 am

I'm going to vote 360/12, too. If money is no option, maybe the 360/12C63?

I owned a 325 for a while, didn't like it. It now resides with a member of a Canadian Beatle tribute band who loves it to death. If you want to try the 325 body style, though, why not consider a 350? A 660 has a small body style, too, but has a wider neck, so if you want to give 12-string a whirl and you are okay with a small body, then 660/12 may be an option as well.

armybass · Post by **armybass** » Mon Oct 08, 2012 11:39 am

JakeK wrote:I'm going to vote 360/12, too. If money is no option, maybe the 360/12C63?

I owned a 325 for a while, didn't like it. It now resides with a member of a Canadian Beatle tribute band who loves it to death. If you want to try the 325 body style, though, why not consider a 350? A 660 has a small body style, too, but has a wider neck, so if you want to give 12-string a whirl and you are okay with a small body, then 660/12 may be an option as well.

Jake, what id you not like about the 325...the neck? I played one many years ago and it was not easy for me to play but I love the way it looks and would love to make it work. I like the 350 but I did not think they still made them and I am not familiar with the 660.

JakeK · Post by **JakeK** » Mon Oct 08, 2012 2:51 pm

It was the 3/4 neck that I didn't like about the 325. The 350 is still being made. (http://www.rickenbacker.com/model.asp?model=350V63)

The 660 is a solid body, with a body size similar to the 325/350. It comes in 12 and 6 string versions, both sporting a wider neck than most of the other Rickenbacker models. (http://www.rickenbacker.com/model.asp?model=660/12) In 1991, Rickenbacker were making a signature model for Tom Petty and were basing it upon the 1963 625/12 owned by his lead guitarist Mike Campbell and asked Petty what he wanted. One of the things Petty requested was a neck size from 1.63'' to 1 3/4''. I owned one of those for a while. The model sold out in 1998, and was so popular that in 1999, the 660/12 was a standard production model, and had a 6-string cousin. They're a pretty fun guitar.

But the slim neck with wide fretboard isn't for everyone.

Folkie · Post by **Folkie** » Mon Oct 08, 2012 3:28 pm

armybass wrote:Are the 12 string versions comparable in price to the 6 string versions? And although the 330 and 360 are Similar, I prefer the 360 looks and I want more than one Ric guitar...same reason I have three 4003's I guess.

Hi Scott,

No, the 12-string models will cost you a bit more, but they're well worth the extra cash, as they play and sound like nothing else. On eBay right now, there's a mint condition 2012 360 6-string in the $1700 range, while there are several mint condition 2012 360/12's in the $2000 range. One question: Why do you suspect that a Rick 12 would not be "the most practical guitar" for you? If your worries have to do with keeping the guitar in tune onstage, rest assured that when properly strung and set up, these guitars stay in tune remarkably well. Mine can sit in its case for days on end and still remain at perfect concert pitch.

If the narrow necks are your main obstacle, you have plenty of options, most of them already mentioned. The good news on this subject is that the current run of 360/12's are being set up at the factory with very tight string-spacing, to increase the distance between pairs and accommodate players with larger hands. However, if you don't have a chance to play the guitar before you make a purchase, and it turns out that the string-spacing is hard for you to manage, you can always have the nut replaced to tighten up those pairs. Over the last year there have been at least five threads here on that subject. It's a relatively simple and inexpensive mod, and a little adjustment can make a world of difference.

I hope this information has been helpful. I absolutely love the 6-string Rics, but, to me, nothing screams "RICKENBACKER!" like a 360/12.

Robert

8mileshigher · Post by **8mileshigher** » Mon Oct 08, 2012 4:57 pm

Scott, lots of good suggestions here ....
Now is the time to start forumlating your RAS plan for the one to get after this "second" Ric

armybass · Post by **armybass** » Mon Oct 08, 2012 6:44 pm

JakeK wrote:It was the 3/4 neck that I didn't like about the 325. The 350 is still being made. (http://www.rickenbacker.com/model.asp?model=350V63)

The 660 is a solid body, with a body size similar to the 325/350. It comes in 12 and 6 string versions, both sporting a wider neck than most of the other Rickenbacker models. (http://www.rickenbacker.com/model.asp?model=660/12) In 1991, Rickenbacker were making a signature model for Tom Petty and were basing it upon the 1963 625/12 owned by his lead guitarist Mike Campbell and asked Petty what he wanted. One of the things Petty requested was a neck size from 1.63'' to 1 3/4''. I owned one of those for a while. The model sold out in 1998, and was so popular that in 1999, the 660/12 was a standard production model, and had a 6-string cousin. They're a pretty fun guitar. But the slim neck with wide fretboard isn't for everyone.

Thanks Jake...that is the kind of info I was looking for. I feel pretty sure it will be between a 360/12 and a 620. But will look into the 600 series 12 strings, too.

Thanks so much for the information!

armybass · Post by **armybass** » Mon Oct 08, 2012 6:48 pm

Folkie wrote:
armybass wrote:Are the 12 string versions comparable in price to the 6 string versions? And although the 330 and 360 are Similar, I prefer the 360 looks and I want more than one Ric guitar...same reason I have three 4003's I guess.
Hi Scott,

No, the 12-string models will cost you a bit more, but they're well worth the extra cash, as they play and sound like nothing else. On eBay right now, there's a mint condition 2012 360 6-string in the $1700 range, while there are several mint condition 2012 360/12's in the $2000 range. One question: Why do you suspect that a Rick 12 would not be "the most practical guitar" for you? If your worries have to do with keeping the guitar in tune onstage, rest assured that when properly strung and set up, these guitars stay in tune remarkably well. Mine can sit in its case for days on end and still remain at perfect concert pitch.

If the narrow necks are your main obstacle, you have plenty of options, most of them already mentioned. The good news on this subject is that the current run of 360/12's are being set up at the factory with very tight string-spacing, to increase the distance between pairs and accommodate players with larger hands. However, if you don't have a chance to play the guitar before you make a purchase, and it turns out that the string-spacing is hard for you to manage, you can always have the nut replaced to tighten up those pairs. Over the last year there have been at least five threads here on that subject. It's a relatively simple and inexpensive mod, and a little adjustment can make a world of difference.

I hope this information has been helpful. I absolutely love the 6-string Rics, but, to me, nothing screams "RICKENBACKER!" like a 360/12.

Robert

Thanks Robert you are right.... The 12 would probably be more practical than I had originally thought. Most of my fill in gigs is as a rhythm player and the 12 would be a nice tool for that and also for the acoustic gigs I do. I guess I am kinda leery because the only other electric 12 I had was a MIJ 68 Strat XII reissue that was totally useless as an instrument. LOL. You have me convinced folks.... :0)

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