Don't give up on your RICK 12's narrow neck width

Vintage, Modern, V & C Series, Signature & Special Editions

Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4

Chrome Aardvark
Junior Member
Posts: 142
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2010 8:33 am

Re: Don't give up on your RICK 12's narrow neck width

Post by Chrome Aardvark »

I had the 12-saddle bridge on my 360/12 CW reslotted this week. At first I thought the problem lay in the string spacing at the nut, but after sitting down with a local luthier it was explained that the problem was caused by the way the strings lined up at the bridge. I finally plugged it in today and it plays like a dream. No more damping notes due to crowded fingers.

On playing "A" chords, I usually just bar the three strings with one finger.
Folkie
Advanced Member
Posts: 1605
Joined: Sat Jan 02, 2010 1:23 pm

Re: Don't give up on your RICK 12's narrow neck width

Post by Folkie »

Chrome Aardvark wrote:I had the 12-saddle bridge on my 360/12 CW reslotted this week. At first I thought the problem lay in the string spacing at the nut, but after sitting down with a local luthier it was explained that the problem was caused by the way the strings lined up at the bridge. I finally plugged it in today and it plays like a dream. No more damping notes due to crowded fingers.

On playing "A" chords, I usually just bar the three strings with one finger.
Hi Rod,

When you say you had your 12-saddle bridge reslotted, I assume this means you didn't have to replace it. That would mean that it's possible to renotch a bridge to adjust string-spacing, without starting from scratch. Did you leave the nut as is?

Robert
User avatar
eljayski
New member
Posts: 77
Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2010 11:15 pm

Re: Don't give up on your RICK 12's narrow neck width

Post by eljayski »

i gave up and sold mine . . .
330/12 fg
360/6 fg
381/6 fg
4003 mg
User avatar
admin
Site Admin
Posts: 15123
Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2000 5:00 am
Contact:

Re: Don't give up on your RICK 12's narrow neck width

Post by admin »

Weren't there four white 12 strings made for the UK recently with the 660 neck?
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm

Please join the Official RickResource Forum Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/379271585440277
Ivan3000
Advanced Member
Posts: 2392
Joined: Thu Oct 22, 2009 3:53 pm

Re: Don't give up on your RICK 12's narrow neck width

Post by Ivan3000 »

admin wrote:Weren't there four white 12 strings made for the UK recently with the 660 neck?
I think that one was specifically for 'The Edge' of U2. I could be wrong though.
JakeK
RRF Consultant
Posts: 5757
Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2007 9:08 pm

Re: Don't give up on your RICK 12's narrow neck width

Post by JakeK »

IvanMunoz wrote:I think that one was specifically for 'The Edge' of U2. I could be wrong though.
:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

That's right, Ivan!

There was only one and it was that one.
User avatar
Medicus1963
Member
Posts: 392
Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2011 7:24 am

Re: Don't give up on your RICK 12's narrow neck width

Post by Medicus1963 »

Hi,
I am just so happy with my 660/12, though I prefer more the shape of a 350/325 maybe i can get it to a luthier to reshape it for this body size.

Peter
All you need is love and a rick !
User avatar
kiramdear
RRF Moderator
Posts: 9045
Joined: Fri Jun 27, 2008 2:51 am
Contact:

Re: Don't give up on your RICK 12's narrow neck width

Post by kiramdear »

Medicus1963 wrote:Hi,
I am just so happy with my 660/12, though I prefer more the shape of a 350/325 maybe i can get it to a luthier to reshape it for this body size.

Peter
There have been some examples of this idea under discussion here in the past. One came up on ebay not too long ago. It was very interesting, as I recall.
All I wanna do is rock!
Chrome Aardvark
Junior Member
Posts: 142
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2010 8:33 am

Re: Don't give up on your RICK 12's narrow neck width

Post by Chrome Aardvark »

Folkie wrote:
Chrome Aardvark wrote:I had the 12-saddle bridge on my 360/12 CW reslotted this week. At first I thought the problem lay in the string spacing at the nut, but after sitting down with a local luthier it was explained that the problem was caused by the way the strings lined up at the bridge. I finally plugged it in today and it plays like a dream. No more damping notes due to crowded fingers.

On playing "A" chords, I usually just bar the three strings with one finger.
Hi Rod,

When you say you had your 12-saddle bridge reslotted, I assume this means you didn't have to replace it. That would mean that it's possible to renotch a bridge to adjust string-spacing, without starting from scratch. Did you leave the nut as is?

Robert
Hi Robert,

My luthier ground the existing bridge saddles down and renotched them. He also noted there was just enough metal there to grind it down just the once. I didn't swap out the nut, though it may have provided a bit more playability. Just adjusting the string course from the nut through to the bridge has made the guitar a lot easier to play. Sometimes it's the less obvious approach that gets the results you want.
User avatar
iiipopes
Intermediate Member
Posts: 1479
Joined: Tue May 22, 2007 5:02 pm

Re: Don't give up on your RICK 12's narrow neck width

Post by iiipopes »

Chrome Aardvark wrote:Sometimes it's the less obvious approach that gets the results you want.
Indeed. On my 6-saddle bridge, because low E is two wound strings, I ordered an extra saddle and filed it so the octave string intonates off the front edge of the saddle and the unison low E string intonates off the back edge of the saddle, and that, with proper string selection, solved all my intonation issues.
J1854Me
New member
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2012 3:30 pm

Re: Don't give up on your RICK 12's narrow neck width

Post by J1854Me »

Chrome Aardvark wrote:
Folkie wrote:
Chrome Aardvark wrote:I had the 12-saddle bridge on my 360/12 CW reslotted this week. At first I thought the problem lay in the string spacing at the nut, but after sitting down with a local luthier it was explained that the problem was caused by the way the strings lined up at the bridge. I finally plugged it in today and it plays like a dream. No more damping notes due to crowded fingers.

On playing "A" chords, I usually just bar the three strings with one finger.
Hi Rod,

When you say you had your 12-saddle bridge reslotted, I assume this means you didn't have to replace it. That would mean that it's possible to renotch a bridge to adjust string-spacing, without starting from scratch. Did you leave the nut as is?

Robert
Hi Robert,

My luthier ground the existing bridge saddles down and renotched them. He also noted there was just enough metal there to grind it down just the once. I didn't swap out the nut, though it may have provided a bit more playability. Just adjusting the string course from the nut through to the bridge has made the guitar a lot easier to play. Sometimes it's the less obvious approach that gets the results you want.
Will this approach be appropriate for installation of a new 12-saddle bridge on a C63?

I purchased a 12-saddle bridge for my C63 since it comes stock with the pairs each sharing a single saddle....hence I got the new bridge. I guess it will be important/critical for the saddles to be appropriately notched when the thing is installed.

Fred
Chrome Aardvark
Junior Member
Posts: 142
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2010 8:33 am

Re: Don't give up on your RICK 12's narrow neck width

Post by Chrome Aardvark »

Fred,

That approach will work fine on your guitar.
bowser2533
Junior Member
Posts: 194
Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2012 10:58 pm

Re: Don't give up on your RICK 12's narrow neck width

Post by bowser2533 »

What is the factory spacing between the octave strings? Iv heard is was 90thousands. Thanks Gary
s11141827
New member
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2023 1:47 pm

Re: Don't give up on your RICK 12's narrow neck width

Post by s11141827 »

I figured it out. The thinner neck is because the fretboard has a sharper radius.
Post Reply

Return to “Rickenbacker Guitars: by John Simmons”