Perhaps Mark or someone can explain this one to me. I have had a 370/6 for about a year now. I have experimented with all types of strings and gauges, from 9's to 12's. I want to use nickle-plated round wounds. However, with anything lighter than a set of 12-52's, the Ric's neck is flexible enough to change the pitch of the notes if I put the least amount of pressure on it. I just bought my son a Strat with a set of Fender 9's, and this problem doesn't exist. The neck is firm and stiff and the 9's are perfect.
I have adjusted my truss rods to Mark's specifications with an auto feeler gauge. Unless there is something wrong with my guitar, it just seems that the Ric needs strings with a certain amount of tension in order to keep the neck stiff. That being said, I have the action down low, there is no buzz and the 12's are comfortable to play. I'm just curious why it should be this way. Perhaps these guitars were designed for the tension that twelve strings provide. Thanks.
6-String Neck Stiffness
Moderator: jingle_jangle
I own quite a few guitars .
My Gretsch 6120 gets GHS Boomer .011 to .050
The Gibson's (LP Standard and JR) have huge-non stock frets and they have D'Addario .010 to .046
To get some 'guts' out of the Flying V and the Firebird I use Ernie Ball Heavy Bottom/Skinny top sets... .010 to .052 .
My Fenders (1952 Esquire,1959 Tele and 1962 Strat)all have the same scale length ,but they get different strings.
The Strat is D'Addario .010 to .046
the Esquire is .009 to .046 This is because of the finish on the fretboard.I did refret it with bigger fret to help .
The 1959 Tele is a really crisp guitar the bottom is not as prominent as I would like so I string that with Ernie Ball .010 to .052 /Heavy Bottom Skinny top sets.
My Danelectro 'Appliance burst' baritone six string gets Stock Ernie Ball Baritone strings.They are huge!
.020 to .090
I post this to show that I use different gauge of strings to achieve what works for me .
Some necks wiggle more than others.
When I make 12 strings I usually laminate them to add a rigidity factor into the stiffness and if I use mahogany (this is for weight) I will add a graphite bar on the treble side of the truss rod.I do this to keep the weight down and to add rigidity and to aid in the removing of any possible dead spots that might occur.I only use one adjustable truss rod in my own necks.This is pure preference .
AS to why does your neck wiggle....with out looking at the pieces of wood it is made of ,I can only guess.
I have seen necks made my EVERY Major manufacturer that should never have been used for a neck.This does not mean that it can't work ,it does mean that the person picking and choosing wood(s) for a neck may be trying to just get X amount of materials glued up in a day .It happens .
You may have slab cut ,end grain round out in the middle of the neck ,
Do you have what looks like an island? this is an oval of the brown grain line on the back of the neck .If you have two of them (especially in a single piece of wood neck ) that is the problem.
Send me a photo if you can.
[email protected]
My Gretsch 6120 gets GHS Boomer .011 to .050
The Gibson's (LP Standard and JR) have huge-non stock frets and they have D'Addario .010 to .046
To get some 'guts' out of the Flying V and the Firebird I use Ernie Ball Heavy Bottom/Skinny top sets... .010 to .052 .
My Fenders (1952 Esquire,1959 Tele and 1962 Strat)all have the same scale length ,but they get different strings.
The Strat is D'Addario .010 to .046
the Esquire is .009 to .046 This is because of the finish on the fretboard.I did refret it with bigger fret to help .
The 1959 Tele is a really crisp guitar the bottom is not as prominent as I would like so I string that with Ernie Ball .010 to .052 /Heavy Bottom Skinny top sets.
My Danelectro 'Appliance burst' baritone six string gets Stock Ernie Ball Baritone strings.They are huge!
.020 to .090
I post this to show that I use different gauge of strings to achieve what works for me .
Some necks wiggle more than others.
When I make 12 strings I usually laminate them to add a rigidity factor into the stiffness and if I use mahogany (this is for weight) I will add a graphite bar on the treble side of the truss rod.I do this to keep the weight down and to add rigidity and to aid in the removing of any possible dead spots that might occur.I only use one adjustable truss rod in my own necks.This is pure preference .
AS to why does your neck wiggle....with out looking at the pieces of wood it is made of ,I can only guess.
I have seen necks made my EVERY Major manufacturer that should never have been used for a neck.This does not mean that it can't work ,it does mean that the person picking and choosing wood(s) for a neck may be trying to just get X amount of materials glued up in a day .It happens .
You may have slab cut ,end grain round out in the middle of the neck ,
Do you have what looks like an island? this is an oval of the brown grain line on the back of the neck .If you have two of them (especially in a single piece of wood neck ) that is the problem.
Send me a photo if you can.
[email protected]
So you too want yours "ALAPWOB"?!?!
-
axel
I've played a 360 and 620 for ten years (and plenty of other guitars also) with .09 or .10 gauges - it felt ok. I recently switched to .12-52 on both my Rics (I sold *all* other guitars - I miss the Hofner bass though) and it brings the best out of 'em : tone, volume, feel, everything. They sound like Rics do when the sun shines... The action is pretty low, no buzz - it sings.
Ricks were designed at a time when .12-52 was almost a light gauge so there you are...
-my two cents
axel
Ricks were designed at a time when .12-52 was almost a light gauge so there you are...
-my two cents
axel
-
Steve_G.
Thanks for the offer Mark, but the guitar's entire neck is painted and sealed, so I'll never know what the grain looks like.
After reading some of your other posts, I think some of it may be a short scale vs. long scale tension situation. I think as Axel says, it's the design of the guitar. It has a long, thin neck. I just can't see using the 10-42's that Ric supplies with these 6-strings. Maybe I just have a heavy hand or an over-sensitive ear, but I'm still surprised no one else has commented on this.
I also agree with Axel that the Ric does sound much better with the heavier strings. I have on D'Addario Jazz Lights (12-52) and it really sparkles. Plus there is no neck play or pitch problem. I have no buzzing, and with the action down low I can easily barre chords a few frets down below the 12th. I just don't get why the Rics don't come this way.
Anyway thanks for your response.
After reading some of your other posts, I think some of it may be a short scale vs. long scale tension situation. I think as Axel says, it's the design of the guitar. It has a long, thin neck. I just can't see using the 10-42's that Ric supplies with these 6-strings. Maybe I just have a heavy hand or an over-sensitive ear, but I'm still surprised no one else has commented on this.
I also agree with Axel that the Ric does sound much better with the heavier strings. I have on D'Addario Jazz Lights (12-52) and it really sparkles. Plus there is no neck play or pitch problem. I have no buzzing, and with the action down low I can easily barre chords a few frets down below the 12th. I just don't get why the Rics don't come this way.
Anyway thanks for your response.
"I also agree with Axel that the Ric does sound much better with the heavier strings. I have on D'Addario Jazz Lights (12-52) and it really sparkles. Plus there is no neck play or pitch problem. I have no buzzing, and with the action down low I can easily barre chords a few frets down below the 12th. I just don't get why the Rics don't come this way. "
Whats the recommendation for the ultimate Jangly sound on a 360/12?
John
Whats the recommendation for the ultimate Jangly sound on a 360/12?
John
John: I have tried Pyramids and Rickenbacker strings on my Rickenbacker Model 450 and I find the Rickenbacker strings to be very jangly. I enjoyed the Pyramid strings as well, however, found them to be hard on the hands and the connective tissue, at least for my style of playing. I have heard from owner of the 360/12 that they also find the RIC strings to be adequate and the Pyramids rather stiff.
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm
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