Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

That was a great post Paul. I do my own setups and I have to agree whole heartedly.

I can certainly vouch for Brians magic touch in setting up 12 string Rics

Once a Ric-12 is set up to suit you, it becomes a priceless possession, as in the case of mine ! Sending my Ric to Mark was the best thing I could have done. I might not have kept it, otherwise.

Here's what you need now. . .
http://www.pickguardian.com/pickguardian/Signature.html

Thanks Tom, a nice bit of fun. I supposed some will be guarded about using their signature.

Coooool.... Go for it, Steve!

I'd seriously consider something like that for my 330 Purpleburst, but there's already no doubt in anybody's mind that it's mine, LOL!

Here is the step-by-step procedure that Mark uses on the 12-saddle bridges. It gives you a pretty good idea of why the factory doesn't have time to do it.

http://webpages.charter.net/tbradshaw/M ... dge%20mod/

I have had trouble with the nut on my 12 string. The strings don't sit right down into the grooves and when I tune it, the string stretches without moving and then suddenly gives and it goes sharp. My friend and guitar guru Mickey, had to fiddle about with it and put a mix of different strings on to get it right. The Rickenbacker strings just don't fit into the nut. He thought about filing down the grooves slightly to help, but is a bit anxious doing this. I ordered a new nut just in case it all went horribly wrong and Paul A suggested thinner strings. I do find it fairly difficult to play and tend to "clunk" the bottom E and A harmony strings. Mickey has been promising to do all this this for me, but he is trying to avoid it I think. He is very good with his "luthiering", but has been learning about Ricks on mine.

Any thought chaps?

.....I mean lighter guage strings, not "thinner".......

I think I will start a new thread with this...

No need to, Sarah. Look at the priorities here. Ricks work and sound best with a certain gauge of strings, and they are not generally .009s or .008s. The guitars also have a level of "comfort" (if you could call it that) to you, with the correct strings. To substitute strings because the nut slots are too narrow is getting the priorities all wrong.

Apparently your guitar "guru" is not a guitar tech. It's a very simple thing to widen the slots just so, making room for the correct strings. And, BTW, "cheap and cheerful" will only compound the problem, so a proper set of nut files must be used, and these are not cheap. So hie thee to a proper guitar tech, where about an hour's work will have it tuning and singing like it should.

On my 360/12FG, I had to widen the low E string nut and saddle just a hair when I put a set of Pyramid flats on it, as the string was sitting about halfway out of the nut and saddle. I very slowly and carefully widened the nut and saddle slot, taking great care not to make it any deeper, just that wee little bit wider. The string fit nicely, and the guitar set up beautifully. Shortly after, I discovered the RIC forum, which not only condemns these strings, but also has a big problem with my newly purchased Janglebox(which I still love).

Good grief, I thought at first, what's next, my brand of picks? The guitar would not intonate(and still won't and can't explain why)with stock RIC strings. I was stoked when I didn't have to get a 12 saddle bridge to make it work, as I had already dumped a lot of money into this guitar and it's accessories and components. 2 toasters,Ric-O-Sound box,Janglebox, and a tonestyler varitone to replace the bridge pickup tone control, and some expensive strings, I was already pretty darn deep into this deal.

Anyways, I really liked the sound and look(very pretty silver that stays that way for ages)of the Pyramids, but they were just too heavy and unbendable for me, and changed them to the TI flat 12 set that Pick of the Ricks sells, which I am much happier with. Oddly enough, the switch to TIs required little, if any, intonation adjustment even though they are much lighter guage. A little goose on truss rods and I was good to go.

The slight widening had no affect when I switched back to a lighter string set, so I didn't have to fit a new nut or saddle. My guitar sounds and plays beautiful and am happy I made those changes.

BTW, that 12 string bridge is indeed a masterpiece, very nice work there. If I ever get another Rick 12 that would need one, yours would be my first choice!

PM sent mike