Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

leftybass wrote:My .02: I would say that it is a 360/12WB, LH, FG, and possibly VP (vintage p'ups option) which was available at the time I believe.

Other than the knobs I think that it is all original.....

Okay, that sounds the most logical, now that it has been made clear that the WB did have a bound soundhole on most models.

In the end it really is up to Peter to decide what he wants to call it.

Most of the 360/12 WB’s I’ve seen do not have bound sound holes, other than the B‘s. John Hall commented on the RIC forum he ended their production as soon as he could in '84 and fired the person who came up with the B series. (The B’s were produced while John’s father was in ill health and before John took the reins). However, it doesn't mean there weren't past orders to fill on the B series.
This one is likely a ‘special order’ though, which were available at the time.

This thread couldn't have happened at a better time. I've just bought a lefty 1987 360/12WB JG and it should arrive next Wednesday! It also has a bound soundhole as well as the right handed neck and smiley face TRC and toasters. I'm going to replace the R with a lefty trapeze(Thanks Kenny!) and I also ordered the wider spaced nut from RIC. I can't wait!

Scastles wrote:Most of the 360/12 WB’s I’ve seen do not have bound sound holes, other than the B‘s. John Hall commented on the RIC forum he ended their production as soon as he could in '84 and fired the person who came up with the B series. (The B’s were produced while John’s father was in ill health and before John took the reins). However, it doesn't mean there weren't past orders to fill on the B series.
This one is likely a ‘special order’ though, which were available at the time.

70s and early early 80s 12 string WBs might not have, but plenty of others have.
Paul W's Ruby 12 string WB has a bound soundhole This `85 JG WB 12 that just sold on EBay does as well Brian Medway's JG WB 12 has soundhole binding.

I've only seen a couple that did not have soundhole binding; one of these was a September `79 model in AZ Blue that recently sold on Ebay.

paologregorio wrote:

Scastles wrote:Most of the 360/12 WB’s I’ve seen do not have bound sound holes, other than the B‘s. John Hall commented on the RIC forum he ended their production as soon as he could in '84 and fired the person who came up with the B series. (The B’s were produced while John’s father was in ill health and before John took the reins). However, it doesn't mean there weren't past orders to fill on the B series.
This one is likely a ‘special order’ though, which were available at the time.

70s and early early 80s 12 string WBs might not have, but plenty of others have.
Paul W's Ruby 12 string WB has a bound soundhole

Paul W Ruby WB 12.jpg

This `85 JG WB 12 that just sold on EBay does as well

360 12 WB JG body.jpg

Brian Medway's JG WB 12 has soundhole binding.

I've only seen a couple that did not have soundhole binding; one of these was a September `79 model in AZ Blue that recently sold on Ebay.

Paul, what I'm saying is that I'm not so sure they were all standard issue with a bound soundhole. There's an early '80s' WB on pg. 119 of the Smith book, no bound soundhole. I'm sure there are many others.

That's what I'm getting at; 70s models and early, early 80s models did not; It's the year the guitar was made, rather than whether it had 6 or 12 strings. I think Paul W's is an `82. His six string WB, also Ruby, has a bound soundhole. My friend's `83 WB had a bound soundhole, standard, as did my first, built in 11/84. the first RIC catalogue I ever had, one from 82, showed one WB model with a bound soundhole, and another without. Obviously these photos were of previously produced guitars, so at some point around the turn of the decade between the 70s and 80s, the bound soundhole became standard on the WB model.

paologregorio wrote:... so at some point around the turn of the decade between the 70s and 80s, the bound soundhole became standard on the WB model.

Then it seems to me sometime around the mid '80's it might have become standard, since there were WB models made in the early '80s without bound soundholes.

As far as my remarks about 12 strings, I referenced having only seen bound soundholes on B's, but I should have been clearer. I have only seen bound soundholes on B's, (which were 12's), that came with toasters. As was the case with guitar in question at the beginning of this thread. But since this 360 was made in '87, it is more likely it was a special order, considering the toasters.

Scastles wrote:

paologregorio wrote:... so at some point around the turn of the decade between the 70s and 80s, the bound soundhole became standard on the WB model.

Then it seems to me sometime around the mid '80's it might have become standard, since there were WB models made in the early '80s without bound soundholes.

As far as my remarks about 12 strings, I referenced having only seen bound soundholes on B's, but I should have been clearer. I have only seen bound soundholes on B's, (which were 12's), that came with toasters. As was the case with guitar in question at the beginning of this thread. But since this 360 was made in '87, it is more likely it was a special order, considering the toasters.

Definitely had to be a special order if it came with toasters and there's no sign of the toasters being added on later. I ordered my AZ Blue WB with toasters; I think it was an extra $100 or so for the "vintage chrome bar pickups" as they were called back then. They were also available separately, but IIRc, all of the solder joints were untouched in this guitar, yes?

An unbound sound hole could have been a special order as well; in the early 80s, guitar production was such that special orders were quite available! The early catalogue I mentioned before listed checkered binding as as extra cost option as well. If only I'd considered it for my AZ WB, but at the time, anything having to do with checkers reminded me of "dudes" walking around with mullet haircuts wearing checkered Van's slip ons and listening to music I couldn't stand at the time.

Gotcha, Paul. Think we're on the same page now.

I may open the guitar and check the solder joints, but I think the toasters are original to this guitar.

FWIW, here's my 1981 360/12 WB RBY with bound soundhole:

libratune wrote:FWIW, here's my 1981 360/12 WB RBY with bound soundhole:

WOW!!!! That's B E A U T I F U L ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

My '82 Ruby 360/12 WB with bound soundhole



oops Duplicate photo. i just saw the one listed above as Paul W's is actually mine.

tmossman wrote:My '82 Ruby 360/12 WB with bound soundhole



oops Duplicate photo. i just saw the one listed above as Paul W's is actually mine.

Yeah, but your pic is better. Nice lookin'!

I wondered about that. I don't think mine has ever left the house, except for a North of Malibu photo shoot...