Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Ah, yes. Now that the 620/12 and I have gotten some quality time together and all I can say is that Ric makes the finest guitars in the world, no exceptions! I love the way the 12 strings ring out, especially on chords, and I LOVE the look and feel of the 620 design. My wife and I jammed last night, her on the 620/12 and me on my 4003, and we both just felt it sounded so right. As much as we love the 330, we are seriously considering another 620 in a 6 string and making it the main axe. The weight, the size, the sustain, etc. It is really a great design all around. I really don't understand why there isn't more love for these 620's. I suspect most people are in the same boat we are and simply don't have a store anywhere near that carries them. Heck, if we saw a 330 or 360 in a store in our neck of woods we would flip out. I just took a chance and got this from Chris at POTR for a great deal and I am as pleased as punch! Now I am going to get that .0047 cap and push/pull pot ordered and iiipopes and me are going to give this even more vintage flavor. Awh yeah!
Now, here are the pics, with one showing off the vintage tuners:







Enjoy!

Very nice, Jason!! I agree. I had one throught the '80's and miss it still.

Congrats!

Sweet! Love that JetGlo! What's the neck like?

analogpackrat wrote:What's the neck like?

It is a Dec. 2009 and the neck feels great to me, i.e thin and flat, but then I never met a Ric neck I didn't like and I have 4 of them.

analogpackrat wrote:Sweet! Love that JetGlo!

So do I, but this one is actually Midnight Blue. Such is the nature of this mysterious and elusive color. In certain light, it looks JetGlo and in others it can look almost AzureGlo. My wife and me share this guitar and I wanted JetGlo, but she wanted Midnight Blue since we already have 2 JetGlo's. If I play in the dark and she in the light, then we can both say we got the color we wanted!

If there are no bushings on the lateral tuning keys, stamped nickel mandolin bushings can be inserted to help prevent wear on the lateral keys. I've done that to mine with original Klusons, and they've been holding up for over 30 years, now.

iiipopes wrote:If there are no bushings on the lateral tuning keys, stamped nickel mandolin bushings can be inserted to help prevent wear on the lateral keys. I've done that to mine with original Klusons, and they've been holding up for over 30 years, now.

I don't think there is. Where would I get some from?

It will depend on the diameter of the tuning post, but StewMac usually has them to fit 1/4 inch tuner posts. Slight reaming of the holes, and trimming of the collars of the bushings may be necessary. They were on mine, because of the routed out slots not going through the headstock. But then again, since you have the slots routed all the way through the headstock, trimming of the collars may not be necessary. I recommend these for all 12-strings which use vintage or vintage reissue old-Kluson or old-Kluson-style tuners that have push bushings (not the Schallers or such with threaded bushings). Here's the link:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Tune ... &xsr=42599

Low End Lover wrote:

analogpackrat wrote:What's the neck like?

It is a Dec. 2009 and the neck feels great to me, i.e thin and flat, but then I never met a Ric neck I didn't like and I have 4 of them.

analogpackrat wrote:Sweet! Love that JetGlo!

So do I, but this one is actually Midnight Blue. Such is the nature of this mysterious and elusive color. In certain light, it looks JetGlo and in others it can look almost AzureGlo. My wife and me share this guitar and I wanted JetGlo, but she wanted Midnight Blue since we already have 2 JetGlo's. If I play in the dark and she in the light, then we can both say we got the color we wanted!

I guess I need to adjust my monitor! Still a great looking guitar.

analogpackrat wrote:
I guess I need to adjust my monitor! Still a great looking guitar.

nope, that looks like jetglo. "nature of the beast" indeed.

Low End Lover wrote:

analogpackrat wrote:Sweet! Love that JetGlo!

So do I, but this one is actually Midnight Blue.

Lovely, confirms that i'm going for a Midnight Blue - but the 4003 - sneaks back to the bass forum.

Congrat's. Enjoy. Post Pic's, would like to check it out!

Glenn

larsongs wrote:Congrat's. Enjoy. Post Pic's, would like to check it out!

Glenn

Scroll up...

Hey Jason - now that you've had a few weeks to play it, are you still happy with the neck and string spacing on your 620-12? I'm considering getting one myself from POTR and have the same concerns you expressed in the other thread before you got yours. FWIW, I have a 620-6 and find the neck on it to be pretty much perfect, and I don't have particularly big hands. However, I have very little experience playing 12-strings and have never had a chance to play a Rick 12 of any ilk.

Low End Lover wrote:It is a Dec. 2009 and the neck feels great to me, i.e thin and flat, but then I never met a Ric neck I didn't like and I have 4 of them.

My first thought was "do these 4 necks have bodies attached to them as well?"

Great looking guitar there, Jason - congrats!

jdawe wrote:Hey Jason - now that you've had a few weeks to play it, are you still happy with the neck and string spacing on your 620-12? I'm considering getting one myself from POTR and have the same concerns you expressed in the other thread before you got yours. FWIW, I have a 620-6 and find the neck on it to be pretty much perfect, and I don't have particularly big hands. However, I have very little experience playing 12-strings and have never had a chance to play a Rick 12 of any ilk.

Jonathan,

Since it sounds like we are coming at this from the same place, I am hoping my input is helpful. First off, I LOVE the way the 620 feels. I like the weight, body and neck. In terms of sound, I have both a 330/6 and the 620/12, both strung with TI Flats. While I love them both, I think I prefer the sound of the 620 over the 330. The 330 is warm and little bit more middy and the 620 is bright and much more direct. Having said that, this is a Ric to Ric comparison and compared to other guitars they both sound a lot more alike that they don't, i.e. there is no question either is a Ric and they can chime and jangle for days. I feel I made the right choice regarding the 12-string. While I hope to add a 620/6 and 330/12 to the stable someday, I wouldn't be disappointed in my Ric options with these 2 guitars. (This is to say nothing of my 2010 4003 & 2008 4003FL!) I really like how bright and clear and big the 620/12 sounds, which I have no doubt is due in part to its solid body design.
On the topic of string spacing, I haven't found this to be an issue. Now, this is the one and only 12-string I have ever played, so I guess I don't know any difference. I will say that I do not find it hard to play and while I can see it getting crowded for some more complex chording, I am just not that good of a player yet for that to be an issue. I mean, there are tons of folks who have 330 & 360/12 and the string spacing is the same on them as it is on the 620/12. Unless you are into more complex chordings and have larger hands, I cannot see this guitar causing you grief. As someone posted in either this thread or the other one, people can chord on mandolins, so...
Well, those are my thoughts for now. Let me know if you have anymore questions. Personally, I think you should go for a 620/12 from POTR and have Chris put on his custom string set. It will sound and play fantastic and he's got a great deal on them right now.

Hope that helps,

LEL (Jason)