Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Mark:

I pasted the conversation regarding 12 strings at the Gretsch site (see below).


Gretsch Discussion Page: Elliot Easton's Tiki Lounge: Left handed Twelve String on e-bay
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By banjoman (Unregistered Guest) on Friday, March 08, 2002 - 2:19 pm:Edit Post

Since this seems to be the place where all you left handers hang out here's an interesting little ebay product for you.

Item # 1520117893

Black Rickenbacker 12 string owned by Doyle Bramhall II

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By Elliot_easton (Elliot_easton) on Friday, March 08, 2002 - 5:32 pm:Edit Post

I myself play one of the very rare lefty McGuinn Limited Edition models. I think 3 were made. Thanks anyway for the heads-up; perhaps one of the other lefties here could use one.
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By banjoman (Unregistered Guest) on Friday, March 08, 2002 - 5:42 pm:Edit Post

I guess it's more like three of a kind. I thought if anyone would have one of these it would be you. Hope a GDP'er gets it. I'm curious as to his reserve though.
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By Frankf (Frankf) on Friday, March 08, 2002 - 8:17 pm:Edit Post

E,

I seriously considered buying a McGuinn that I came across somewhere or other a year or so ago. Also came thisclose to buying a 360-12 once. Shied away mainly because of one thing: I've only managed to get my hands on a very few Ric 12s in my life, and have just never felt comfy playing them. Coulld you share your own opinion on Rics?

FrankF
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By Elliot_easton (Elliot_easton) on Saturday, March 09, 2002 - 12:57 am:Edit Post

Well, they are certainly beautiful guitars-few would argue that point. I've played good and bad ones. One good feature is the dual trussrod system; especially with a 12-string, it allows a lot of adjustment of action. Some folks find the necks a bit thin. There are 2 ways that I know of to rectify this: One is to have the nut reslotted to that the 2 strings that make up each pair are much closer together than stock. This makes a huge difference in playability. It doesn't cause any rattle and feels more like you're just pressing down one string, rather than two. The stock nut spreads them out so much that you kind of feel like you're just pressing down in the vicinity of the note you want!
The second approach is to custom order one with the neck that comes on the Petty model, which is much wider, but you'll still probably be happier with either neck if you have the nut recut.
Also, unlike practically every other 12-string, Rics are strung with the low note first (toward your chin), and THEN the octave string. All other 12-strings seem to be the opposite. I leave mine stock, but many players reverse that configuration so that you first strike the high octave string on a downstroke. This can arguably sound more chimey, if you play more down than upstrokes. Never bothered Harrison or McGuinn though! Just a little trick, or mod that some players prefer, so I thought I'd share it. Lastly, if you get one with the later style black pickups, you'll probably want to retrofit the vintage "toastertop" style pickups. Oh yeah, this is very impotant: nothing works better on these than the Pyramid Gold 12 string set. Huge difference!
Hope this helps.
Lastly, if you're on a tighter budget, the Danelectro 12 rocks, at any price!

Julio, if my memory serves me right, the replacement upper pickguard for the CW is the same as the 360v64, 360/12v64, & 1997; part number 03418. Of course, mine was for a left-handed guitar. I can't remember if the cost from Rickenbacker was $15 plus shipping or $25 plus shipping.

RC:

Thanks a lot!

What he said is NOT to have all the strings jammed closer together , but rather have a nut cut so that the PAIRS (meaning the standard and th eoctave set ) are closer together .This actually spreads the pairs farther apart ,making the pairs easier to fret .

This is what I do to EVERY 12 string Rick that I encounter , except for ones that this has already been done to .

If I could ever figure out the photo thing ,I'd post a before and after shot of some nuts that I have done recently .
I do about one Rick 12 nut per week .This is nothing compared to the factory , but as a modification , it makes a HUGE difference.
Glad to see that even Elliot has had this done .COOL!