Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Miguel: Mr. Hall has responded to this question on the Rickenbacker Forum before. There are a number of factors that stand in the way of this modification. The topic has been discussed here

My personal feeling is that all the NON vintage/ C series 12 strings should have a wide fretboard .

The less than 1&5/8" neck of the 360-12 is obsurd to play ..I know more players who sell there 360-12 than keep it as they can NOT get used to the width .

They just want a feel that is comfortable .

Sure there will be those that say "It just is not stock " ...then go buy oone of the older guitars ...there are plenty of them ...but watch sales go UP !!! with the wide neck .

I've never has a problem with any Ric neck as far as width goes. I'm a big guy as well. Perhaps it's because I dabble with other instruments like mandolins and banjos that I find much more challenging to play well.

I sympathise completely, though. I wouldn't want to get a 600 series 12 instead of a 300 series just for the wider neck.

Miguel,

Sorry to hear that. I'm an "A chord with three fingers type"....I have good piano player hands, basically.

Might I suggest messing around with alternate tunings or a capo for certain arrangements? I know it's probably not your ideal solution, but it could work for you on a certain level.

Miguel: Have you tried a different string spacing? It is amazing how much more room can be obtained by moving the first and sixth string sets to the outer edges and then readjusting the spacing in between for the remaining sets.

I'm not really qualified to comment on this thread, but the neck size of my '66 335 has always seemed a bit wide for me. I play it best with a capo on the second fret. I don't know if the neck tapers, or if it does, then in which direction. I have "average" to smaller fingers, and I really like a small playing area. Would a current day 360 neck be narrower than mine? On the McGuinn video the RM 12 seems to be. Thanks. - Jeff.

I think that all 12 strings should be tuned down a step to lessen the string tension - I certainly do that with my acoustic 12 and its a 12 fret to the body model. Then you can capo at the 2nd fret and get into a wider part of the neck

I am making several 12 strings even as I type .All have necks that are of a wider dimension .

1&11/16"

1&3/4"

The bridges will be Gibson Tun-O-Matic spacing and are of Stainless chassis with Brass saddles .

The tailpieces are also Stainless.

End of the fretboards will be 2&1/4" or 2&5/16"

Pickups are either a Firebird style or a single coil with 1/8" wide magnets as polepieces .These will be housed in a Black or White resin cover .