Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Could it be the wood used in the body of my 660/12 is not as dense as that of other 660/12s?

I set my 660 on my right knee, leaning gently against my body in the playing position. I then let go of the neck and the headstock immediately falls toward the floor 'til it stops when the neck meets my left leg.

You other folks with 660/12s: this doesn't happen when you try my little test?

Also, the body of my 660/12 is not flat. It rocks when placed on a perfectly level surface. Does yours?

Murali,
I just tried my Carl Wilson like you suggested and it dips toward the headstock. I never noticed it before and I have no problem at all with it. I think it might be "more normal" than not. I balance point on mine is right around the heel. It sits on my leg just passed the lower bout so their is more wieght on the neck side opposed to the body side. However, with it strapped on, standing up, it seems perfectly balanced. I think that's a better reference point.

thanks Bill.
With the strap on the hdstk still dives. If i use a wide leather strap the stock will only dive so far then the entire guitar shifts to the right side so the heel wants to be right in the center of my body.

I don't really believe my 660 is any different from anyone else's. But at 5'5" & 130lbs a little shifting of the guitar makes a bigger difference. It's more an annoyance issue than anything else.

Mine does tend to dive some when I am not touching the guitar, but when playing it I have my right arm resting on the body so it really isn't a problem in the long run.

Murali, is it the consensus that in order to help minimize the problem, weight should be added to tailend of the guitar somehow? Here is a suggestion. Buy some lead tape and apply it to the underside of the trapeze. It can be cut with scissors to size and shape. Its the same stuff that golfers use to add weight to a club and can be purchased at a golf shop. The stuff is really quite "heavy" so lining the underside with it might make a big difference.

thanks Bill.
I've decided I'm just gonna drill a bunch of holes in the headstock. That should work, don't ya think?

YIKES.

Well, if it worked for Mercedes on the '27 SSK, it oughta work on a 660-12, too...

Guys: I wonder how much of a difference, if any, there might be with this balance issue when the new routed-through 12 string headstocks are brought online.

The January 20 release information on the new headstock design does say "..... the reduced weight will translate into an improved all around sound for the guitar". One wonders how much weight will be shed with the new design.

I don't have a problem with my 660/12 but then again I haven't played it for extended periods standing up (yet). The strap I'm using has a fairly coarse surface so that may help.

Helium balloons on the head,

Water balloons on the tail.

Will my guitar finally feel better to me?

I can speak like Mickey Mouse,

While the rain drips softly onto my

Right shoe.

Murali - My 660/12 dives a little bit, like you are describing. It's got a relatively light body and a 12-string headstock with all those tuners, so that's not totally unexpected.

Standing up, playing with a strap, it is not a big deal, to me. For me, the biggest issue was playability of the 12-string neck, specifically, how easy is it to fret chord shapes on the neck. For that, and for tone, the 660/12 absolutely blows away every other 12'er I've played. I personally wouldn't change a thing.

I would seriously hesitate before I started drilling holes in the headstock of a 660/12... I hope you were joking. Have you tried a wide strap with good friction between your shirt and the underside of the strap? That might help quite a bit. Don't give up on the 660/12. It is an awesome guitar.

Try headless. Or a good strap!

I always wear one flat shoe and one of my wife's high heals.....works for me (LOL)

Graham: I guess you are pretty pumped-up then.

i guess Graham is pretty mixed-up. LOL