Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

While I'm waiting for my 360-12 Blueburst to arrive, I've been reading the discussions about intonation and the love it/hate it 12 string bridge. I've read that it isn't a problem if you use a "good" string. Okay. So what's considered a "good string?" Are the ones made by Ric (or for them) considered good? If not, where should I go?

One of my other guitars is (don't laugh) an Ovation 12 string and I've never had an intonation problem up to the 14th fret, which is far as I tend to play. I did go through a number of different brands of strings to find the ones that worked best, but this was because the action has been tweaked and the wrong gauge makes it all go to h*ll.

All opinions are welcome!!


Thanks in advance!
Valenti

Seth: RIC strings are excellent. They intonate well and sound terrific. I would try them first. Any other good quality string will work fine, but traditional round wounds will sound differently than the compressed round wounds.

Rickenbacker strings are terrific.
I use Pyramids. The knock on them is that they're stiff, but on a 360-12 my guess is you won't be doing a lot bends. On the plus side, they sound great and last forever. I usually play one of my Ric 12-strings every other day for maybe 30 minutes, and I can go up to eight months without changing Pyramids. Really.

For comparison, on my acoustic I use D'Addario lights, and I need to change them after only three or four playing session of an hour or two.

If you're willing to spend 2 or 3 times the price of regular strings, go with the Pyramids. The sweet pure tone is great.

Thanks for the responses. I am assuming all of you have the 6-string bridge? (or is that a bad assumption?)

Regarding the Pyramids: 1)where is the best place to find them; 2) are they gauged the same as the Rics? When you say "stiffer" I'm thinking "heavier". Is that what you mean? (The strings on my Ovation 12 are 10/47s.)

I have a 1966 360/12 with the 6 saddle bridge and a 2002 660/12 with the 12 saddle bridge. On the older 360 I had to adjust the truss rods to straighten the neck and adjust the saddle bridges and I was then able to achieve good intonation. The 660/12 needed a few adjustments to the saddles and it also intonated properly. I bought the 660 becasue I was having trouble with the thin neck on the 360. However, after a little practice I can now play either guitar with the same skill level. I suggest you get a copy Roger McGuinn's video where he has a tutorial on how to setup and tune the 12 string Ric.

Where would one get hold of a copy of the video, Jim?

Howard, try www.rogermcguinn.com. Look under the DVD's on his site.

Thank you very much, Stan.

That 'Homespun Video' site looks pretty interesting...... must have a good look when I've got some more time.

Seth: Don't apologize for the Ovation 12-string! I think one of the cool things about this forum is that we all recognize that, while Rics are exceptional instruments (as in "The Best"), there ARE other guitars out there that are worth playing. I've got an Ovation 6-string from about 1988 that is superb. In fact, I'm looking for an acoustic 12, and because of my happiness with Ovation, I've been considering an Ovation 12 myself.

And I hasten to add -- if you need an electric 12, then other guitar makers should just save their electricity and shut it down now! There is NOTHING like a Ric 12...

Jerry
Thanks. Since I'm relatively new to this forum, I don't know how others will react to having "those other brands" mentioned in the posts.

Actually, I bought the Ovation because I needed an acoustic 12 that I could plug in for church. Compared to my 6 string Guild D55, it sounds like a toy if played un-plugged. But plugged in, and it's great. Guess it depends on the sound you're looking for (as someone once told me regarding Toasters).

We all mention the "others" that we own! I have Rickenbacker, Fender, Zon, Carvin, Alvarez, Rick Turner and Yamaha instruments.

Okay everyone, come clean!

In addition to my two Ric 12 strings I also have a Charvel Surfcaster 12 string. It sounds good but it wil never replace the Ric 12 strings. I also have a 6 string Ovation.

Ha ha... okay.

My others are:

Gibson J100X

Danelectro Longhorn 6-string (Mandoguitar)

Danelectro Longhorn bass

Phantom Guitarworks Teardrop XII

Fender Aerodyne Telecaster

Gretsch Electromatic G51525

Tacoma C1C Chief

Tyler Mountain Bouzouki

Fender DG16E-12

Think that's it. Noel

*the list of the guitars I've previously owned is great (and a testament to youthful foolishness)