Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have a 330/12 FG that plays and sounds great; I have the chance to buy a 360/12v64 in JetGlo and I'm wondering about the playability of these two guitars, if anyone has compared them. I love the look of the 360v in JetGlo, not the classic Fireglo look, I know. What are the differences between these two guitars? Does the lack of binding on the 330 make an appreciable difference in fretting notes? Any insights would be appreciated. Thanks.

Matthew,

I have a JG 360V64 and a JG 360/12WB. They are both quite remarkable guitars.

The 360/12WB which is quite similar in appearance to the 360/12V64 that you are looking at, is no harder to play than any other Ric 12 of that basic body shape IMO.

The JG finish certainly sets these guitars apart from the pack. Again IMO.

Matthew, I have a 360v64-12 & a 330-12. The 330-12 is a truly great gtr, but the v64 is the best 12 I have ever played. It has the 21 fret neck/toaster combination, while the 330 is 24 fret/hi-gain. My v64 is a 1990 model & so has the lovely 'hot' toasters, which in truth don't really sound any different to the hi-gains....but that's why I like them, toaster look but hi-gain tone...ahhh, heaven.

My 360v64 is probably the best gtr that I have ever owned & is really the only 12 that I need. I am a really big 330 fan, but the 360V64 is just such a hard gtr to beat, especially in its 12 string guise.

Matthew, the neck on the V64 is bound, which gives it a tremendously fast, broken-in feel.

Everyone that's ever played my V64 comments as such. I prefer the toaster sound, personally, but that's a more subjective matter.

Best of luck.

Thanks for the responses, I especially appreciate the direct comparison between the 330/12 and the 360/12v64. I don't know how the toasters on the 360v I'm looking at are wound -- somewhere between vintage and hi-gains would be ideal, in my book.

So as far as fretting first position chords, is there much difference between the two? I've read reviews that say it's difficult on the 360v, but I'm wondering if those are written by people who just don't have much experience with Ric 12 strings in general. I don't mind the way the 330-12 plays, if the 360v is similar, that would be great. I have played a 450-12 and it did seem like the fretting issue was more prevalent on that guitar, compared to my 330.

Matthew, my 360V64 is slightlier easier to play than my 330-12, but that could of course be the fact that my V64 is 16 years old & my 330 is new. Having said that, I have played others & they all seem very good to play.