Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi,

I'm thinking of purchasing a new Rick 360/12 or 370/12 with vintage pickups and have noticed both come with the "R" tailpiece. Does anyone know if there is an option, when ordering from Rickenbacker, to have either of these guitars built with the trapeze tailpiece installed instead of the stock "R"?

My local music store didn't have an answer so I'm hoping someone here may be able to help. Many thanks in advance for your time.

Regards,

Steve

It's very possible that RIC may sock you with a steep custom order charge for any variations from stock. Be very careful before you order.

My recommendation is to contact Don Adamek. I think he makes a trapeze tailpiece that is customized with seperate holes for all 12 strings, rather than the one Ric has with only 6 holes at 2 strings per.

Whatever you decide, you're definitely on the right track going with the trapeze tailpiece, especially with a 12-string model.

Thanks for the advice Jeffery...its greatly appreciated. I owned Rics a few years ago and the 12 string in particular was hard to keep in tune. It had the "R" tailpiece.

Would you happen to have any contact information for Don Adamek?

Many thanks again,

Steve

Uhh, looking for me? [email protected]

Steve-
I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that your 12 string didn't stay in tune due to the "R" tailpiece. Granted, they are a bit of hassle when re-stringing, but my 620/12, with "R", stays in tune better than any guitar I have ever owned.

Phil
330jg
620/12jg

Steve: My suggestion would be that you get the instrument with the "R" tailpiece. I suspect that you will be pleased with it.

Should you not like the "R" you can very easily install a trapeze tailpiece yourself. The trapeze is much easier to string and there are even aftermarket 12 string tailpieces out there that wil make the task a little easier.

Note that you cannot go back to the "R" without seeing the holes you drilled to install the Trapeze tailpiece.

Hi Everyone,

Your advice is greatly appreciated. I think I'll stay put with the "R" tailpiece based on the posts above and go with the 370/12 with vintage pickups. I have been told by the music store that there is a 6-8 month wait time but hey, Ric's are worth the wait!!

Again, many thanks for your time and help.

Cheers,

Steve

Steve - I hate to be a harbinger of doom, but I think the new 12-string Rics are horrible. I bought a George Harrison 360V12 2 years ago and hated it - the neck was way too fat, many of the tuners had play in them, the neck was not straight, it came with a 6-saddle bridge making intonating the guitar impossible, the action was a mile high, and one of the truss rods did nothing. Maybe I got a lemon, but Ric customer service was the added annoyance on top of it all - they refused to take the guitar back to work on it because I hadn't sent in my warranty card, even though their web site states that the original invoice may act as a substitute. Again, maybe just 1 bad experience among many other satisfied new-Ric-12-string owners. But do pay attention to the points I mention when checking out a new Ric and don't settle. Thorne

Thorney;
May I guess you might have bought that Rick at Guitar Center?10-12 years back, I saw more than 1 new RICK 12 at GCs in my area, and almost every 12 I saw needed the neck and action setup.I knew these didn't leave the factory like this, but regardless, to someone who may not be techie minded about setting up guitars, you could well be put off by this.GC didn't help things at all, cause seemingly no one cared to[or knew how??]
take the time and get a wrench and do a quick tweak.If you know what and how to do it, Ricks can be set up pretty easily.A shame this was your experience.

I own a new 370/12. I had the nut and bridge changed. I could have gone with the trapeze tail also, but did not. I think the R looks cool. This guitar plays and sounds great

Don - It was not Guitar Center but a local music store. I've been setting up my own guitars for well over 30 years and this one was not doable. I eventually took it to a luthier and he did the best he could with it, but still I was unhappy with it. I wanted to return it to the retailer, but he wouldn't take it back (I forget why - past the 30-day money back guarantee probably).

I absolutely love my '66 360/12 - it is the standard for electric 12-strings if you ask me. But that 360V12 from about the year 2000 was not even close to the quality of the '66. Eventually I traded it (and 2 other guitars) for a 2000 Gibson 335 reissue.

Well I did it!!!....ordered my new 370/12VP in jetglow. So thanks again for all of the help.

Steve: you mentioned that you changed the nut and bridge - any particular reason why you did so on a new 370/12? And what specific changes did you make? Also, what advantages, if any, have you noticed by doing so?

Cheers and many thanks in advance for all your responses.

Steve

Steve, it was a modification that I felt would help the string spacing on a somewhat narrow neck.
For my style and hand size, it was hard for me to play chords on the factory setup. This modification makes it play right for me. There are many people who feel the stock nut and 6 string saddle are fine.
It was just better for me. Hope that helped.

I have both a 360/12v64 and a 370/12 and I have not modified the nut. Yes, the neck is a bit narrow at the nut - this puts you into a different place while playing the guitar. It takes me a few minutes to "adjust" to the guitar if I pick it up after a while of playing six strings - but after that I'm fine.

Many thanks for the input Gary!

I guess I'll know what's best for me when it arrives and I can play it a bit. I had a 360/12v64 a few years back and had no problems playing that. I assume that since the width at the nut is the same on the 370/12, the feel should be similar. Do you find any difference with the two necks on your guitars?

Cheers,

Steve