Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Does Rick make (or have they made) any short scale 12 string guitars?

Some 320/12 models in the 80's and some 325/12v63 models in '99. Very few though. Not to mention Lennon's one-off 325/12.

Another "one-off" is a Fireglo 310/12 completed in 2004:

http://homer.netmar.com/~muscon2/r507.jpg
http://homer.netmar.com/~muscon2/r507bd.jpg
http://homer.netmar.com/~muscon2/r507b.jpg

2 inch thick alder body with flame maple back. It has "C58" features, hardware, and electronics plus a 12 saddle bridge.

Paul W. has a one-off 325/12 in Blueboy!

Yes he does and it is from the same batch of ten "special" short-scale guitars completed in 2004.

There were only two 12 strings sold, as far as I know.

It's a sweetheart, incidentally. It hasn't stood yet for a photo session, but since I've got several BBs in for work/setup/etc., it might be an appropriate time for some pics soon...

Right now it's my favorite Rick, only because it puts a smile on my face to pull it out of its case, plug it in and try to make myself sound good on it.

What are these like action-wise? I just can't imagine 12 strings on a 325 or 350-type neck.

Here are the links to some pics I took recently:

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/jangle_jingle/blueboy%20325-12/DSC00091.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/jangle_jingle/blueboy%20325-12/DSC00087.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/jangle_jingle/blueboy%20325-12/DSC00085.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/jangle_jingle/blue%20boy%20triplets/DSC00159.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h146/jangle_jingle/blue%20boy%20triplets/DSC00163.jpg

Now to answer your question, Jack. I suspect you're talking, not of action, but of string spacing and fret distances.

But re: action, the nut is critical here, as this 12er wants to be played close to home position due to the short scale. I am blessed with slender fingers with pointed tips, so shorties are just fine with me in most cases. I can barre this one up to about fret 9 without too much trouble. OTOH, why anyone would regularly do this is beyond me...

From the factory, the string grooves in the nut needed a bit of work with a set of nut files (this took me a long time to get just right), but now it's fine. Not too oddly, the large diameter of the regular string set on this one (especially the D, A, and E wound strings) compared to the octave set, make fretting pairs a challenge. This is not helped by the Rick tradition of reversing string pairs--it seems more natural on this guitar to have them the other way 'round, due to the shape of the fingertip. On this guitar, even and rather high finger pressure is needed to avoid muting the octave string in the pair. I like the challenge, personally. The masochist in me, I suppose.

String spacing is fine for me. Folks with stubby, spatulate fingers need not apply.

Don't you love that word "spatulate"? Never got a chance to use it till now.

To answer some questions nobody asked:

The history of these "test body" guitars is fascinating and fairly well-documented. Kevin Kuney, John Williams, and I have been corresponding back and forth about these. In my case, it was love at first sight.

The unique features of this particular 12er are sprinkled liberally all over it. Semi-square heel, pickguard spaced up from the body, unfinished fretboard, butterbean tuners, Lennon-style jackplate, along with its flawless finish, are something to behold.

It also has a 7-digit serial number (year of manufacture plus a five-digit sequence number, indicating a handbuilt or factory prototype instrument). My 75th 4003 also has a prototype serial number.

Anyone who has a Rick 320 or 325 knows what they normally weigh. But upon picking this 325/12 up to admire or to play it, you'll notice that it is extremely light in weight. It's a combination of alder and the fact that this one is a full hollow body except for the neck stringer. There is a lot of hardware on the neck, but butterbeans are lighter than many other Rick tuners. I personally like 'em and put a new set on my '60 Capri when I restored it.

Paul, yes, my question was mainly the string spacing. You covered it all. Beautiful pictures!

Paul, I don't know much about the testbody 325's but I find them fascinating as well. I gather they were made for the people who were on the C-series development team?

John, these guitars weren't finished at the time when Nick Thiel learned of them. They were just test bodies. I doubt if they even had necks fitted at the time. Anyway, he asked JH if they could finish them and could he buy them. John said ok. Nick asked me if I wanted one or three. Since the guitars weren't finished, they could be done in any factory color(!). Nick also asked for two (I think) to be 12 string guitars. I wanted a Blue Boy 325 with a slash sound hole, a 315 FG and 310 MB. Nick decided on what colors/features the rest were to receive. Nick later sold some of his to Mike Parks. I sold the FG to a Forum Member in SoCal and recently the other two to Mike. I needed the $$ to finish paying for the '64 360S/12 with the funky headstock.

Kevin sent me an "accounting" of where each is, to his recollection. Time for an update...

Mike also has a 325 in MB with a 2pm f-hole and 2-knobs, also part of the test body batch.

I don't know the breakdown but I think more of these were maple than alder.

Mike sold the 325 MB some time ago. I believe the only ones he has left are the 325 BB with f-hole and the two that John Williams recently sold him.

I had the Fireglo 310/12 with me in California this past August but it has not found it's way home yet. I miss it!