330/ 360 (6 or 12) construction

beatlefreek · Post by **beatlefreek** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 7:48 pm

'ello everyone.

I'm brand spankin' new fresh to this board and I have a couple of questions, but I'll start with just one.

I've never owned a Ric but I have played a (330?) 12 string as well as a (4001?) bass — really liked both.
I'm am, in fact, thinking of buying a Ric 12-string sometime in the near future but I want to know more about them, as I currently know nothing about them on a technical level.

So here's the question:

How is the guitar (a 330 or a 360 — I assume they're virtually identical) constructed? That is, how exactly is the neck attached to the body? Is it neck-through-body construction, with some kind of center block ala a Gibson ES335? Or is it entirely hollow ala a Gibson ES330?

I'll doubtedly have many more questions after this one, so don't say I didn't warn ya!

Thanks in advance.

riffmeister · Post by **riffmeister** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:10 pm

there is a center block, but it does not run the entire length of the body, sorta like a cross between an ES330 and an ES335

the 600 series 12 stringers have wider necks than the 300 series 12 stringers, in case you were wondering

beatlefreek · Post by **beatlefreek** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 9:01 pm

Thanks. Peter.

Are all 300 series constructed the same way?

chris_scruggs · Post by **chris_scruggs** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 9:55 pm

Because the 360's have the rounded tops, the neck joints are a little more fragile than the 330's. Not enough to make a huge difference, though.

Electronically, the only difference in the 360 and the 330 is that the 360 has the stereo input, and the 330 is mono, like most other guitars.

The 360 has the cool shark tooth fretboard inlay, too.

Actually, the Gibson ES-335 is not "neck through". Neck through means the length of the guitar is one solid piece of wood, like a Rickenbacker 4003 bass, or a Gibson Firebird. The ES-335 has a glued on neck on a blocked of body. The Rickenbackers are pretty much the same.

wormdiet · Post by **wormdiet** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 5:26 am

It was my understanding that ricks technically do not have an independent center block but rather, the neck pocket is super deep, which fulfills the same function but with one fewer piece of wood.

Sonically, to my ears a 330 sounds just a hair "warmer" than a 360 due to more air in the body.

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 5:47 am

Isn't the 330 top thinner than the 360, allowing more accoustic vibration, hence the warmer sound?Though I prefer the look of the 360, if I were to buy at this moment, based on what I've read, I'd go for the "warmer" 330 (besides it's got the Harrison vibe)

wormdiet · Post by **wormdiet** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 5:49 am

My 330's top is at least a quarter inch. I believe the only "thin top" models of recent history are the 360 CW's.

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 6:42 am

The entire top on all 300 series guitars is carved from the rear out of one solid block with just a single centerline lamination. As such there is no neck block, just a deep pocket into which the neck is inserted.

There is no top, per se, really only a back. However, the depth of the rout varies from tone area to tone area, and the -f- hole area is situated in one of these spots, not necessarily representative of the overall thickness.

There is no difference in the strength of the neck to body joint between a 330 or 360. But the neck is definitely stronger on a 330 since the fingerboard has a solid cross section, i.e. no cut-outs for inlays or binding. This accounts more for the slight difference in tone between the two models than the body, as the pickups only sense the string motion which is primarily affected only by a strip not much wider than the neck the full length of the instrument.

Acoustically without an amp is different story.

jps · Post by **jps** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 3:09 pm

That is a very interesting construction method that as far as I know only Rickenbacker does. It is also interesting that this is a method that goes back to the mid '50s if I am correct for the combos (guitars, not amps). Definitely a stronger method than the typical hollow body construction.

Does this construction method also apply to the 4005 basses such as my '67 4005WB?

jack · Post by **jack** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 4:38 pm

Right now I'm looking at the body of a 1964 360-12 with the back off. You can clearly see how the inside was routed out and how the neck fits into the neck pocket as well as the thinner top and the old style braces. I will try to get someone to take some pictures of the inside if any one is interested?

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 4:48 pm

Jack, I am interested! And how is that old '65 360/12 doing?

jack · Post by **jack** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 4:57 pm

Hi John, the old '65 twelve is doing great! It sings me to sleep almost every night. As a matter of fact, I think I'll go play it right now.

beatlefreek · Post by **beatlefreek** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 5:56 pm

Jack, I'm interested seeing pictures, too.

rkbsound · Post by **rkbsound** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 6:11 pm

House of Guitars in Rochester, NY has a couple of cut-away pieces of 360's. I handle them almost every visit - pure fascination I guess.

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 7:50 pm

Let's not forget this recent thread, there are photos of the neck tenon: ../6/9868.html"#FFEECC">