Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have mentioned the problems I've had keeping my 330-12 in tune. I bought some Curt Mangan strings from Chris at POR, and took the guitar today to another tech who is experienced with Rick 12s. He immediately found fault with the way the strings were attached to the tuning pegs and assured me he could get it to stay in tune. He did recommend I put the 12-saddle bridge on, but after talking extensively to Chris at POR, decided to keep the six-saddle on there for now. Here's what Chris said in so many words:

"A lot of guys today have become too picky, I think. With the advent of tuners, we all have a machine telling us whether we're in tune or not. Rick 12s have been made this way for over forty years, and a lot of the records we love were made with Ricks that weren't perfectly intonated. I think part of the charm of a Rick 12 is that they have this slightly funky intonation thing happening. The twelve-string bridge will correct that intonation problem, but I think you should experiment with strings until you find the ones that are right for that guitar before you go ahead and spend what will amount to probably about $200 to replace the bridge."

I have to say Chris is a very honest guy. Someone else might have forced a 12-string bridge on me, but he talked me out of it. he also recommend I buy a Janglebox or check out the Carl Martin compressor.

Wish me luck. I have a recording session on 12/26, the Rick will be done by then, and we're tracking our version of "My Back Pages." I have borrowed a nice Keeley compressor for the session and do not want to use my Danelectro 12-string. Keep your fingers crossed.

Best wishes for your session. My Back Pages is one of my favorite Dylan songs. I'd love to hear your version sometime.

JimK

drumbob wrote:I have to say Chris is a very honest guy.

+1 on that. I've dealt with Chris and Pick of the Ricks a couple times and they're always a pleasure to work with. You can tell they really care about the instruments and aren't just carrying them because they're an easy sell. I always call them first when I'm in the market for a new Ric. The 12-saddle bridge vs. 6-saddle bridge is definitely a guitar-to-guitar thing. I had a 360/12 that was perfectly fine without, but my 330/12 just wasn't quite right until I switched to the 12-saddle. I'd say it's a last resort, but it definitely solved my problems with that guitar.

Good luck, Bob. I agree whole-heartedly with Chris's quote, "... I think part of the charm of a Rick 12 is that they have this slightly funky intonation thing happening."; I actually tune the pairs of the high-E and B strings slightly off from each other (one slightly (+), the other slightly (-) to make their sound 'fuller'. Intonation can be worked around as well, but I do like to get it fairly close (too much 'warble' is something that will get to me after a while).

I have the reverb cranked up a bit when I play the lead break in My Back Pages.

drumbob wrote:"A lot of guys today have become too picky, I think. With the advent of tuners, we all have a machine telling us whether we're in tune or not. Rick 12s have been made this way for over forty years, and a lot of the records we love were made with Ricks that weren't perfectly intonated. I think part of the charm of a Rick 12 is that they have this slightly funky intonation thing happening.

I agree 10,000% and have been saying this for ever: being precisely, exactly in tune is overrated.

With guitars blasting and jangling, with the bass thumping, with the drums banging, with vocalists singing, with the crowd bopping or dancing, I defy anyone to notice whether a string is two cents off of another.

Drumbob, If the Danelectro isn't an option, I have an 82 360/12WB if you would like to borrow it. Chris C recently did a full setup/mod and it is perfect. We are not too far from one another. PM if interested.

I recently intonated Shane McAlpine's 360/12 for him and I gave him the very same advice that Chris is handing out, Suffice it to say I very much agree with Chris's summation on the subject and I will also vouch that he is a first class individual having had a few dealings with him for parts.