Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Howdy,

Do the 325 models have any issues with staying in tune? I remember that my little 325 "B" didn't care for 10-46 or 10-42 guages, as it was so easy to accidentally bend strings while fretting chords. Do the recommended heavier guage strings help alleviate this?

Eggman

I think you should at least have 12's on there. That's what RIC recommends for short-scale guitars in the owner's manual. You'll get a lot more tension which would make it harder to bend strings.

It's funny you know. I have a 325 with 10-46 and it holds tune extremely well, vibrato and all.

I did find that with 12-52, on another 325, what used to happen was that the spring steel would deform as well as the arm plate (where they have the sharp 180 degree bend) due to the strain put on the mechanism by the string tension, and then it became difficult to attain tuning stability after using the vibrato for a while.

I am also in the process of changing the tuners on the current 325 to locking ones - not your common locking tuners. These are a direct retrofit replica which means the guitar will still look stock and there is no enlargement of the holes necessary, or new screw holes to be drilled, on the peghead. I'm actually doing this because the low E peg has had it and is beyond repair, but I've decided to change the lot.

I have retrofitted these type of tuners to a couple of my Strats before and they are pretty good I must say.

I haven't noticed any issues with mine. They're strung with T-I Jazz/Swing Flat 12s, which to my ear seem to really like this guitar. The T-Is "feel" lighter to me than other brand flats of similar gauge...I have no idea if there's any technical reason for that, but they simply feel less "cabley" than some other flats I've tried.

I know many swear by 13s for this guitar, but they're just too heavy for me.

Bill

.011 Chromes on my C58. Never played better.

No tuning issues with my 325V59.

Howdy,

Thanks ya'll! It's heartening to hear such good things about the little 325; I miss mine.

Eggman

I'd like to know what kind of locking tuners Manuel got for his 325. Can someone tell me? I just bought a 325/58 reissue and the tuners are awful.

Roghart wrote:I'd like to know what kind of locking tuners Manuel got for his 325. Can someone tell me? I just bought a 325/58 reissue and the tuners are awful.

Is it the tuners, or the Kaufmann tailpiece?

IIRC, those tuners are the open-back reissues; you might try tightening the screws connected to the spindle (shaft) to be sure they haven't loosened up, which keep the spindle from getting enough friction to stay in place.

Hi Maggie,
Yes the most tuning instabilities come from the stock Kaufmann Vibrola, but sometimes more or less. With my Jetglo 325C58 it was awful !

Peter

doctorwho wrote:

Roghart wrote:I'd like to know what kind of locking tuners Manuel got for his 325. Can someone tell me? I just bought a 325/58 reissue and the tuners are awful.

Is it the tuners, or the Kaufmann tailpiece?

IIRC, those tuners are the open-back reissues; you might try tightening the screws connected to the spindle (shaft) to be sure they haven't loosened up, which keep the spindle from getting enough friction to stay in place.

They're not open back, but there is a small hole on the back of each one. Screwdriver or Allen wrench? I can't tell.

Funny this has come up again.

My 77 320 - always had 10-46 strings on it. Since joining the forum I have learned about RICS recommendation for heavier gauge strings, which I have now followed.

The original nut had to be modified to accept the bottom three strings which were too thick for the original slots.

It does tune and intonate better now - so it is good advice!

Roghart wrote:They're not open back, but there is a small hole on the back of each one. Screwdriver or Allen wrench? I can't tell.

Sounds like Klusons.

jps wrote:

Roghart wrote:They're not open back, but there is a small hole on the back of each one. Screwdriver or Allen wrench? I can't tell.

Sounds like Klusons.

Yes, it does. Those can't be tightened. Odd, too, because my 325c58 had these tuners from the factory:
That's why I suggested tightening them!

I bought some parts on craigslist from this guy, and he had two 325's a C58 and a C64. Both very nice and fun to play.
I remember him telling me that if you want one of these to stay in tune, buy a set of strings with a wound G. Hope that helps!