Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have never played a 660 but heard that the necks are wider (nut width is wider than say a 360).
Is this true? For 6 and 12 string or just 12 string?
Is this the same for the rest of the 600 series guitars?
How much wider is it?

Hi Kevin. Indeed some of the 600 series have a wider neck. Standard Rick width (300 series, 620, 620/12) is 1-5/8" (or 1.63" to be exact) whereas the 660/6, 660/12 and the 650 series are 1-3/4". I have a 660/12 and a 650D and I can tell you that the extra 1/8" is quite a lot in guitar terms. I prefer the 1-5/8" (Ricks, Strats, etc.) or 1-11/16", which is standard when you're talking Gibson and Gretsch for example.

Hey thanks for the info.
I bet for some stuff the 1 3/4 neck for 12 string could be quite useful.

Yes they have a 1.75 nut width. For me, it makes all the difference. I had a 381 12 string from '89, and the strings were too close for me so I got a 381 six string, still close, but I can do it. The 660 6 is a little better for me to play, and a Ric 12 for me has to be a 660. Czech out the recent shipments on the Ric site. If (like me) you were waiting for a FG or JG, your axe just shipped!

Pete

It' funny; I don't have a problem with the necks on my '89 370/12 RM or my '92 360/12, but I couldn't get used to the narrow, and rounder neck on my '06 370/6. The necks on my two 660/6's are perfect for the rhythm parts on most of the 60's and 70's classic rock tunes we play. The smaller frets are the only thing that keep me from using it on the other tunes, where I play some lead licks. On those I gravitate back to my American Standard Strat. I may try to keep my eyes open for a great deal on a 650C for that reason.

The 660 fingerboard is nice and wide. It fits my bass fingers very nicely. Most other Rickenbacker guitars are hard for me to play because of the narrow fingerboards. My 660 is just right.

The 660 models have wider necks, and they're perfect for me, especially since I'm mostly a rhythm guitarist (even though I only have the 12-string version).

If you've been used to the standard Ric width, then it might be a little challenging getting used to the new width at first, but when you do, you'll want to thank Tom Petty for requesting a wider neck!

660 660/12 indeed have all 1 3/4 wide nuts. that is great for those of us who have problems with narrow necks, and note about small frets - yes they are sometimes crazy small. i used to have 660/12 that was beyond playable due to small frets so i had refret job done on it with tad bigger wire and striped fingerboard and it helped a lot. i know it sounds crazy to pay $$$ for guitar and have refret done but sometimes it is the difference between playable and "stand in the corner" instrument. i really wish they would use taller frets right away or cleaned fretboard off the finish better around frets oh well that would be asking too much i guess.

My 650c has bigger frets than my 660, but I have my action so low on my 660 that it is about the easiest thing in the world to play.

The fatter frets on the 650c are kind of nice, but not a huge deal to me. I leave the action higher on that guitar, so I can play slide on it.