Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The strings on a 330/6 appears to be closer together than in most traditional guitars. Is it hard to get used to it? Or is it simply not an issue for flat-picker with small hands and skinny fingers? Cheers!

I didn't have any problem adjusting to the string spacing on my 330/6, and this was after playing Strats and LPs for years. After getting a 360/6 recently, the neck of my 330 feels just a tad "chunky," for lack of a better term, but I still have no problem with fingering.

The 330/12 is another matter; I'm still adjusting to limited space between string pairs. Some days I feel like I'm hanging on for dear life.

It's not hard to get used to, it's just different.

If you think that Ricks are close together, try an old Moserite WoW

One of my reasons for getting a Ric was the neck width and string spacing. Rickenbacker is one manufacturer, maybe the only one, who hasn't monkeyed about with neck widths over the years, although I see that a couple of newer models have crept in with wider necks.

While it's obviously a personal thing, I have no time for wide necks and usually end up with cramp trying to play them. This probably emanates from growing up with 50's and 60's guitars which regularly had a 1 5/8" nut width like the 330 and other Rics still do. Try looking for that today amongst guitars made by Gibson, Fender etc!

I have no problem with others using wider necks as long as they don't cause the narrow necks to disappear completely!

Like others have said here...try it....you might get used to it!

One of the best features of Rickenbacker guitars is that they foster the use of proper fingering technique. You will be surprised at how quickly the string spacing becomes a nonissue.

I haven't played many guitars, just a Gibson, Fender/+copy, and my Ric 330 and found the Ric to be easier to play than any of them. I did think the strings were a little closer together than on others - especially the Gibson.

Clint wrote:One of the best features of Rickenbacker guitars is that they foster the use of proper fingering technique. You will be surprised at how quickly the string spacing becomes a nonissue.

Thank you. I'm glad some one else on the forum has made this point. I've said the same thing a couple times both on this and over at corporate.

JimK

You're welcome.

I didn't like the string spacing on my '03 360/12, and when I learned the 660/12 had a wider neck, I immediately sold the 360/12. I've been happy with the 660, but I wish RIC would put 660 necks on 360s!

I played several different brands for years, went of RIC radar from 2001-2004, then got back into it and realized I had gotten used to the RIC spacing!!! I ended up selling a 660/12 due to that. I am in the process of selling off a lot of non-Ricks due to this too. My Les Paul is probably going to go next. I played it last night and got frustrated wtih it.

I'd say it's up to you. My 360's neck is a full mm thinner than most rics, due to a fire. And I like playing it. I play a little fiddle to though.

See? Ricks not only play....they TEACH!

Clint wrote:One of the best features of Rickenbacker guitars is that they foster the use of proper fingering technique.

Not if you ask a classical player .

If anything narrow fingerboards encourage "improper" techniques such as playing the A chord shape with one or two fingers, and wrapping your thumb around the neck. But actually I don't even think these are "improper" techniques because the only proper technique is the one that lets you play what you want to play as you want to play it.

No offense intended, but I find this idea that someone's particular choice of gear (not just this one, a classic is "not using pedals") makes them a "better player" or encourages "proper" technique quite annoying.

I like the string spacing on my Rickenbacker and that on my PRS for different reasons. Neither is better or makes me a better player, they just let me do things slightly differently. I also used short-scale Fenders with the 'A' width neck in the past - even narrower than a Rickenbacker - and if you think that narrow string spacing makes you a better player you should try one of these and see how you do .