Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

No "do the math" jokes, please, but what would happen if next time I change strings on my 360/12, I do not put the six octave strings on? Would the different tension be too upseting for the guitar? Can she be played as a 360? Would string spacing be an issue? Any thoughts, please. Anyone ever try it before?

It will immediately burst into flames.








In all seriousness, it can be used as a 6er - the truss rods will need to be loosened, most likely. Plenty of people have done this before.

Once you put the fire out, you can probably still play it. You may feel a difference in the spacing. You may have to re-adjust the truss rods at some point if you leave it at as a six. And you may not have any problems at all. I think others have done it. I just haven't seen the point. Unless you wanted a six string to begin with, but wound up buying a twelve string.

I'd like to see someone just put the octave strings, along with the B and E obviously, on a 12er. Now that could be interesting!

If you're just going to play around for a little while to get an idea how a 360/6 sounds, I don't think you should have any issues. If you want to permanently convert it to a 6 string, I think string spacing would be your biggest problem. You would need a new nut and new bridge pieces cut.

jps wrote:I'd like to see someone just put the octave strings, along with the B and E obviously, on a 12er. Now that could be interesting!

Isn't that what they call Nashville tuning?

Clint wrote:

jps wrote:I'd like to see someone just put the octave strings, along with the B and E obviously, on a 12er. Now that could be interesting!

Isn't that what they call Nashville tuning?

Seems like it!

Thanks, folks.

I have no desire to keep it that way, but definitely next string change I will leave off the ocatve strings and play the guitar for a bit. Wow, maybe that's why these guitars are not exactly cheap -- you really are getting two guitars for the price of one. Anyway I can turn her into a bass?

Tommy wrote:Thanks, folks.

Anyway I can turn her into a bass?

Sure, remove two more strings.

Something like this will happen. Not exactly like it, but sort of similar...

Tommy wrote:No "do the math" jokes, please, but what would happen if next time I change strings on my 360/12, I do not put the six octave strings on? Would the different tension be too upseting for the guitar? Can she be played as a 360? Would string spacing be an issue? Any thoughts, please. Anyone ever try it before?

I wouldn't recommend it if you intended to do it for any period of time. This is one potential consequence.

Look closely you can see the nut is broken out on the G string. In addition to that you can get some string buzzing.

Bob

Not to discount your observations Bob, but how the heck does such a thing as that happen? (I'd never think of permanently removing the octave strings from a 12er...) Just curious, is all.

JimK

Jim,

Information is a good thing. We all love these guitars and want to protect them as best we can. I put that here so that the OP could see that there were potential consequences.


Oh, and the circumstances are a long story that have to do with drummers getting married.

Bob

Figured that there had to be a story in there somewhere.

JimK

I would think that the six unused tuners would rattle or buzz.