Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I am going to change to a new set of Rickenbacker strings on my 360/12v64 and I have been reading some advices
before I have a go. I have never changed strings on a Rickenbacker before.
The strings is hard to get over here in Norway so I do not want to do any silly mistakes

At http://www.faqs.org/faqs/music/guitars/ ... on-16.html there is some advices given.
One of them are to change the tailpiece:
If you are fortunate enough to own a 360/12v64, you may find it easier
to use a 12-hole tailpiece. "RICK12DR" sells a custom 12-hole trapeze
tailpiece to replace the stock 6-hole tailpiece. Contact [email protected]
for more info.


I found some posts from rick12dr here from 2007. Does anyone know if its still possile to buy
this 12-hole custom made tailpiece for 360/12v64 ? I do not want to drill new holes in the existing tailpiece as I want to have the
possibility of going back to orginal tailpiece. It is quite hard to change single
strings with the two strings sharing the same hole in the tailpiece. Thats why I guess the tailpiece upgrade could be quite useful
later, but then all strings has to go off when I change the tailpiece.

Any advice would be appriciated

Sorry I can't help you with the 12-hole tailpiece, but I thought I'd just offer my opinion that the "tales of terror" about changing strings on a Ric 12 are a bit over-exaggerated.

I've owned 2 Ric 12s, a 360/12c63 and a 350/12v63. Both had the regular 6 hole trapeze tailpiece. I changed one pair of strings at a time to keep tension on the trapeze. I put a cloth under the tailpiece to cover the finish under the tailpiece and up to the bridge, so I wouldn't accidentally scratch the finish while running the string under the bridge cover (you can obviously also just remover the cover, but I normally default to the "lazy" approach ).

Nothing at all wrong with Ric strings for the 12s, but you should also be able to find Thomastik-Infeld Jazz/Swing Flats where you are. You normally have to buy individual strings or order a custom set for the 12, but they're well worth it in my opinion.

All the best, Bill

Why would you have to change a single string ? I never had a single string break , I change the entire set all together at one time, it can be done with the trapeze - doing it pairwise and with the R-tailpiece as well. After changing the strings several times I got along quite fine doing doing the R by using a capo to fix the string tension after placing the ball end into the R slot - no problemo ! I put an R on my 360/12V64 and put the trapeze aside in case of having to get it back stockwise again.

wj350 wrote:Sorry I can't help you with the 12-hole tailpiece, but I thought I'd just offer my opinion that the "tales of terror" about changing strings on a Ric 12 are a bit over-exaggerated.

I've owned 2 Ric 12s, a 360/12c63 and a 350/12v63. Both had the regular 6 hole trapeze tailpiece. I changed one pair of strings at a time to keep tension on the trapeze. I put a cloth under the tailpiece to cover the finish under the tailpiece and up to the bridge, so I wouldn't accidentally scratch the finish while running the string under the bridge cover (you can obviously also just remover the cover, but I normally default to the "lazy" approach ).

Nothing at all wrong with Ric strings for the 12s, but you should also be able to find Thomastik-Infeld Jazz/Swing Flats where you are. You normally have to buy individual strings or order a custom set for the 12, but they're well worth it in my opinion.

All the best, Bill

Ok. I will change in pairs. I dont think I want to wait anyway as the strings looks wery old (coroded etc).

Its not easy to get Thomastik-Infeld Jazz/Swing Flats over here. I have only found one shop that sells Thomastik-Infeld and they only sell 6-string Plectrum set for acoustic guitar. Btw, they are GREAT. I'm using them on my 6-string Seagull Acoustic guitar and they make this guitar sound expensive They feel good too.

xpitt wrote: Why would you have to change a single string ? I never had a single string break , I change the entire set all together at one time, it can be done with the trapeze - doing it pairwise and with the R-tailpiece as well. After changing the strings several times I got along quite fine doing doing the R by using a capo to fix the string tension after placing the ball end into the R slot - no problemo ! I put an R on my 360/12V64 and put the trapeze aside in case of having to get it back stockwise again.

I have broken single strings by accident as I have turned the wrong key when tuning.

I have the Roger McGuinn DVD and I have seen how he uses the capo. Its a good trick I guess.

My 360/12V64 has a 6-hole trapeze. It does the job well for me.

I've never seen a "R" on a V64, and I couldn't do it. It would be hard for one to restring.

NorwegianWood wrote: Its not easy to get Thomastik-Infeld Jazz/Swing Flats over here. I have only found one shop that sells Thomastik-Infeld and they only sell 6-string Plectrum set for acoustic guitar. Btw, they are GREAT. I'm using them on my 6-string Seagull Acoustic guitar and they make this guitar sound expensive They feel good too.

Try here , good internet string shop ! They ship within Europe, they have the Tomastics , you can order them single, 10/10;13/13; 20w/10; 25w/13; 35w/20w; 44w/25w;

http://saitenkatalog.de/shop1/shipping. ... 0i0ad7e18q

Good luck !
BTW, my 360/12V64 sounds great with those strings, best choice !

xpitt wrote:

NorwegianWood wrote: Its not easy to get Thomastik-Infeld Jazz/Swing Flats over here. I have only found one shop that sells Thomastik-Infeld and they only sell 6-string Plectrum set for acoustic guitar. Btw, they are GREAT. I'm using them on my 6-string Seagull Acoustic guitar and they make this guitar sound expensive They feel good too.

Try here , good internet string shop ! They ship within Europe, they have the Tomastics , you can order them single, 10/10;13/13; 20w/10; 25w/13; 35w/20w; 44w/25w;

http://saitenkatalog.de/shop1/shipping. ... 0i0ad7e18q

Good luck !
BTW, my 360/12V64 sounds great with those strings, best choice !

Great tip !
Now I also can order Plectrum strings for my acoustic 12 string

I have now changed all strings on my 360/12v64 (using Ric orginal 12 string set). Did change in pairs.
It took a lot of time but I had absolutely no problem changing them.

....and isn't changing strings some kind of a meditation thing, doing your "babe" something good ? ..some cleaning and takin care ?

xpitt wrote:....and isn't changing strings some kind of a meditation thing, doing your "babe" something good ? ..some cleaning and takin care ?

Yeah! I enjoy it, even with an especially finicky R tail on my 12'er.

sloop_john_b wrote:...... even with an especially finicky R tail on my 12'er.

.....especially with that one ! This is a basic , isn't it ?