New 2010 360 12 String...a few issues and questions

[EnoreeRiver]

Hello to all, I just recently picked this 360 up. This is the 4th 360 that I have owned. I hope that at this point, I realize I need to quit selling them and just keep one at all times!
This one is a beauty in mapleglo and plays very nicely (nice straight neck). Here are my questions:

Some of my other guitars are Collings, so I admit to being a bit spoiled in the fit and finish arena. I was surprised to see how rough the drill work was in the headstock area. Please take a look at this photo and let me know if you would say this is par for the course, or a surprising to you as well:


Also, the chrome R had more rough spots on it than I am accustomed to on previous Ricks. Directly above the area where the string ball ends are held, there are raised areas that seem to stick out like a sore thumb through the chrome job. They look like they will be the first areas for the chrome to lift or fail.


Finally, the base of the bridge is not contacting the wood top in the treble side. I would think this might impact tone. Should I remove this peice and see what might be preventing the contact? I have already read about people using shims in this area, but its hard to imagine this would have been needed on a 3 month old guitar.


Thanks to you all for any advice. I have been playing this new Rick through a Vox NightTrain. Heavenly sounds!

[Clint]

Despite their reputation for perfection, I've seen a lot of Rics with, what I like to call, unique characteristics. The 12 string headstock routes and drilling can often be rough (it's hard to get sandpaper and buffers in there). But I've never seen one that rough.

The grounding wire attaches under the treble side of the bridge plate. So that may be the cause of the plate not setting flush against the top. Not sure what can be done about that, though.

As for the rough spots and bumps on the chrome tailpiece? I don't know. That's a new one on me. Best keep an eye on that.

[paologregorio]

I wouldn't be happy with that "R" tailpiece. I've seen similarly rough-edged routs on Rick 12s. I haven't seen a gap like that on a Rick bridge plate before.

I suggest contacting RIC Customer Service directly about the TP, or the whole guitar if you're not satisfied; if it's a new guitar under warranty, RIC will do what it can to make things right, I'm sure.

[doctorwho]

... The grounding wire attaches under the treble side of the bridge plate. So that may be the cause of the plate not setting flush against the top ...

That's probably it.