My New (used) 660/12 AFG

[bbmusic]

What an interesting turn of events. It wasn't long ago that I was completely opposed to gold guards and checkerboard binding, and felt that amber fireglo was a gaudy, too-yellow substitute for actual graceful aging. But a couple weeks ago, having been frustrated by my attempts to get my clubby fingers around the fretboard of my 360/12, I opened my mind to the 600 series, played around with a 660/12 at a local music shop (True Tone Music, to be exact, for you Angelenos) and this morning, to my delirious joy, my latest Rick appeared on my doorstep.

Did I say "latest"? I meant last. I can't see a reason to buy another Rick. I got my bass, my 6, and now my ideal 12. I got flamey fireglo. And I got noplace else to put another one if I got it!

It's an odd bird, my 660/12. It's been strung with the octave strings up, which I found intriguing (as someone who doesn't pick very deeply and often had problems getting the octave E and A strings on my 360/12 to speak loud and clear). I thought the previous owner might have altered the nut to allow for the backwards configuration, but on close, in-hand inspection, it does not appear so. (The low E-string, in particular, sits way up on top of the groove.) So I actually think that when I put my fresh Rick strings on it, I'll string it up standard and see what happens. Maybe I'll get used to it. Maybe I'll flip it back to the backwards configuration. Maybe I'll need a new nut cut altogether, if my layman's assessment is wrong. Seeing as how I'm going to keep this one for life, I'm not afraid of tailoring it a little bit to my needs -- assuming I can find a luthier that I trust.

But enough about substance. This guitar is so beautiful to look at, that it freakin scares me. The amber in the inlays is much more vibrant that it appears in its photos -- something that put me off a little, at first. (Like, how many times have I decided never again to buy a guitar without seeing it in person -- and playing it -- first?) But by the end of the morning, its DNA had merged with mine and filled me with a deep and unconditional passion. It's light and shiny and...and...and dammit, I'm at work and can't plug it in until tonight!

[kelly]

I switched the octave strings on my 660/12 as well and it didn't need any nut work - I found it a bit chimier but a little less Rickenbacker-y if that makes sense. You'll have to post pictures of yours though - we all love a nice flamey 660/12 in Fireglo. Oh, and congratulations!

[bbmusic]

It didn't make sense to me until I experienced it first-hand, last night. It may have also been a function of the difference in strings -- the ones I took off had the multicolored ends (D'Addario's?) -- but it kind of turned into a different guitar after I put Rick strings on, in the factory configuration. I thought that since the strings were so close together, it wouldn't matter which one was on top, but I guess there's something going on psychoacoustically, where the first string the pick hits becomes the dominant tone and the second one -- even if it's only a microsecond behind -- is perceived as an under- or overtone. In the factory configuration, the octave strings are naturally less pronounced, and it all becomes more Rickenbackery.

The string configuration is part of The Sound. Q.E.D.

It is, I think, slightly harder to play cleanly in this configuration -- though still way easier than my 360/12. For instance, when I'm chording a standard G-Major, my ring finger fretting the low G has an easier time clearing the A string if its octave string is higher.

Okay, I'm descending into minutiae. And this is the point where people are going to start saying things like "Well, you'll just have to become a better player if you want to be worthy of your Rickenbacker." So I'll just go take some pictures now...

[jdogric12]

Glad to hear you are digging! Excellent use of qed btw!

[bbmusic]

Thanks, Jason, that means a lot -- particulary in light of how my 660/12 acquisition bodes for my prospective purchase of your 360/12 FG.

[scotty]

Congrats now wheres the pics..

[bbmusic]

Took forever to get an image or two that captures the glory. And I had so much more fun intonating it...

[scotty]

Nice!

[Danotron]

Very nice!

[steverok]

I played a guitar like that in Austin Texas last year. I think the ambered inlays look much better against the gold guards than do the white inlays. Definitely a looker ...

[jch]

That is lovely,congrats
Now, how about some oven knobs...no..is that just me then?!
I just think gold guards + oven knobs = cool.

[Danotron]

I'm with you John, I did it to mine!

[steverok]

Sorry, but gotta chime in here that oven knobs make any Ric look rather dorky IMO. Hey, that's just one man's opinion is all ...

[Trav]

Took forever to get an image or two that captures the glory. And I had so much more fun intonating it...

Now that Dear Boy, is a very pretty guitar. Many congratulations

[Danotron]

Sorry, but gotta chime in here that oven knobs make any Ric look rather dorky IMO. Hey, that's just one man's opinion is all ...

To each their own. I like the retro vibe.