12 string playability.

[fireglo67]

I've just recently started playing my 360/12 regularly again.
I have to say that I was finding it hard going, and although the strings on it weren't that old, the sound wasn't quite as good as I remembered.
So, having a free afternoon, I stripped it down, gave it all a good old polish and clean and put a brand new set of 10's on it.
Wow!
Welcome back to jangle city, and it may just be all in the mind, but the new strings seem to make the guitar easier to play too.
I've definitely fallen back in love with it.
The itonation is spot on, even with the 6 bridge, and although the D and G strings were a bit quiet, a couple of half turns with an allen key on the new style hi gains soon solved that problem.
Some days you just want to give all the folks at Rickenbacker a great big kiss.

[winston]

Some days you just want to give all the folks at Rickenbacker a great big kiss.

Go ahead.............I dare ya!

[buchrob]

Strings on your Ric are like the tires on your Porsche.

Buy good stuff that you like to begin with and change them out whenever they seem to lose their grip.

At least on the Ric, you are only looking at a $2-figure bill, even if you get some "pro" to do it for you.

The TI flat set that POTR sell is mahvellous....

TI flats on my 330-6 and even a 6 year-old can play barre chords.

I have had a 330/12 with toasters that I had to sell, then a Dean Boca 12 which I re-strung Ric style and then a 660-12.

The 660 is my favorite, hands (or fat-fingers) down for playability.

I should put in a good word for my "pick it up anytime" guitar, my Godin A12. same string spacing as the 660/12, but with an acoustic resonator. So if some goofball is playing smething on Youtube, I can just pick up and hang in, knowing that the Rics will be much easier to play if I get serious later.

[fireglo67]

I've never tried flat wounds, so I've just ordered some for my 330 blueboy.
I'll let you know how I get on.

[fireglo67]

Tried the TI flats on my blueboy 330/6 and yes, very, very nice!
I like the feel and tone a lot, and the 'Jazz 10's' come with an 18 wound G as standard, which is great.
I also have to say that I like the packaging and attention to detail with these strings too, certainly a class above the norm.

If anyone in the UK is interested in where to buy them from, drop me a PM as I found a company that have them at reasonable prices and I got them the next day.

Thanks once again for the sterling advice of fellow forum members. (where is the 'kiss' smilie when you need one?)

[godber]

pm sent.

[fireglo67]

And replied to, sir.

[Malchik]

I've been wanting a twelve string electric for some time. I don't know how well can handle the lack of space between strings on a Rick neck.

[jingle_jangle]

So, play a 12-string 330 or 360 or 381, and then try a 660/12, which has a wider neck but lacks some of the "juice" of a hollowbody Rick.

I've changed the way I form chords out of necessity. The most difficult--the Amaj cowboy chord--I play with one finger across all three strings and their octaves, using either the second or ring finger, depending on where I need to go next...

[jimk]

I have an '09 360 12 string. Initially, I tried those one finger double stop type chord formations as suggested by Roger McGuinn on his DVD. It didn't seem particularly necessary on my particular guitar. I don't know what gives; maybe RIC changed something around between 198[something] when the McGuinn Limited Editions were made and when my guitar was made. Or, it could be true as some have opined; I really do have girlyman fingers.
JimK

[fireglo67]

It can feel almost like starting from scratch, and most of us have to change the way we play in some form or another, but stick with it as the rewards are great.
Listen to my track 'Ships' on the RRF CD3.
Whether you like the track or not, you have to agree that NO other guitar could make that sound.

[Clint]

Just remember to keep a light touch. I think too many players squeeze the neck a lot harder than necessary. Solid contact between string and fret is all the force you'll need. You don't have to push it all the way down into the fretboard. A light touch with just the tips of the fingers will not only help improve intonation, but will also stop your squished fingers from deadening the adjacent strings.

Maybe I'm not typical, but I've been playing my 360/12 for eleven years now and string spacing has never been a problem. I also fret my first position A with my index, middle and ring fingers. I hope this helps but since technique seems to be such a personal thing, what works for one may not work for another.

[buchrob]

I would seriously recommend that any 12-string player get a hold of Roger McGuinn's DVD. It's just a complete revelation in terms of technique.

Rather than crabbing about the 300's narrow neck, he uses it to his advantage, often just using one finger to fret four strings (2 pairs), the way it's often done on the mandolin, leaving more free fingers for fancy fret work.

And yes, there are only a few hundredths of an inch difference in some neck widths from model to model, or sometimes from year to year, but that neverthess makes a big difference in feel.

[antipodean]

Or, it could be true as some have opined; I really do have girlyman fingers.
JimK

Did you say "girlyman"?


Apologies for thread hijacking - discussion regarding playability of 12 string Rickenbackers may now recommence.

[janglerocker]

This thread finally got me to strip down my 360/12WB and put the set of TI flats I got from POTR last spring. Still in the final setup which is taking a little longer since I'm also putting in toasters and a trapeze. I've only played in unplugged so far but I love the feel of the strings and acoustically she rings much more. I seem to have a dull sounding main A string, though. Any thoughts on the cause? The nut is new last year and it's sporting a factory 12 saddle bridge.