330/12 vs. 360/12 Nut Width

[Folkie]

Do the 330/12 and the 360/12 have the same nut width? How does the 360 play compared to a 330?

[Folkie]

I just checked Rickenbacker's site, and found that on both the 330/12 and the 360/12, the neck width at the nut is 41.4 mm (1.63"). So the string spacing and playability should be about the same.

Robert

[ken_j]

That measurement includes the binding on a 360. The 330 is unbound.

[Ric_MEL]

so...

since the 360 has a bound fretboard.. and the frets to NOT go over the binding..

would the frets on the 330 be slightly wider ( going clear to the edge of the fretboard )
and the frets of the 360.. slightly narrower.. going just up to the binding.

Since the nut is the same for both models..

The 330 would have a little fretboard space ( the width of the neck binding ) outside the e and E pairs ?
but the distance BETWEEN the string pairs. is the same on either model ?

[grazioso]

in theory yes, in real life it depends where the nut slots were cut. 330/12 with well done nut is very playable indeed.

[Ric_MEL]

Cool.

I guess in theory again.. a custom nut maximizing the full fretboard/fret width and minimizing pair spacing.. of a 330.. would represent how to get THE MOST room on a 12 string RIC neck - short of going to a 660.

[grazioso]

Cool.

I guess in theory again.. a custom nut maximizing the full fretboard/fret width and minimizing pair spacing.. of a 330.. would represent how to get THE MOST room on a 12 string RIC neck - short of going to a 660.

yes but watch out for very close fit of octave pairs, there is fine line between usable guitar and buzzing beast when they hit each other in pairs...
and if you don't like 330/12 body size you can do the same thing with 610/12 or 450/12 - that's what i use a lot but 330 is imho good choice too. or you can get some older ric with smaller fingerboard radius - some would say that they are bit more playable...

[Folkie]

yes but watch out for very close fit of octave pairs, there is fine line between usable guitar and buzzing beast when they hit each other in pairs... [/quote]

I would be wary of spacing the low and octave strings too close together. My tech taught me that on many 12-strings (and especially Rickenbackers, where the low and octave strings tend to be so close together), you often get buzz from the two strings striking each other. This can be mistaken for fret buzz, and players will think the action is too low.

Robert

[teb]

This is how the new nuts were cut for my twelves by Mark Arnquist. They're pretty tight pairs, but I haven't had any problem with strings buzzing on either my 360/12 or 370/12WB.

"Step 1- make a new black phenolic nut with the widest spacing possible
This spacing is based on the round over point of the frets ... not the actual fretboard .
The pairs are cut at .070 for the D/4th ,G/3rd ,B2nd and High E/1st.
The pairs for the Low E and A are cut at .080 apart "

The 370/12 was refretted with the new frets all the way out to the outer edges of the binding. It now has a bit more room than my stock 330/12.

[Folkie]

Todd,

Do you have any idea whether widening the spacing of string pairs can void the five year Rickenbacker warranty?

Robert