12 string slotted through?

[brunfox]

I found this wonderful tune http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF5_L0O2Fnw and noticed the headstock is slotted right through! Does RIC now make their 12 strings like this? When did that start? It's not a bad idea. Also seemed it was strung with 6 instead of 12. Making the 12 even more versatile

[8mileshigh]

They've made them that way for a few years now.....3 or 4?

[brunfox]

Okay. Great, thanks for that!

[jdogric12]

it was strung with 6 instead of 12. Making the 12 even more versatile

Not a good idea though. Big difference in tension removing half the strings. Use a 6 for 6, and a 12 for 12. Or get a 366/12...

[krick]

Information from RIC.

http://www.rickenbacker.com/news_item.a ... ews=recent

[egosheep]

it was strung with 6 instead of 12. Making the 12 even more versatile

Not a good idea though. Big difference in tension removing half the strings. Use a 6 for 6, and a 12 for 12. Or get a 366/12...

Is a 12 neck structurally the same as a 6er? If so, it seems like a 6 string could take being tuned to F#... tension has to be less than 6 more strings tuned to pitch. As long as the truss rod was adjusted accordingly.

I'm not a fan of the open headstock design... maybe because I seem to recall some Chinese fakers doing it that way. The closed off slots is a classic look.

[emjayw]

As a long-time Rick 12 owner, I've owned both closed and open head models. While the classic closed back style of my old 620/12 was nice to look at, it made re-stringing chores a pain in the butt! The new headstock is so much easier to replace those inner strings than the old that I'd probably never go back. The old is nice if you like to look at it, but if you "use" it much the newer design shines. Mike in TX

[libratune]

This was announced in early 2005, per Kevin's link. The announcement also stated: "This design will be slowly phased into production on all non reissue 12 string models over an unspecified period of time. "

The "thru-slot" headstock has shown up on at least one of the vintage reissue models -- the 381/12V69, though I haven't see one on a 360/12C63. I think those are the only two vintage reissue 12ers still in production.

[JakeK]

This was announced in early 2005, per Kevin's link. The announcement also stated: "This design will be slowly phased into production on all non reissue 12 string models over an unspecified period of time. "

The "thru-slot" headstock has shown up on at least one of the vintage reissue models -- the 381/12V69, though I haven't see one on a 360/12C63. I think those are the only two vintage reissue 12ers still in production.

It was also on the 350/12. The 360/12C63 and 660/12 have not received the treatment. There was a short while in 2010 where the 620/12 had a closed back head and vintage tuners...

[gibsonlp]

As a long-time Rick 12 owner, I've owned both closed and open head models. While the classic closed back style of my old 620/12 was nice to look at, it made re-stringing chores a pain in the butt! The new headstock is so much easier to replace those inner strings than the old that I'd probably never go back. The old is nice if you like to look at it, but if you "use" it much the newer design shines. Mike in TX

Do what I do - don't change strings, let them die slowly, with a 12er you have 6 extra strings

[jwilli]

The "thru-slot" headstock has shown up on at least one of the vintage reissue models -- the 381/12V69, though I haven't see one on a 360/12C63. I think those are the only two vintage reissue 12ers still in production.

I did not know that about the 381/12V69. Cool.

[Danotron]

I've seen a 660-12 with the open headstock slots but that is not really a vintage re-issue guitar, it just kinda has that vibe.