Got to try Rick370/12RM LE at Sam Ash in NYC!

[stsang]

It was a lucky St. Patrick's Day for me. Sam Ash guitar store in New York City (near Times Square) had a Rick 370/12RM LE on sale for $6,999 (!) It's the only RM model I've ever seen "in the wild", so I couldn't resist trying it out. The guitar was in great condition, played beautifully and sounded great with the compressor engaged. The main thing I noticed is that the neck felt substantially thinner/flatter than my 2002 360/12. That made it feel more comfortable to play. When I got home and picked up my Rick 360/12, its neck felt like a baseball bat (thicker/rounder) in comparison. Can anyone comment on if the neck on the RM and the neck on the 360/12c63 are comparable? The guitar was too rich for me, but if anyone is interested, I guess it's going to take a while for Sam Ash to sell it.

[wordsonyou]

I saw that one also - wow what a beauty! Saw quite a few rickies on the island this business trip but that one was a highlight to be sure!

[kiramdear]

Simon, your c63 has the Sixties' style 7 1/4' crown radius so it should feel rounder than the RM model. They were done in totally separate runs with different tooling, jigs, etc. so the differences should be many.

Sounds like you want to trade up?

[stsang]

Simon, your c63 has the Sixties' style 7 1/4' crown radius so it should feel rounder than the RM model. They were done in totally separate runs with different tooling, jigs, etc. so the differences should be many.

Sounds like you want to trade up?

Sorry I wasn't clear in my post - I don't have a 360/12c63. It is definitely on my wishlist. I wish I had one! (Among many wishes) You're lucky to have an RM model.

Thanks for the info on the neck differences between the two Rics.

[Folkie]

Simon,

As you know from a previous thread, I own a 2010 360/12 and have tried out a 360/12C63 at a local music store. The C63 played so beautifully that I used it as a prototype for a string-spacing mod to my 360. As for the difference in neck shape and radius, all I can say is that the C63 felt more comfortable than my stock 360. (It's such a subjective observation that it's hard to put into words.) The 370/12 RM is my dream guitar, although I've never played one. Interesting how you described the different neck feel. Isn't that price on the steep side?

Robert

[JakeK]

I've played Gary Clauson's 370/12 McGuinn fireglo both times I've visited SoCal. It is an absolutely fantastic guitar, the compressor gets that tone of the Tambourine Man and Turn! Turn! Turn! albums quite easily, and with a little chorus, gets you in to Fifth Dimension/Younger Than Yesterday/Notorious Byrd Brothers territory. I also think the control layout is quite interesting, too; a single volume for each pickup, a master tone (that engages the compressor) and a master volume, making tonal combinations endless. However, the onboard compressor is horrible in a band setting, everything can drown you out, so it's better off run through a Janglebox for a similar tone. IIRC, McGuinn himself used the onboard compressor for several concerts in the 1990s, though, and he managed to be heard.

Also in SoCal, I've played Steve Forsgren's beautiful 360/12C63 at the two SCARF I've attended, and it was awesome. The guitar's neck radius and string spacing make it much easier to play than, let's say, a regular stock 360/12 or even an early V64 (Steve's C63 blew my '87 V64 out the water!).

One guitar I hope to give a (those who want to attend SCARF '12 who own this model should listen) 360/12 Carl Wilson a go. I've heard nothing but positive things about this model, and I feel this is the year I'm finally going to test drive one. I've always been fond of them, and hope to see if they're all they're cracked up to be.

My own '87 360/12V64 (turns/turned 25 this month!) is probably the best Ric 12 I've owned, and I've owned a '03 360/12, '91 660/12TP and this. The V64 blew them both out the water, and I'll probably be buried with it. The guys at International Vintage Guitars think I've got the jackpot with it, and I think so too.

[stsang]

Simon,

As you know from a previous thread, I own a 2010 360/12 and have tried out a 360/12C63 at a local music store. The C63 played so beautifully that I used it as a prototype for a string-spacing mod to my 360. As for the difference in neck shape and radius, all I can say is that the C63 felt more comfortable than my stock 360. (It's such a subjective observation that it's hard to put into words.) The 370/12 RM is my dream guitar, although I've never played one. Interesting how you described the different neck feel. Isn't that price on the steep side?

Robert

Hi Robert,
Yes I've been following your own epic quest with great interest! I agree the price was very steep - I was kinda shocked but that didn't prevent me from trying it out anyway. Then again, I did a quick search on eBay and I found RMs on sale for $6995-$7995 (from the same seller). Maybe the prices are on the way back up again?
Thanks,
Simon

[stsang]

I've played Gary Clauson's 370/12 McGuinn fireglo both times I've visited SoCal. It is an absolutely fantastic guitar, the compressor gets that tone of the Tambourine Man and Turn! Turn! Turn! albums quite easily, and with a little chorus, gets you in to Fifth Dimension/Younger Than Yesterday/Notorious Byrd Brothers territory. I also think the control layout is quite interesting, too; a single volume for each pickup, a master tone (that engages the compressor) and a master volume, making tonal combinations endless. However, the onboard compressor is horrible in a band setting, everything can drown you out, so it's better off run through a Janglebox for a similar tone. IIRC, McGuinn himself used the onboard compressor for several concerts in the 1990s, though, and he managed to be heard.

Also in SoCal, I've played Steve Forsgren's beautiful 360/12C63 at the two SCARF I've attended, and it was awesome. The guitar's neck radius and string spacing make it much easier to play than, let's say, a regular stock 360/12 or even an early V64 (Steve's C63 blew my '87 V64 out the water!).

One guitar I hope to give a (those who want to attend SCARF '12 who own this model should listen) 360/12 Carl Wilson a go. I've heard nothing but positive things about this model, and I feel this is the year I'm finally going to test drive one. I've always been fond of them, and hope to see if they're all they're cracked up to be.

My own '87 360/12V64 (turns/turned 25 this month!) is probably the best Ric 12 I've owned, and I've owned a '03 360/12, '91 660/12TP and this. The V64 blew them both out the water, and I'll probably be buried with it. The guys at International Vintage Guitars think I've got the jackpot with it, and I think so too.

Thanks Jake - lots of great info and insights in your post. I would certainly love to hear your opinions on 370/12RM vs 360/12CW vs 360/12V64 vs 360/12c63!

[Folkie]

Simon,

I was under the impression that a good condition used 370/12 RM might be priced in the $5000 range. Is my memory correct?

Robert

[stsang]

Simon,

I was under the impression that a good condition used 370/12 RM might be priced in the $5000 range. Is my memory correct?

Robert

Hi, yes I think you're right. I took a quick look at the Rick Register and the average is around $5K. Then again, being a limited edition, etc., I guess folks will pay whatever they feel like paying.

[stsang]

Just wanted to share some more observations from yesterday. I spent 95% of my time with the RM model with the treble boost + compressor on. When I tried it on the "clean" or "clean" + compressor on setting, I wasn't as impressed with the sound. It seemed a bit dark / muddy / dull in all the selector positions. I was playing through a Fender Princeton Reverb with the treble full up. I thought my slightly modded 360/12 with 7.4K pickups sounded much clearer and cleaner. Physically, the RM felt noticeably heavier than my '02 360/12. It had a flatter neck (which should reduce weight?) but the guitar's top looked and felt thicker than on my Ric. I didn't think the special circuitry + 9V battery would make much difference to the guitar's weight. The RM model felt very "substantial" and extremely solid - rather impressive, actually!

Thanks again for everyone's comments - this is such a great forum!

[Folkie]

Simon,

When you dialed things in to your liking, how did the onboard compressor sound in comparison with your Janglebox?

Robert

[doctorwho]

The only time my 370/12RM FG sounds even remotely 'muddy' is with only the neck pickup engaged and I have the amp's treble tone control backed off - otherwise, is 'beefier' but still chimey.

Simon, if you go back to the store with the RM, make sure that the three lower knobs are fully 'on' ... as Jake stated, those are the individual volume knobs for each of the three pickups.

[stsang]

Simon,

When you dialed things in to your liking, how did the onboard compressor sound in comparison with your Janglebox?

Robert

Hi, I thought the sound of the onboard compressor was very similar to my 360/12 + Janglebox with treble boost on. I think my 360/12 sounds a bit brighter with its vintage tone circuit engaged but the effect of the compressor seemed to be the same. Of course, the Janglebox gives you more control of the gain, attack. I guess Steve Lasko and his team have done a really good job there!

[stsang]

The only time my 370/12RM FG sounds even remotely 'muddy' is with only the neck pickup engaged and I have the amp's treble tone control backed off - otherwise, is 'beefier' but still chimey.

Simon, if you go back to the store with the RM, make sure that the three lower knobs are fully 'on' ... as Jake stated, those are the individual volume knobs for each of the three pickups.

Hi Gary - you have a good point. I had the switch selector in the "bottom" position. That selects the bridge PU only on my 360/12, but I have to admit I'm unfamiliar with the wiring on the 3-pickup models. I did have all the volume dials turned fully clockwise (took me a minute or two to figure that out).

Question for you: on the RM model, does the "bottom" selector position also leave the middle PU active on the RM model? If so... then that means I was hearing bridge + middle PUs on full? That would explain why I heard more thickness in tone than I'm used to. Note that I also have the 0.0047uF capacitor on my Ric so the difference would be even greater. On the RM, with 3 separate volume knobs, I imagine you could have alot of tone variations. Wow.

Thanks for the education!