Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I got on my Ric 360/12 after working a lot on the Roger McGuinn "banjo roll" technique. It sounds marvelous and smooth on my Guild 12 string acoustic, but rough and clutzy on my Ric; its not really working. The Ric strings seem rigid and seem to fight the picks, instead of the picks gliding right through.

I am thinking the Ric strings could be the culprit. I use D'Addario phosphor bronze lights on my acoustic, but I don't even know what strings came on my Ric.

Does anyone have any suggestions for what I should strings I should use for good tonal quality, and for that fast, light fingerwork with the 3 picks?

Thank you,
Craig

A lot of us swear by the special custom Thomastik Infeld set that Pick of the Ricks offers. Rickenbacker's own brand came on your guitar originally - did you say if you bought it new or used?

Anyway, I love the TIs. They're not too stiff, but not flabby either. Stay away from Pyramids is also what a lot of people say. I tried a six-string set and I agree. Way too stiff.

did you say if you bought it new or used?

Its a 2011 that I bought used from the Music Zoo in NYC. I am happy with it, as it appears to be a virtually unplayed guitar, just without the factory warrantee. I don't think it is a lemon, since all the circuits are crisp and clear, and the action is good, just that skinny neck. But that goes with the territory.

Craig

Remember that McGuinn didn't start on a RIC, either. Keep working at it, you're doing fine.

How about Tremato or Vribremolo like the circuit in my 1962 Concert Amp

Gents, yes I overlooked the tremelo and vibrato. However it would make sense to me that I would like these on the pedal board in order to kick that switch on or off, and go with it.

However keep the effects suggestions coming as pertaining to Ric 12 strings. I'm hoping the effects suggestions are from your playing experience, not just "what about this, or have you tried that.." So far I have chorus on my shopping list. I'm also considering delay, phase, flange, tremelo, and looper. But only adding 1 or 2 pedals more at a time. Also I'm debating on a volume pedal. It looks great to see a good guitarist kick the volume pedal to go into a nice lead.

Craig

iiipopes wrote:Remember that McGuinn didn't start on a RIC, either. Keep working at it, you're doing fine.

Exactly. Also I think the TI strings will feel a little stiffer than the Ric (or any other roundwound) string. Definitely avoid the Pyramid strings if you don't like stiff strings.

Oops my last post about tremelo poedals was supposed to post somwhere else.

Sorry,
Craig

stsang wrote:I think the TI strings will feel a little stiffer than the Ric (or any other roundwound) string. Definitely avoid the Pyramid strings if you don't like stiff strings.

TIs have pretty low tension...at least for me.

[moved to the other thread]

I have 2 sets of Pic of the Rics 12 string ordered. Maybe these will do the trick. I'll post it when received.

Craig

JakeK wrote:

stsang wrote:I think the TI strings will feel a little stiffer than the Ric (or any other roundwound) string. Definitely avoid the Pyramid strings if you don't like stiff strings.

TIs have pretty low tension...at least for me.

Jake - yes they do. Best flatwound I've ever tried. But I find the old Rickenbacker 95404 (compressed roundwound) or the POTR Custom Curt Mangan (0.42 E string) are a tad lighter.

Hi Craig,

I agree with the forumites who recommend the TI flatwounds from POTR. I think you'll be happy with the TI's as far as sound and playabilty. IMHO, the TI's and any RICK 12 string are a match made in heaven.

I would avoid the D'addario electric 12 string set. Although their strings are good quality for most guitars, they just are not the optimum choice for RICK 12's.

Ron

RonLovesRic12strings wrote:I would avoid the D'addario electric 12 string set. Although their strings are good quality for most guitars, they just are not the optimum choice for RICK 12's.

For two reasons: 1) the unison G string is plain, which needs greater offset at the bridge, so it won't intonate properly on a 6-saddle bridge with the octave; and 2) Low E string, same way.

Unless you're going to experiment with gauges and custom file your own bridge saddles for intonation like I did for my low E string pair, or go all out with a 12-saddle bridge, then there are effectively two, and only two, proper sets of strings for a Rick 12 with a stock bridge: 1) the factory set, or 2) the PTOR TI custom set. Period.

iiipopes wrote:

RonLovesRic12strings wrote:I would avoid the D'addario electric 12 string set. Although their strings are good quality for most guitars, they just are not the optimum choice for RICK 12's.

For two reasons: 1) the unison G string is plain, which needs greater offset at the bridge, so it won't intonate properly on a 6-saddle bridge with the octave; and 2) Low E string, same way.

Unless you're going to experiment with gauges and custom file your own bridge saddles for intonation like I did for my low E string pair, or go all out with a 12-saddle bridge, then there are effectively two, and only two, proper sets of strings for a Rick 12 with a stock bridge: 1) the factory set, or 2) the PTOR TI custom set. Period.

Thanks (again) Scott for sharing this information.

I agree with the forumites who recommend the TI flatwounds from POTR

1) the factory set, or 2) the PTOR TI custom set. Period

Here's the website that I ordered from:
http://www.pickofthericks.com/pick-of-t ... r-strings/
I ordered the $17.50 set of strings. Can you folks say that I am getting the right strings? Also are these available from any other source (just in case).

Thank you,
Craig