Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

else change the strings on their 12 by removing all strings, then stringing the strings that go in the trough, then strings on the posts?
On my 660/12 I find it really frustrating doing it any other way....

Hi,
I presume you're referring to the "R" tailpiece, if so do what I did on my 620/12..................swap it out for a trapeze style; much easier for a complete re-string, but an absolute necessity for replacing a broken string quickly, mid-gig.

PS. my 620/12 has the open style headstock which I find also contributes to slightly easier stringing.

theonemanband wrote:Hi,
I presume you're referring to the "R" tailpiece, if so do what I did on my 620/12..................swap it out for a trapeze style; much easier for a complete re-string but an absolute necessity for replacing a broken string quickly mid-gig.

No, my 660/12 has the trapeze, so it isn't such an issue. I was just wondering if anyone had a way of working those strings into the troughs on headstock without taking all of them off at once.

Sorry, I mis-understood.

As I said my 620/12 has the open style headstock so I can't be of much help, but there is one really good You Tube video (amongst the many) of a guy doing a Ricky-12 re-string. He uses a capo and does side one (strings 1-6) first and then side two (strings 7-12). I found it very informative and a great help; good luck!

Thanks everyone. I ended up doing it the same way I have before (removing all the strings, then putting on the six that go into the trough, then putting on the six that go into the posts) and that worked fine. A bit of an ordeal, but hey, its worth it for the 12 string sweetness that comes with a fresh new set of strings!

That's how I do it. Piece of cake.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=378067&p=390354&hil ... ge#p390354

The trapeze may look like the best option, but still leaves you with the problem of the headstock. In the link above I outline a complicated but surefire order for R tailpiece 12ers. Don't take off all 12 strings at once! That's bush league. Laughable, man!

kennyhowes wrote:That's how I do it. Piece of cake.

Most of the ordeal for me was the fact that the string winders I have don't play well with the keywinds on the Rick, so I end up winding by hand. Does anyone know of a suitable tool that works better? I've been using those standard Guitar Center winders, the plastic ones that seem to bind/hang with the Rick tuners.

squirebass wrote:

kennyhowes wrote:That's how I do it. Piece of cake.

Most of the ordeal for me was the fact that the string winders I have don't play well with the keywinds on the Rick, so I end up winding by hand. Does anyone know of a suitable tool that works better? I've been using those standard Guitar Center winders, the plastic ones that seem to bind/hang with the Rick tuners.

Is that string winder the same one as the one made by Planet Waves? I use one of those, and have no problems with fit.
JimK

James, I'm not sure if they are Planet Waves winders, but they are the cheaper plastic ones I bought at GC, but I'm thinking it might be easier if I did the string change on a dedicated workbench, rather than having to do it on my coffee table!

[quote="squirebass"...I'm thinking it might be easier if I did the string change on a dedicated workbench, rather than having to do it on my coffee table![/quote]
Your coffee table can become a dedicated workbench...........

jps wrote:[quote="squirebass"...I'm thinking it might be easier if I did the string change on a dedicated workbench, rather than having to do it on my coffee table!

Your coffee table can become a dedicated workbench........... [/quote]

Yep, the coffee table IS already a dedicated workbench, but it isn't ergonomically designed for optimal string winding operations!

I use this. Works on the kitchen table, coffee table or even my computer desk (If I can clean enough space!). Then I roll it up and put it back in the tube.


PS- not my guitar. Borrowed the pic from an EBay ad.

bvstudios wrote:I use this. Works on the kitchen table, coffee table or even my computer desk (If I can clean enough space!). Then I roll it up and put it back in the tube.


PS- not my guitar. Borrowed the pic from an EBay ad.

Cool, thanks for the tip. I'm looking into this now....

I never change strings on my 330-12. It goes to my tech and he does it. I wouldn't even try. Guaranteed screw up.