Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hello, first time on this having just got my first rickenbacker - I'm in UK and there wasn't much chance to try the range of different models, so I just took the plunge and bought a 2nd hand 330/12, jetglo, it's about 2 years old but seems unplayed ...it sounds beautiful, the only slight problem is I've been using a (similarly narrow fretboard) Hagstrom acoustic with a really shallow neck, and the rick profile feels a bit awkward & tight near the nut in comparison (even with my fairly long span)....I've read that some of the earlier 80s/90s models had a slimmer profile, apparently like the 60s ones - so I'm considering either having this one shimmed down, or trading for an older model 12....so I was just wondering if anyone could give me an idea what period the slimmer profile was used? Also, I see that unlike the hagstrom the profile is already squaring off under the first fret, is that standard on all models? - Cheers

Newer Rickenbacker necks have gotten fatter over the past couple of years, no doubt about it. It works better for some than for others. I have had many 12s and I'll say this: I need something in between. I had a 1992 360/12 that was the slimmest neck I ever played on a RIC. It was too slim for me, as the cupped portion of may hand did not give me any pressure on the neck, and I would up kind of squeezing the neck with my thumb and fretting fingers, if that makes sense. I have arthritis in my thumb joints so that does not work for me.

So I prefer a slightly meatier neck. But I also have played some that were too thick. I like one that cradles itself in the cupped portion of my hand nicely.

I'd recommend that you consider one made between 1987 and 1995 or so if you want a very slim, flat feeling neck. 1960s or early '70s if you like a slim neck and more rounded radius to the fretboard; a 1975-1985 guitar if you like a somewhat rounder neck and radiused fretboard; and I'd suggest a 1997 or later guitar if you like a meatier neck. It seems to me (though I have been corrected too many times to state absolutes) that the necks got fatter when they changed the walnut lamination in the standard edition necks back to the thicker style.

These are pretty broad generalizations so YMMV. For example, I now have a 1993 370/12 that is not as slim as most necks of that period, it's very comfortable for me.

My observations are not scientific but based on the 150 or so RIC 12s I have owned.

??150??

WOW.