Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I just traded for a beautiful 360CW6 (Thanks Bill) and am now considering selling some gear to purchase a 12 string. The 12 string CW & V64s are 21 frets versus the standard 360 with 24 frets. Any differences in playability?

In my humble opinion - no. Not unless you like fiddling about above the 21st fret that is. Can't say I've ventured that far in my career. Anyway - 21 frets just look that much cooler....I'd go for the CW given the choice - just a great guitar - lighter and more jangly than the 360/12V64......

I'd prefer the 21 fret neck because the neck pickup is supposed to sound better in that position, but I don't think the V64 and Carl Wilson models are worth the extra money.

I agree with I_am_the_walrus, I also prefer 21 frets. The pickup is centered under the 24th fret harmonic. They just sound better there to me.

I'm a lead player by trade, and I actually run out of frets sometimes with 24! But, in reality, most folks will never venture up there.
The 660/12 I just purchased has only 21 frets. It works just fine. The nice thing is that all of the 21 frets are easily accessible, just in case.
It's interesting to learn that the neck pickup is located underneath the 24th position for harmonic purposes. Very cool.
Craig

I too have a CW 6. In comparison to my 360/6 '96, what I find most appealing is the top's thinness. It adds something to the sound, especially with pyramids in there. While I love my two '90s (360 6 + 12 (snd w/ toasters)), the CW has something extra that the others don't. also, the FG CW has a super finish and it really is a super guitar.

I too have thought about trading my 360/12 + cash for the CW 12, but, i've regretted trades in the past and the cash element is always pretty steep, and I just don't play the 12 enough and well enough to justify the $2,000 price tag (or there abouts)

good luck !

I have a 4004Cii with the neck pickup under the 24th fret position. I find that when soloing that pickup the harmonics are actually deadend or muted. As the pickup is right under that node there is very little sound produced. Nodes are where the string is doing it's minimum movement.

Thanks for your input. I am going to be traveling this week and will have an opportunity to drop in on a couple Ric dealers and try out a few 12 strings. One thing that attracted me to the CWs was their fireglo finish when compared to some of the standards I have looked at in the past few years.