Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Just purchased this. The flash from the camera sucks but I'll take proper pics later.

One of only 12 made for RCA employees, hence the RCA logo on the pickguard. Walnut body, checkered back binding, maple fingerboard with dot inlays and white binding, 12 saddle bridge, humbucking pickups. Neck width is standard Ric 12(not like the current 380L).

Here are some of John Hall’s comments from elsewhere in the forum (../7/15244.html"../64840/29418.jpg" alt="Full">






While I like the fact that it's very rare, I bought it primarily because I think it will sound quite different than other RIC 12s. It's the only 12 with a walnut body & maple fingerboard and it's got humbuckers in it. When I record 12 string I usually double or compliment the parts with a second 12 string and split them hard left & right. This RCA should provide quite a different and hopefully complimentary tone to my other 12s (360/12WB, 360/12CW, 370/12RM). Don’t know what to call this though – maybe 380/12RCA.
Cheers,
Bill

NICE...

VERY NICE... it is great that it has the 12 saddle bridge, too.

Beautiful!!

Very Nice Bill... I saw this guitar for sale and almost jumped at it... But I have to cool it for awhile!!! Let us know how it plays...

Congratulations Bill. A rare Rickenbacker indeed.

drool, drool...

the wood looks great and I love the checkered binding on the back!

Great looking guitar! I am curious about the serial number. The only other one of these I have known about was L5 3823.

Outstanding Bill. Let's hear about the tone.

That's beautiful!

To echo Peter's comments, it would be interesting to hear about the tone. I have a couple of Rickenbackers with humbuckers and have wondered how a 12 string would sound with them in it. Nice looking and rare Ric model, congratualtions on your purchase.

Thanks for the compliments everybody! I'm way pleased with it.

I would describe the tone as very lush & rich. Closer to Gibson & Epi 12s than any other Ric. Still very Ricky like though. It still has the high end jangle.

I compared it to a 360/12WB with Hi Gains, a 370/12RM with 11k toasters & a 360/12CW w/7.5 scatter wounds. They're all in the same ball park but all different. The RCA has a very hot output which will do well on stage with other hot output 6s (no more adjusting the volume when switching guitars). It has strings that are too light a gauge (like .009s or even .008s). I'll be putting on a proper set of Ric 12s shortly. Then tweaking the neck & intonation.

The next loudest were the hi gains (my main stage 12 along with a tele or strat 6). It has more high end sparkle and a "tighter" sound. It's strung with pyramid flats.

The McGuinn was next w/Ric strings. It basically has his sound from Back From Rio, with or without the compressor in. Even more high end but rich. The 3 pick ups give a wide choice of sounds though.

The CW is the brightest of all but not much more than the RM. The trad '60s sound.

I'll be using the RCA on stage quite a bit. There's something about natural oil finish that makes it seem more durable. It won't show minor scratches as easily.

I like to use the balance control on all Rics to favor the bridge pickup but I've never liked the bridge pickup alone. Too much high end. This RCA is the first one where I love the sound of the bridge pickup alone. Still better w/both on though.

Cheers,
Bill