Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

...I'm brand new to this lovely instrument and to be honest, I'm having a hard time playing it. It's the string spacing thing; I've got MTM down but now I'm trying to learn Bells of Rhymney, let me tell 'ya, it's tough. I've got,well to put it bluntly, fat finger tips. This is the most challenged I've been in years! It probubly sounds like I've never touched a guitar before when I practice LOL. Does anyone else here have any similar experiences to share with your first time?

Cole

My first Ric 12 was a previously-owned jetglo 330 with the perfect setup and perfect intonation; it was (and still is) absolute heaven to play. The action is so low I barely have to press the strings at all, but they are just high enough that there is no fret buzz whatsoever. It sounds like a chorus of angels singing. I also have a very nice 360/12 that was an absolute beast to play when I first got it--the neck was bowed a bit so the action was too high, and it had Pyramid flats on it which were painful and biting to my fingers.... I put new Ric strings on it and had my luthier friend set it up and adjust the truss rods for me, and now it plays great, although it is still not quite as easy to play as the 330. I have noticed that the binding on the edges of the fingerboard of the 360 makes the strings seem as if they are a little closer together than on the 330--maybe it is just psychological. Anyway, for me the 330 is the more playable of the two 12-strings, although the 360/12 gives a brighter jangle. My fingers are pretty slender, so normally the narrow Ric fingerboard is a plus for me.... If it feels too narrow for you, you may want to try a 660/12, as they have a wider fingerboard.

Hi,

When I got my 330/12 Jetglo back in 1989 (for free BTW, but that's another story!), I had to adjust my finger playing to make sure I wasn't killing neighboring strings. It isn't easy.

The only thing I can say is, that I tend to play with more of my fingertips, close to my fingernails. Kind of making your fingers "stand up" more; coming down from above towards the fretboard.

It tends to minimize my "footprint" on the fretboard versus the fingertip pads portion of your fingers. The only thing is you have to trim your nails. If mine have any overhang on them, I have to trim or else I'm scraping the fingernail on the fretboard!

Good luck and get to practicing R.E.M.s "So. Central Rain" intro!

Martin, you're absolutely right about playing with your fingertips.... My nails on my left hand are trimmed right down to almost no white showing, and I have thick calluses on the very tips of my fingers! I thought that was the case with all guitar players....

Man, a free Ric, that's great!

I know what your saying about your fingering postion, I've noitced that every picture I've seen of McGuinn it looks like his fingers are standing straight up. I had to cut my nails real short like you said. On the positive side, when I go back to bass or 6 string I can fly around the board after a long session on the 12!

1st one I tried was an absolutely gorgeous 360/MG. Perhaps the prettiest guitar I've ever seen or played. However, the action was really high and the intonation was way, way off. I'm sure it needed only a good setup.

2nd one was a 330/12 at a sam ash. the action was much lower and it was a lot easier to play. I concur with Melissa that the fingerboard binding seems to make the board seem narower.

3rd one is my own MB 660/12. Plays very well. I still have some issues on fretboard spacing even on the wider fingerboard in first position, but it's significantly more user friendly than a 360.

The first one I tried was a v64; I tried a RM but the binding was coming off and was not sure; then I tried a used TP in JG, but, the binding on the neck was in awful shape and along the way I also tried one 330/12.

About two years ago, I traded with Chris at Pick of the Ricks a NOS '92 360-12 JG for my six string 660 FG (the latter was beautiful, but I never liked the neck). I had toasters installed as well.

Two years later, I do play it from time to time, but, I still prefer the six strings. I eventually replaced the 660 with a 620 and picked up a CW six string in FG.

I don't find the neck that narrow and it is a lot of fun to play rhythm on. Like most things on the guitar, with correct, regular practice a lot can be done with it.

My curiousity made me trade for it, in the first place, but, I don't think that i'll do that again. If I wanted the 12-sound again, i'd either invest in a carl wilson or purchase a stock 330 or 620-12.

all that said, my JG 360-12 does have a great sound and its only my fingers that prevent me from doing more with it...

My first experience with a Ric 12 was with a 360/12 in fireglo. I was playing cabaret at a hotel in Torquay & a chap who used to visit regularly owned it. He used to bring it with him for me to play, as he wasn't really a player, he just loved the look & the history of it. This was many years ago when I had a 480 & couldn't run to a 12. I often think of him & wonder if he still has it. The hotel has been knocked down now, so no way of finding him....unless of course he reads this!

I'm still waiting to even SEE a Ric 12.
Poor me!

Magee...where do you live? Antarctica? Tierra Del Fuego? Preston, Lancs? Gobbler's Knob, KY?

Once you see one, you'll want to try it.

You'll be somewhere between intimidated and paralyzed, depending on a lot of factors, but mostly how many people are watching, how friendly they are, and how much courage (liquid or otherwise) you've managed to muster/absorb.

You'll try it. If you play it for only a few minutes, it will forever remain in your memory as a "someday". If you get to use it long enough to get friendly, and you're conservative with money, you'll begin to think about owning one someday. Otherwise, "tomorrow" is too long to wait and it becomes an issue of self-control.

Sometimes anticipation is more fun than acquisition and possession. Not in the case of Rics, though. With most of us, it's a GAS from start to...

Canada!
The closest Ric dealer is a 10 hour drive!
And last time I was there they only had one Ric in stock. Stupid me I didn't even play it, I was checking out Gretsch's at the time actually.

And honestly other then that Rickenbacker and my own I have never even seen another Ric. I've even been to Beatle Tribute bands hoping to see at least 1.

In 12th grade (in first year University at the moment) I was doing a show at school and got to use my 370, good times.
You guys probably know how many heads they turn.
People that know them just have to give it a shot.
People who don't wonder what it is and how could they not have heard of a guitar company that have guitars that play so well, hahaha.

I got lots of compliments on the neck.

But god only knows when I'll get to see or play a 12... Hopefully it'll be Fireglo...

Canada, eh??? Well, anytime you're in the SF Bay area, give me a jingle_jangle. There are a dozen within 5 minutes of me, not to mention my own.

On the other hand, you were lucky enough to own a Ric in 12th grade! I'm 56 and just got my first...

I doubt I'll be in San Fransisco area anytime soon, hehe.
I'm all the way over in New Brunswick (east coast). Actually, I live about an hour and a half from our good admin Peter!

But yeah, although I'm 18 I worked hard to get this baby, at $6.20 per hour it takes awhile to get anything.
Also won't be buying another guitar anytime soon with university tuitions!

My 1st 12 Ricky was my first guitar PERIOD!! A warped necked 360-12MG....I got it cheap, hoping I could "fix" the neck myself.....I ended up taking it to a RIC guy in Philly and he did the heat treatment thing and that pretty much cured it...what he couldn't cure was the fact that I couldn't handle the string spacing with my huge fingers, so I gave up on it and sold it.....

OK, Patrick. The best part of this whole Web thing is the opportunity for us to get together electronically to share interests and information.

I remember working my own way through college at $4.15 an hour and playing frat parties with my '67 Fender Mustang through an awful VOX (USA) transistorized Berkeley II, both brand new at the time. You're WAY AHEAD of that game!