This is why I love that guitars like this Rickenbacker exist - so different. Why would you want yet another Strat clone? Not for everyone, but this is exactly the point and the main asset of the instrument
More on the "Different" side than typical Fenders and Gibsons would be Mosrite models (pronounced "Moe's Right," and they're not cheap,) and then (much cheaper,) you could get a lot of Danelectro, Kay, or Harmony models that (comparatively to Fender or Gibson) don't cost much even for vintage examples. Mosrite is a special one that I might be a bit obsessive over. They seem tonally somewhere between Fender and Gibson. Maybe a point between a Jazzmaster Pup and a P90. They seem to sound "drier" than a Fender, but not completely dry, and they're less "dark" than a Gibson. Tonal example from The Ventures Live in Japan '65: ua-cam.com/video/sT567KXTe0Y/v-deo.html Danelectro is well known even now, although their newer models aren't the same on the interior of the pickup as vintage examples - they use bobbins and thinner magnets now, but vintage ones used fatter magnets, and a scatter-wind of AWG 42 that was then taped and shoehorned into the casing. As such, there's some tonal inconsistency, but you still get the old Dano 50s - 60s tone with the right magnet size and number of windings. Kay is not so well known, but see their "Speed Bump" Pickups, those ones sound very late 50s - early 60s (and yet uncommon) when in the right amp. Those pups also get mixed up with some versions of Gibson P13s, but they're not the same. Example of Speed Bump Pups: ua-cam.com/video/nVmqBv-fyGU/v-deo.html Harmony is a bit well known, but I don't have much experience with them. That said, I did like this tonal example of a 1960 Harmony "1420" model: ua-cam.com/video/DKQOtqtkZ7M/v-deo.html
The issue with Rickenbackers is that they settled on their ‘difference’, rather than evolving. They are stuck with the vintage style bits that make life tougher. They need to evolve just a little bit, and to not be such a battle.
@@King-Kazma I know one guitar from my country, it is very alike ( but 6 string ), but pickups are unique ( but similar style) it also would just keep tension on bridge in same way.
Ricks are great at that jangle thing... the church, Tom petty, pretenders, the bangles and prince and the revolution, and it all started with the byrds.
@@frankperricone2065they both took inspiration from each other. Mcguinn inspired by a hard days night. Harrison inspired by Mcguinn’s compression on the Rick-12. Pretty common of the 60s.
I had a 1967 4005 rickenbacker bass, rare semi hollow fireglo. I sold it to a friend musician early 80's for $300. We agreed if he ever sold.....to sell it back to me, he later traded for a fender p-bass.....I sent pictures of the same bass to him 14 years ago and they sold used for 20K! He said who would have known? I said I did! They only built 1000 if em...... I had it wired in stereo.....ran it through 1 fender twin reverb and 2 cabs with 4 12's..... sparkly and thumping! I guess thats why I am hesitant to sell guitars..... Oh yea, great video Phil! Excellent!
I have a 1984 version of this guitar, and I ALMOST sold it due to the neck feel and the fact that picking can be challenging for people with larger hands/fingers. I took it to a luthier to see about using a slightly wider nut to get some string separation, but he told me to either learn how to play it or sell it, but don't modify it. I went home and started riffing on it, and the next thing I knew I was recording a track that became my second solo album. I cannot believe how RICH the guitar tones are when tracking with it. Double tracking the rhythm parts and panning them - my goodness it sounds incredible. Anyway, It has a permanent place in my few guitars!
the funny thing is.........a lot of people complain about the necks but they're actually slightly wider than some vintage Fenders/reissues. And no one seems to complain about those.
I have small hands and often struggle with fatter necks, so now I'm seriously considering trying to find a used Rick. Besides, I'm a huge fan of The Smiths and Tom Petty
When I worked for a few years as a guitar repair tech, I always hated working on Rickenbackers. My chief gripe is that they lacquer the fingerboard! Combined with the tiny frets, it makes re-crowning frets a complete nightmare... maybe it wasnt such a big deal back in the day of super thin nitro finishes, but the poly lacquer gets applied soooo thick and its basically makes it impossible to get a good re-crown on the frets after leveling. If I ever owned a Rickenbacker I'd rip out the frets and sand all that terrible lacquer off
I have a rickenbacker copy, and I think you just solved why the fretboard always felt weird to me, I saw the lacquer on the sides of the fingerboard but never realised it was on the whole thing, thanks for that.
@@trev3971no they didn’t. They stopped putting a finish on the standard guitars for about 6 months in 2022. They have since switched back to finishing the fingerboards. It is also UV catalyzed polyester, not lacquer . Rickenbacker hasn’t used lacquer or nitro finishes since like the 1950s.
@@Jeffcatbuckeye So, like I said, they *did* stop a couple years ago. The choice to reverse course doesn't change the fact that there are plenty of Rickenbacker guitars without finished fretboards.
I have a 360-12 in Fireglow along with four other Rickenbackers. I agree that they take some getting used to but once you acclimate to the narrower neck, they are pure magic. I think a lot of players just don’t take the time to learn how to play them. For those that take to challenge, they repay your efforts with the most iconic sounds in rock.
Here’s the thing. A thicker neck would not change the sound one lick. They should have just made a thicker neck. It’s a problem, and there’s zero reason any guitar player should tolerate it unless it immediately feels good to them. It doesn’t contribute to the sound. It’s a bad design choice. That’s it.
I think that all 12 strings Ricks, despite beeing extraordinary instruments, are guitars you have to play like a 6 strings but get a 12 string sound. And what a sound ! But they are not so convenient for 12 strings playing styles. The Burns 12 strings is my favourite choice.
2008 and newer Rics have a better string spacing from the factory. I replaced the nut on my 2002 with the newer factory nut like my 2021. Night and day difference. On the 2021, i installed a Winfield tune o magic. Excellent bridge. I also prefer the 2021’s oiled fret board especially when soloing. And yes, you can solo these things. Crank up the delay distortion and a little fuzZ. Sounds killer.
I still have my 1979 Ric 330/12 that my wife gave me when we got married in 1979. I was in a band in college that did covers of the Beatles, the Who, the Yardbirds and others. Played through a twin reverb, always sounded right on the money. It is great to still have in my arsenal.
@@peterstockhaus2709 I have a 70's Twin with JBL Orange back frames. It rings like a bell. If the Vox sounds better it must be a very special sound! :)
The thing that surprised me about ricks was how comfortable I find them. I dont mind the skinny neck, but honestly I expected them to be super janky, and feel kinda crap but in a fun way. Instead they feel rather fast, and for someone who plays Ibanez, strandberg, and 8 strings they feel rather normal
They don't feel anything like a shred guitar to me. Those tiny frets over a glossy board have a very distinctive feel. I also get the same feeling from a lacquered maple board with vintage frets. Hard to be bend and barre chords.
Great informative video with just enough details and appreciate your honesty! I've always wanted one of these...just the 3K price....ehhhh..idk. Thanks for info, Sub'd!
Underrated guitar. Yep, great for that 60s jangly Bryds-type sound but in the early 90s Rickenbackers were really popular with the English Shoegaze scene with bands like Ride, Chapterhouse, My Bloody Valentine, and Swervedriver - those bands used created a unique sound with heavy distortion, chorus and delay creating a heavy but ethereal sound - check em out.
I think they are cool personally. I know they arent not for everyone. I have a Jet black 620 solid body, its definitely a different feeling neck than anything else out there, but I love the chime and clean sounds.
Phil, looking forward to a 6-month revisit of this guitar. OK, 6 months may not be realistic given your schedule but, as one of my bucket list guitars, I'd love more of your insights. Thanks!
If you want a 12 it’s the one to get. I have a 660/12 with a wider nut which I’d recommend for a 12. The narrow neck is not bad at all on the 6 string versions.
It sure sounds like a lot of 1960s recordings. Fantastic! I also like shallow frets. I learned on a guitar with those frets, and I plant my fingers down on the fretboard. I don't have the dexterity to just lightly touch the strings on high frets. The narrow fretboard does not bother me, even though I have normal size handss for a tall individual. I would love to own that guitar, but the cost is prohibitive. Thanks Phil for recommending another 12-string at a reasonable price. I hope it is as sonically close to the Rickenbacker as possible.
I own one of those and it is a really great and good sounding instrument, especially for the price. I like it a lot and it does provide a similar sound but there sure is reason for that premium price of the Ricky. If you‘re in need of a good sounding well playable 12 string, the Danelectro is top notch. It‘s a bit like playing an Epiphone Les Paul because you once in a while need that sound but just not want to pay the premium price of a Gibson.
@@michaelprokopeck1941 For the price of the Rickenbacker you could get a decent custom build; pair whatever neck geometry and fretwire etc. you like with the Rick pickups, same scale length and pickup positioning.
I have owned a Rickenbacker 360-12 for around 25 years. I absolutely love it. I have always been infatuated with The Byrds, especially Roger Mcguinn's playing. I tried for years to copy that sound on my Strat, but there is just no way to make a 6 string sound like that. I tried it on an acoustic 12 string. It still wasn't right. I finally bit the bullet and bought the Rickenbacker. This guitar is nothing short of magic. Nothing else sounds like it. I have big hands, and the neck was an issue, but one I was able to deal with up until lately. I am now 64, and have arthritis and neuropathy. I've pretty much had to give up my guitar playing. Very frustrating. But that is not the guitars fault. I do understand why almost nobody plays these guitars anymore, and it's not good. IMO, todays "music" is mostly garbage. I have to go back to the '60s and '70s for my music. This guitar is not compatible with what they call music today. And that is sad, at least to me.
Byrds rule I have the 330 12 string I have got down the banjos picking Mcguenn uses ! Love the sound I play all birds songs took me years to get them down. I am 75 and now I can barely play. Those were the days John Boy Utah 🎸🎸🎸😎
Anyone who writes off "music today" probably hasn't looked hard enough past the popular stuff for the actual good music that's produced by lesser-known artists nowadays (taste is still subjective though)
Having never played one I was very interested in "The Geeky Stuff," I did not know anything about the 'blend' knob but I did recognize that iconic sound. Excellent (as usual) introduction to this beautiful, if imperfect, guitar. Thanks Phil.
Completely agree with Phil‘s assessment. I used to have a Ric 12 string, absolutely beautiful guitar, great sounding, but the neck was just too narrow for my fat (actually average) fingers. Sold the Ric and got a Danelectro 12 string. Sounds almost as good at about 1/6 the price, but the neck is much wider and easier to play. Lots of neck dive with the Danelectro though.
I almost have the same story, my cousin had one and when he passed away suddenly his son asked if I wanted to buy it and he let me try it out for a while. I couldn’t stand the neck width so I turned it down and also bought a used Danelectro 12 for around $300 and I love it. Also I restrung the Ric for my cousin’s son and that was a complete pain!
Just attach some weight in the body, and you'll fix it. A common enough mod is to take a 1 Lb Fishing Weight, and put it in the control cavity - though you may not need to put an entire pound of extra weight in the guitar. Though yeah, Danelectros are normally hollow bodied, so you could tape it in the body in many places.
Great assessment. I fulfilled a long standing dream in 2021 and got a 330 12 string in the Fireglo. I have the same feelings about the neck. It feels as "crowded" as a mandolin neck and challenges me to be more mindful of being precise with my finger placement. I really admire Roger McQuinn for all of the intricate playing he did on his.
I commend you Phil for getting that thing in tune. Took 2 years to get it, but I finally scored my 660/12 which gets you another thin slice of bologna in width. Also less feedback with it being a solidbody. But with the right songs the Ric 12 comes alive and the audience loves it. Puts a smile on my face whenever I plug it in with just a touch of reverb and hear the chimes these are known for.
Awesome video! As a big Beatles fan these guitars have intrigued me for years. Thank you so much for lifting the mystery from them. They seem to be as quirky as I thought they were but still cool!
Great sound demo. As folks mentioned, the 660 will get you the wider neck you want. I had the 360-12 and switched to the 660-12, and it's the right feel and has that iconic sound also.
This. I always wanted a Ric but couldn't get past the playability issues with my sausage fingers. The 660/12 solved that for me and opened a treasure trove of both iconic sounds and new adventures with the original material that my band is doing. Here's one: playing slide on it - Leo Kottke does it with an acoustic 12-string and I thought "Why not...?!" Turned out to produce an almost pedal steel-like sound that fit in perfectly with a new song we're doing. The only thing not to love is the price for these on the used market - and be prepared to wait if you want a new one. I was told that most models have a one year wait and apparently they aren't even taking orders for the 660/12 at this time...
@@greyseal53 you got that right about the prices. I had a GORGEOUS flame maple 660/12 for several years. Bought it in 2008, but can't seem to find what I paid for it. FF to 2018 and we moved out of the states for awhile, and I sold it for a song at 1650 on Reverb. After we came back, I bought a beautiful midnight blue 660/12 for... $2300. Ouch! Not as nice looking as the flamed maple, but I'm not unhappy. Andy Babiuk has a brand new flamed maple on Reverb now that's really close in appearance to my old one for $3109. About 6 months ago they were going for about 4k on there, now that people are selling off their covid acquisitions, prices are down to around 3k average.
I had that exact guitar years ago - wish I still had it. It's a limited palette, for sure, but nothing else does what it does as well. The only thing I didn't like was the gloss finish on the fretboard. Roger McGuinn said he kept it tuned a half-step down and capoed to play with the band (to lessen string stress), and made his A chord with only 2 fingers because of how cramped the fretboard was.
@@stringrip I believe to lessen the strain on the instrument itself. I do that with my acoustic 12-string also since I saw his video since they are literally tearing themselves apart by just existing.
@@mvp019 That is a wise precaution. Perhaps also by tuning the strings way down when the guitar is not going to be used. With solid body electric 12 string guitars its not such a problem. In the question and answer section of British Guitarist magazine years ago someone asked repairman Doctor Robert about their acoustic 12 string having very high action. Dr Robert replied - "in my experience most acoustic 12 strings eventually become unplayable due to the tops lifting under the strain of the strings. Electric 12 strings fare better ".
That bridge pickup sound! There's a reason it's so iconic. Three of the greatest rock bands ever (Beatles, Byrds and Tom Petty) used that sound to make a statement that simply could not have been done with any other guitar.
Thanks for the deep dive! I’ve owned a 330 six string since ‘97 and every time I think of trading it in for one great Telecaster and a cool amp the sound, vibe, and relative scarcity of the Rick keeps me from doing anything rash.
I have the 375 with 3 pick ups. I bought a nut from a company called Rickysounds. It widens up the space between the string pairs and was a game changer for me. Now I feel like it’s perfect!
I bought one of those because I liked Roger McGuinn’s sound. I play Strats mostly, and everything you said about the neck is spot on. My hands seemed to be too big. The string tension was tight. It seemed I was fighting and stumbling to play this guitar. I did lots of fiddling with action and neck relief, but nothing seemed to help. I finally tuned it a half step down, and like magic it was playable. I enjoy playing it now, but it sure isn’t a guitar for everyone. I’m still not sure if it’s for me, but that jangly sound makes it worth it.
I had a 67' and it had some interesting features. One night we were playing a gig at a club near some radio towers. I had to switch to another guitar because the Rickenbacker was picking up the radio signal and broadcasting thru the amp. Aside from that I loved that guitar and wish I'd never gotten rid of it.
Damn, a good subject to discuss. As a twenty+ year guitar tech and luthier (now retired), I found that maybe one in six Rics felt nice to play after I had set them up. But that is not saying that I’m alway able to judge what others may like. They’re just weird guitars with weird design decisions employed that don’t always make a lot of sense. I think they’re gorgeous beautiful guitars. What really surprises me is that every guitar company has in some way copied the strat, the tele, the LP, and others, no one has copied the Rics. I’ve built about ten guitars based on a “Ric Theme” of the Capri just for experimental purposes. I dig the hell outta the body shape. I addressed all of the annoying things I didn’t like such as pickup mounting, fret size, truss rods, and the cheesy bridge. The Ric’s original neck joint though is probably the best thing about the original design. It’s bulletproof and super easy to get the angle and fit perfect during construction. The neck installs from the back of the body with a cap attached to the back to cover the joint. The joint is never going to fail. The 3 (5)piece neck lends itself to being super stable in the long term.
@@clintwilson6380 Ric basses are a different story entirely. Although often still weird with design choices that don’t always make sense, they’re as a rule, great basses.
Hi; There's one company that made a nice reiteration of the Rick : Duesenberg with the double cat model ! I owned one and it was great but had to sell it and I still cry about that !
I used to have the same complaints about the neck. If you ever get your hands on a Rickenbacker 660 it will be a revelation you get the sound but have a 1.75 neck All your complaints will be gone. Thanks for the review
you can get the 660 like 1.75" wide neck with the 360 shape body on the 1993Plus model. That iconic shape is a big draw for some. For me it was. Couldn't justify the cost difference though so my Ric is a 330/12.
Thanks for the skinny on a guitar I seen many times on stage but knew very little about. This Highly Informative channel is worth it's weight in Gold wire frets! ;0)
I’ve had two of them Both in Fireglow a 360/12-63 GH and a 660/12 Tom Petty ..both were outstanding guitars and you have to adjust to the guitars..the narrow width and string spacing and tuning stability..they are one song and tune 12 stringers!! Especially if your recording..Plus restringing one isn’t the easiest chore!! But you learn to love them for exactly what they are!! “THAT SOUND” can not be replicated by any other 12!!
That thing sounds wonderful. And it's beautiful. Seems to be one of the actual original takes on the guitar. No copy cat parts. Strange or not, love it.
Great video! Excellent content. Having owned more than several Ricks through the years, may I suggest that you try either the 660/12 or the 1993 Plus models. They have the 1.75" width necks and are much easier to play! It's a shame that Rick keeps their necks so slim, and trust me they are aware. However, management will not change it and have stated that over years. I believe Tom Petty convinced them for a wider neck for his signature model (660/6 & 660/12) along with Pete Townsend's model (1993 Plus).
I was originally going to get their 12-String guitar but it was too narrow for me so I got their Gretsch hollowbody which I changed the strings into the Ric set-up. I've been playing this guitar so very long time when I first got it and I don't only play just Jangle-Pop music but also jazz, punk, rockabilly, and more. However, I do have their 5-String Bass and I still love this instrument.
Thanks for this Phil. Rickenbacker are always a joy to hear and see. However, if the Neck is the biggest issue for you....check out a 660/12. Tom Petty had the same issue with the 12 string neck, and asked Rickenbacker to make the 660/12 less broomsticky. It worked. If the 360/12 feels too small for me at the moment, I pull out the 660 and suddenly all is right with the world.
It may have been mentioned but I did not hear, that Rickenbackers also are unique in that they are typically strung with the octave pairs in reverse from the usual, with the bass strings (of each pair) the first ones typically struck, then the treble/octave - meaning from the top down... Maybe a subtlety but contributing to the signature jangle.
Marty Wilson piper gave the Australian rock band the Church there sound with a Rickenbacker, Listen to mesmerised you’ll hear a Rick played to the Max, Amazing sound.
I just never had the $$ for one, other gear was always more important. I played in a trio in the late 70's and used my Guild F212 with a pickup over the sound hole. I also used a rare Roger McGuinn Martin, a stock D28 with a G octave string only added. I loved that and wish I had kept it! I still want one, usually every time I see McGuinn or Tom Petty playing one. Thanks, great review Phil!! 8) --gary
From the Rick Manual: Many Rickenbacker guitars come with a fifth control knob providing extra tone adjustment capabilities. Using this control to adjust the volume of the bass pickup in rela- tion to a pre-selected treble pickup lead volume setting, you can set it at the tone you will use more often. Or it can function as a bass/treble equalization control.
Hey, Phillip- thanks for this fascinating, in-depth examination of this Ric. In the past 8 weeks I’ve picked up a 6 and a 12, and I appreciate seeing you “undress” this 12 and explain all the details. My hands are large, the neck is skinny, but I figure that over time it will improve my technique. Maybe? Meanwhile, THAT SOUND! Anyhow, thanks for this great video! 👍
I have 4 Rickenbacker's a 620/6 FG, 360/6 FG, 660/12 FG and a 1993 plus/12 JG. The 660 and the 1993 have a slightly wider neck which makes it easier to play with 12 strings. They both have the toaster PU's. The 620 and 360 play wonderful with the narrow neck and both have the High Gain PU's. I use the Jangle Box to get the 60's twang like Byrd's and The Heartbreakers.
The more he keeps talking about it, the more I dislike it. I already wasn't a fan of the look, but I'm almost certain that I'm not going to be a fan if I ever get hands on one
May be a little uncomfortable to play but I really love the sound. Phillip I’m new to your channel but was wondering if you have done a review on the Mitchell guitars let’s say the md400.
The Hall family and Rickenbacker made a conscious decision to make a legacy product. Meeting the convenience expectations of post 60s players would put them in competition with multiple other brands who have been influential upon those moderns trends (powerful pickups, slim necks for light strings, vibrato bar tuning stability… read Les Paul and Stratocaster archetypes).They offer an alternative to those types and, by implication, that kind of musical genre. What legacy and musical direction do you want? People complain about their production numbers and price, but I think they have a pretty good perception of their market share. Plus, you gotta love any company in the 2020s that hasn’t changed their website in 15 years!😊
Awesome video as always, Phillip! We bought a Danelectro 12-string for the band, after playing the (as you precisely compared) "broom with wall of strings" and can't be happier about that decision. The Danelectro (even with it's clumsy pickups) is waaay better in feel and experience than any 12-string Rics (1968 / 2003 / 2013) I've ever played. Now... The 1986 Ric 360/6 we just bought is a whole another story. Apart from the beautiful, chimy, punchy jangle and twang, it is hands-down one of the most versatile guitars, no matter if we use it as a Tele, Strat, Jazzmaster, 335 or even SG substitute, but it also has its own vibe and the whole band absolutely loved it. Cheers and have a great day!
I fell in love with the 360/12 when I saw and heard Jim McGuinn,and for the last forty years I’ve had a love/hate relationship with it. Mapleglow 360/12 absolutely gorgeous. The fit the finish beautiful. When it’s right it’s great. Changing strings is a nightmare between the Head stock and the R tailpiece that comes off.Threading strings is labor intensive to put it mildly. Now at last they have the headstock drilled so it’s much easier. The piece that holds the R tailpiece cracked had to get a new one. They use cheap pot like metal for it. Had to replace the compleat wiring harness, that wasn’t so bad. The thin neck is not a problem for me. Like I said love it hate it.
Actually I like the extra rosewood under the binding. The fret board is 'thicker' adding rigidity to the neck, kind of like what parker did with the P38. A thick slab of rosewood with a thin maple neck, nice and strong.
Beatles, Byrds, Tom Petty.....They all used it on certain songs, but not on everything. Phil, a great dive into that era. Love your honesty. I miss that era and I miss that talent.
I never liked the look of Rickenbackers at all. Still don't. Wasn't really impressed with the sound of them either and yes I've tried quite a few. If I need a jangly sound I'll stick with Gretsch.
I find that the Rickenbacker 12-string sounds subtly different from other 12-string electrics and the only thing that I have been able to attribute that to is the fact that Rickenbacker swaps the order of the strings. That is, on the sixth string pair, the low E string is above the high E string and when you strum downwards you will hit the low string first. I've not been able to find any other manufacturer that does this. They all seem to do it the other way around. So, different string order, different sound. Also, with respect to the width at the nut, although you can't change the width you *can* change the nut. RickySounds in the UK sells (last time I checked) a nut that a) slightly spreads the strings apart from each other and b) slightly moves the string pairs closer to each other. I have one and it made playing the instrument distinctly easier.
The Rickenbacker aesthetic just appeals to a pretty limited audience. It reeks of 50s aesthetics and never really left, while LP and Fender moved on in theme and color (as well as sound).
That blend control should act like a bass control in middle position. The pickups have opposite magnet poles, like strat pickups, then mixing an in-phase signal with an out-of-phase one creates a simple bass rolloff filter.
TY Got my first one circa 66 sold it a few years later and bought another about 25 years ago. Nothing else gets that sound. It's a specialty type of axe and still a royal pain to change strings but for an old guy like me who loved the sound George, McGuinn, and Townshend got out of that thing, it still brings a smile to my face.
I'm not a fan of the Rickenbacker aesthetic, but I really do like the look of the neck and the neck binding. The way they do the binding is actually a really cool idea. It's purely aesthetic, but I think it looks very classy.
Gotta love the Ric 12 string guitar sound! I was missing that 12 string sound...but I couldn't justify a Rickenbacker, so I got an Eastwood Classic 12 and have been really pleased with it. Love the feel of the neck on the Eastwood.
Thank you for an unbiased review. Good points. Didn't just trash it. I play bass,and love Rickenbacker quality. I love that they are all American made. Not that other brands aren't good. Just something about American made that's pretty rare these days
What most people do is buy a guitar on looks or sound but what's the most important is comforbility/playability does it feel good to you; slim neck, narrow neck, low action, wide neck, deep neck, high action, or any combination there of is important to how it fits your hand. Ala comforbility playability
That fifth control is to blend the bridge and the neck pickups depending on how you like the sound. So, if you go to the neck pickup, you can blend some of the bridge in with it and vice versa.
The blend knob is for balancing the volume between the pickups. The circuit allows for the stereo 'Rick-o-sound where each pup is sent to a different amp.
Owner of a 1998 Ric 360-12 identical to that one, I have it tuned to D standard with flat-wounds to take tension off that 6-string neck AND capo up two to E to get a little wider neck space. Absolutely love it, but I have smallish fingers so the narrow neck doesn't bother me, and neither do the shallow frets. One thing you did not mention, however, that makes these guitars unique, sound-wise, is the bottom 4 strings are strung the opposite of other 12's , where the standard strings are strung before the thinner octave strings, as opposed to after. This gives them that unique jangly sound we all love.
That small fifth knob is usually used to adjust the neck pickup output to a pre set point, either to hit the sweet spot with both pickups on, or to reduce the output of the neck pickup relative to the bridge pickup.
The Rickenbacker _tailpiece_ there (not bridge). Compensated and similar to the Guild _Harp_ tailpiece. Give nice longggggg bass strings progressively speaking.
Coincidently, I own a pair of Ric 360's, a 6 ('72 checkerboard Mapleglo) and a 12 ('97 Jetglo) plus... a Danelectro Hodad 12. Your review is absolutely spot-on! I could not have said it better. Your experience with neck feel is mine-except I have even bigger hands than yours. Every Ric 12 player that I've talked to basically says the same, and that it that you wind up modifying your chord finger positions to adapt to the neck. I can readily see why because in my case, my fingers overcrowd the neck and yes, your observation on how the chords feel under your fingers is right on target. The low frets and glossy fretboard (and the iconic look and sound) are what sold me on my '72 360-6 when I purchased it back in '72. I was young and nothing else felt as silky smooth as that neck did to my inexperienced hand. Much later I added the 12 and have not looked back. Oh, and the Dano 12? It feels much like any other 12 string. I have the Hodad 12 because it has 3 pickups and it lets you really dial in specific sounds. They don't make it anymore, so pick up a used one- you won't be sorry.
the fifth knob is a variable resistor on the neck pickup's output. when you have both pickups running it does effectively create differences in tone because you're changing the relative volume balance between the 2 pickups and their individual sounds. it is a blend control but only if you're using both pickups. if you're only using the neck pickup it's just louder when you turn the knob down heh
IMO, I don't mind that neck - I have smaller hands.... My problem with Ric's are (usually ) high actions and the SOUND. If you want that "BYRDS" sound they are great but for ANY other sound they seem quite limited.
Thanks for the great video. Rickenbacker 12 string guitars are not just musical instruments. They are works of Art! They hold a special place in the history of guitars because every Rickenbacker 12 string guitar ever produced was manufactured in the U.S.A. (BTW, I'm not American but this is a huge point of difference when comparing Rickenbackers to the other two big "American" guitar companies. ) Anyways a few of points if I may ... -The bridge cover is usually removed to make it easier to mute strings with the strumming hand. -The "R' tailpiece is best replaced by the traditional trapeze one which is a lot more robust and makes stringing the guitar much easier. -The standard 6 string bridge can be replaced with a 12 string one to perfect intonation if required. -Achieveing the CLASSIC RIC 12 sound requires replacing the HiGain pickups on your model with the classic Toaster pickups, wiring the special green capacitor into the treble circuit to provide treble boost, and running the guitar through some decent compression (McGuinn recommends the JangleBox) into either a VOX AC-30 or a Fender Twin Reverb amp. All 12 string Rickenbackers will give you tones with a decent level of jangle and chime . But achieving those classic Harrison / McGuinn / Wilson-Piper* / Campbell / Petty RIC tones requires a bit of tweaking. It's mainly the guitar but not just the guitar if you get my drift. (*-BTW Marty Wilson-Piper uses customised RIC 12 guitars that are strung in the traditional 12 string manner a la the first RIC 12 prototype produced by Rickenbacker that was gifted to Suze Arden by F.C. Hall. George Harrison got the second one which was the first one strung in the Rickenbacker manner.) -Jangle and Chime can be enhanced even further by dropping the tuning by half a semi-tone so that the guitar is tuned into the key of Eb. That causes the strings to resonate even longer. -FINALLY, the narrow neck of the stock Rickenbacker 12 string guitar necessitates playing modified chord structures. Fretting chords on a RIC 12 requires a bit of experimentation and "invention" to get the best out of it. Jim McGuinn explained this decades ago and it seems to have been lost on a lot of modern players. Perhaps that's why many of them struggle with the neck. As for the Danelectro 12s ... they are a different beast. It is not fair to compare them with RIC 12s. They serve different purposes. One thing for sure though, the RIC 12 costs a lot more. But if the time comes to sell it. You will make money on it. Probably can't say that about the Dano or most other Electric 12 strings.The closest thing I've heard to a RIC 12 are Greco's replica RG-95 / RG-120 models and the more recent Eastwood Classic 12. In both cases the instruments were customised with a new nut to mimic the standard stringing configuration of a RIC 12. Cheers from the Land Down Under.
I play in a cover band, and one of the guitarriests has a Rickenbacker like this one. The sound is fantastic, but other 12 strings sounds quite like it. But the sound of a 12 string is unbelieveable nice!!
1993 Plus and 660 models have a wider nut width(1-3/4) with better string spacing. If you have a “standard”(1-5/8) neck width, you can buy a replacement nut that spreads the strings out across the board and brings the string pairs closer together to improve the string spacing.
As always, a great review. I’ve watched your content for some time, but just subscribed. I appreciate how thoroughly you approach your reviews. I also like how you are able to honestly point out negatives without resorting to bashing. Very level-headed, polite, and informative.
I’m a luthier by trade. Let me tell ya, Rickenbacker designers literally set out to make the most awkward, backwards, impractical guitar on the planet. And they succeeded. No one likes to work on Rickenbackers….their bridges are simply ridiculous. If you take the chrome cover off, the saddles will rip your hand to shreds….because they align the saddles at the factory, and SHARPEN THEM on a belt sander! No joke!! When you adjust them for intonation….another feat of unimaginable frustration, you create a series of staggered razor sharp teeth!! Don’t get me started on the bizarre control wiring, or truss rod adjustment. And when you finally get it all sorted, you have to crunch your fingers together tightly just to fit your fingertips on the fretboard. It makes my head hurt just thinking about it.
Thanks for the review Phillip. I have a similar guitar and have several 'fixes' to improve the instrument. Firstly, ditch the six string bridge and get a twelve string bridge. On the guitar I have each string has its own intonation length which a six string bridge can't compensate for. I could tune the guitar perfectly in the open position then move to the twelfth fret and boy was the string pair intonation out. With a twelve string bridge it's in tune at any fret. Secondly, I reordered the strings on the G, B and E strings so that the tuning pegs acted the same. The vertical pegs are basically the same as on a six string, but this all changes for the G, B and E strings. I found it confusing so I altered the strings and it all works together, no having to think about which tuner to reach for. Thirdly, I found Rickenbacker support in Australia to be extremely poor. I took my guitar to rehearsal one time and opened the lid and was met with a mass of strings. The tailpiece had fatigued and everything let loose. I contacted the local agent and ordered a replacement tailpiece. Rickenbacker have a policy that you must hand in the failed tailpiece before you can order a replacement. Whilst I was waiting, I bought a third party tailpiece and fitted that. No, it didn't look that good compared to the original, but it works and most importantly I could play the instrument. Now comes the 'fun' part, it too a whole year to receive that replacement tailpiece. No way out of it, that is extremely poor service by Rickenbacker. As a side note, the tailpiece seems to be die cast. Yes, it's shiny on the top, but rather rough underneath. That poor tailpiece is under a lot of tension. I would have expected a more physically robust tailpiece. For what it's worth.
Phil, excellent. I know an old timer who got his on his big trip to California in the early 70's. the 6 string though 360-6 or whatever. 1964 model Maple neck. Heavenly action play like butter living in the blue plush and tweed case that in came in this whole time. He said he bought it before the Beatles got to the states and it was not very popular instrument at the time like G or F. got to noodle it for a minute. the real deal. Never dis the Rick'
I have the 6-string "mapleglo" model, that I bought for $800 - it still had the hang tags on it. It was a gift and the owner never got into playing guitar - lucky for me! I really enjoyed your review. The neck isn't as much of an issue for me, but it definitely is different and takes some getting used to. Maybe you could do a comparison of the 6 and 12 string 360 at some point? One thing about the Rick - at least mine - is that the build quality is excellent. I only have that one Rick... but the workmanship is perfect. I have several Gibsons and Fenders, and they're great, but the build quality of the Rick is a cut above, even better than my Custom Shop LP. Thanks again for a great review.
This is why I love that guitars like this Rickenbacker exist - so different. Why would you want yet another Strat clone? Not for everyone, but this is exactly the point and the main asset of the instrument
More on the "Different" side than typical Fenders and Gibsons would be Mosrite models (pronounced "Moe's Right," and they're not cheap,) and then (much cheaper,) you could get a lot of Danelectro, Kay, or Harmony models that (comparatively to Fender or Gibson) don't cost much even for vintage examples.
Mosrite is a special one that I might be a bit obsessive over. They seem tonally somewhere between Fender and Gibson. Maybe a point between a Jazzmaster Pup and a P90. They seem to sound "drier" than a Fender, but not completely dry, and they're less "dark" than a Gibson. Tonal example from The Ventures Live in Japan '65: ua-cam.com/video/sT567KXTe0Y/v-deo.html
Danelectro is well known even now, although their newer models aren't the same on the interior of the pickup as vintage examples - they use bobbins and thinner magnets now, but vintage ones used fatter magnets, and a scatter-wind of AWG 42 that was then taped and shoehorned into the casing. As such, there's some tonal inconsistency, but you still get the old Dano 50s - 60s tone with the right magnet size and number of windings.
Kay is not so well known, but see their "Speed Bump" Pickups, those ones sound very late 50s - early 60s (and yet uncommon) when in the right amp. Those pups also get mixed up with some versions of Gibson P13s, but they're not the same. Example of Speed Bump Pups: ua-cam.com/video/nVmqBv-fyGU/v-deo.html
Harmony is a bit well known, but I don't have much experience with them. That said, I did like this tonal example of a 1960 Harmony "1420" model: ua-cam.com/video/DKQOtqtkZ7M/v-deo.html
The issue with Rickenbackers is that they settled on their ‘difference’, rather than evolving. They are stuck with the vintage style bits that make life tougher. They need to evolve just a little bit, and to not be such a battle.
@@King-Kazma I know one guitar from my country, it is very alike ( but 6 string ), but pickups are unique ( but similar style) it also would just keep tension on bridge in same way.
@@101Voltsforgetting about Gretsch?
@@serenitatis2191A better question is, why mention Harmony or Kay?? Those are toy guitars sold in catalogs from the 1970s
The Church, during the 80's used this sound very effectively. Marty Wilson Piper was a big Rickenbacker user.
there was a whole jingle jangle scene in Sydney in those days.
Ricks are great at that jangle thing... the church, Tom petty, pretenders, the bangles and prince and the revolution, and it all started with the byrds.
Didn't it not start with 22:20 the Beatles, I think the Byrds stole it from the Beatles but definitely added the folk element, Folk Rock
I remember seeing Paul Weller playing one for a while too
@@frankperricone2065they both took inspiration from each other. Mcguinn inspired by a hard days night. Harrison inspired by Mcguinn’s compression on the Rick-12. Pretty common of the 60s.
I had a 1967 4005 rickenbacker bass, rare semi hollow fireglo. I sold it to a friend musician early 80's for $300. We agreed if he ever sold.....to sell it back to me, he later traded for a fender p-bass.....I sent pictures of the same bass to him 14 years ago and they sold used for 20K! He said who would have known? I said I did! They only built 1000 if em...... I had it wired in stereo.....ran it through 1 fender twin reverb and 2 cabs with 4 12's..... sparkly and thumping! I guess thats why I am hesitant to sell guitars.....
Oh yea, great video Phil! Excellent!
I have a 67 4005OS Mapleglo. Mint condition. Amazing stuff.
Some friend..
One of the greatest iconic guitar sounds ever. Nothing compares.
I played a 330 six string for a year. Bent strings with no problem. Tones were fantastic! Great well made guitar!
I have a 1984 version of this guitar, and I ALMOST sold it due to the neck feel and the fact that picking can be challenging for people with larger hands/fingers. I took it to a luthier to see about using a slightly wider nut to get some string separation, but he told me to either learn how to play it or sell it, but don't modify it. I went home and started riffing on it, and the next thing I knew I was recording a track that became my second solo album. I cannot believe how RICH the guitar tones are when tracking with it. Double tracking the rhythm parts and panning them - my goodness it sounds incredible. Anyway, It has a permanent place in my few guitars!
The odd thing is it’s not a guitar It’s a Ric…. A guitar with the soul and feel of a mandolin..
Rickysounds in the UK sells a precut nut that has the wider spacing and more closely paired string pairs. Plug and play.
the funny thing is.........a lot of people complain about the necks but they're actually slightly wider than some vintage Fenders/reissues. And no one seems to complain about those.
My small hand LOVES the Rickenbacker neck. ‘87 six string 410 is my favorite to play
I have small hands and often struggle with fatter necks, so now I'm seriously considering trying to find a used Rick. Besides, I'm a huge fan of The Smiths and Tom Petty
When I worked for a few years as a guitar repair tech, I always hated working on Rickenbackers. My chief gripe is that they lacquer the fingerboard! Combined with the tiny frets, it makes re-crowning frets a complete nightmare... maybe it wasnt such a big deal back in the day of super thin nitro finishes, but the poly lacquer gets applied soooo thick and its basically makes it impossible to get a good re-crown on the frets after leveling. If I ever owned a Rickenbacker I'd rip out the frets and sand all that terrible lacquer off
They stopped lacquering the fretboards on the standard models a couple years ago.
I have a rickenbacker copy, and I think you just solved why the fretboard always felt weird to me, I saw the lacquer on the sides of the fingerboard but never realised it was on the whole thing, thanks for that.
Maybe I'm weird, but I love the Rickenbacher lacquer.
@@trev3971no they didn’t. They stopped putting a finish on the standard guitars for about 6 months in 2022. They have since switched back to finishing the fingerboards. It is also UV catalyzed polyester, not lacquer . Rickenbacker hasn’t used lacquer or nitro finishes since like the 1950s.
@@Jeffcatbuckeye So, like I said, they *did* stop a couple years ago. The choice to reverse course doesn't change the fact that there are plenty of Rickenbacker guitars without finished fretboards.
I have a 360-12 in Fireglow along with four other Rickenbackers. I agree that they take some getting used to but once you acclimate to the narrower neck, they are pure magic. I think a lot of players just don’t take the time to learn how to play them. For those that take to challenge, they repay your efforts with the most iconic sounds in rock.
Why not give guitarists a choice and make some with wider necks dont understand why Rickenbacker wont do that when they know its a constant gripe.
@@Edward1312 The 660/670 ARE LARGER PER TOM PETTY MIKE CAMPBELL RECOMMENDATION.
@@ksharpe10 I was referring to the 360 and 330 12 specifically, the limited edition Pete Townsend had the wider neck, but its priced ridiculously.
Here’s the thing.
A thicker neck would not change the sound one lick.
They should have just made a thicker neck.
It’s a problem, and there’s zero reason any guitar player should tolerate it unless it immediately feels good to them. It doesn’t contribute to the sound.
It’s a bad design choice. That’s it.
I think that all 12 strings Ricks, despite beeing extraordinary instruments, are guitars you have to play like a 6 strings but get a 12 string sound. And what a sound !
But they are not so convenient for 12 strings playing styles.
The Burns 12 strings is my favourite choice.
Hey, that was my video on the search! Cool!
2008 and newer Rics have a better string spacing from the factory. I replaced the nut on my 2002 with the newer factory nut like my 2021. Night and day difference.
On the 2021, i installed a Winfield tune o magic.
Excellent bridge.
I also prefer the 2021’s oiled fret board especially when soloing. And yes, you can solo these things. Crank up the delay distortion and a little fuzZ. Sounds killer.
I still have my 1979 Ric 330/12 that my wife gave me when we got married in 1979. I was in a band in college that did covers of the Beatles, the Who, the Yardbirds and others. Played through a twin reverb, always sounded right on the money. It is great to still have in my arsenal.
Man... She was definitely a keeper..!!!
I bet that sounded great through a Twin!
@@rosewoodsteel6656 Tried the Twin, came back to the Vox. Cured.
@@peterstockhaus2709 I have a 70's Twin with JBL Orange back frames. It rings like a bell. If the Vox sounds better it must be a very special sound! :)
The thing that surprised me about ricks was how comfortable I find them. I dont mind the skinny neck, but honestly I expected them to be super janky, and feel kinda crap but in a fun way. Instead they feel rather fast, and for someone who plays Ibanez, strandberg, and 8 strings they feel rather normal
Wow, that's really surprising to hear. You don't often hear overly positive comments about the necks of these guitars.
They don't feel anything like a shred guitar to me. Those tiny frets over a glossy board have a very distinctive feel. I also get the same feeling from a lacquered maple board with vintage frets. Hard to be bend and barre chords.
Great informative video with just enough details and appreciate your honesty! I've always wanted one of these...just the 3K price....ehhhh..idk. Thanks for info, Sub'd!
Fred Smith made his rickenbaker 450 sound totally incredible.
Underrated guitar. Yep, great for that 60s jangly Bryds-type sound but in the early 90s Rickenbackers were really popular with the English Shoegaze scene with bands like Ride, Chapterhouse, My Bloody Valentine, and Swervedriver - those bands used created a unique sound with heavy distortion, chorus and delay creating a heavy but ethereal sound - check em out.
I think they are cool personally. I know they arent not for everyone. I have a Jet black 620 solid body, its definitely a different feeling neck than anything else out there, but I love the chime and clean sounds.
Phil, looking forward to a 6-month revisit of this guitar. OK, 6 months may not be realistic given your schedule but, as one of my bucket list guitars, I'd love more of your insights. Thanks!
If you want a 12 it’s the one to get. I have a 660/12 with a wider nut which I’d recommend for a 12. The narrow neck is not bad at all on the 6 string versions.
I've always kinda had a thing for them too. Just never pulled the trigger.
It sure sounds like a lot of 1960s recordings. Fantastic! I also like shallow frets. I learned on a guitar with those frets, and I plant my fingers down on the fretboard. I don't have the dexterity to just lightly touch the strings on high frets. The narrow fretboard does not bother me, even though I have normal size handss for a tall individual. I would love to own that guitar, but the cost is prohibitive. Thanks Phil for recommending another 12-string at a reasonable price. I hope it is as sonically close to the Rickenbacker as possible.
I own one of those and it is a really great and good sounding instrument, especially for the price. I like it a lot and it does provide a similar sound but there sure is reason for that premium price of the Ricky. If you‘re in need of a good sounding well playable 12 string, the Danelectro is top notch. It‘s a bit like playing an Epiphone Les Paul because you once in a while need that sound but just not want to pay the premium price of a Gibson.
@@michaelprokopeck1941 For the price of the Rickenbacker you could get a decent custom build; pair whatever neck geometry and fretwire etc. you like with the Rick pickups, same scale length and pickup positioning.
The most iconic unplayable overbuilt guitar. My gawd, I still want one
I have owned a Rickenbacker 360-12 for around 25 years. I absolutely love it. I have always been infatuated with The Byrds, especially Roger Mcguinn's playing. I tried for years to copy that sound on my Strat, but there is just no way to make a 6 string sound like that. I tried it on an acoustic 12 string. It still wasn't right. I finally bit the bullet and bought the Rickenbacker. This guitar is nothing short of magic. Nothing else sounds like it. I have big hands, and the neck was an issue, but one I was able to deal with up until lately. I am now 64, and have arthritis and neuropathy. I've pretty much had to give up my guitar playing. Very frustrating. But that is not the guitars fault. I do understand why almost nobody plays these guitars anymore, and it's not good. IMO, todays "music" is mostly garbage. I have to go back to the '60s and '70s for my music. This guitar is not compatible with what they call music today. And that is sad, at least to me.
Well, if you can find a 1993plus or a 660/12, those have wider necks!
Byrds rule I have the 330 12 string I have got down the banjos picking Mcguenn uses ! Love the sound I play all birds songs took me years to get them down. I am 75 and now I can barely play. Those were the days John Boy Utah 🎸🎸🎸😎
Anyone who writes off "music today" probably hasn't looked hard enough past the popular stuff for the actual good music that's produced by lesser-known artists nowadays (taste is still subjective though)
Having never played one I was very interested in "The Geeky Stuff," I did not know anything about the 'blend' knob but I did recognize that iconic sound. Excellent (as usual) introduction to this beautiful, if imperfect, guitar. Thanks Phil.
I’m familiar with Ric basses, “beautiful, if imperfect”, seems to be their design philosophy across the board.
Completely agree with Phil‘s assessment. I used to have a Ric 12 string, absolutely beautiful guitar, great sounding, but the neck was just too narrow for my fat (actually average) fingers. Sold the Ric and got a Danelectro 12 string. Sounds almost as good at about 1/6 the price, but the neck is much wider and easier to play. Lots of neck dive with the Danelectro though.
I almost have the same story, my cousin had one and when he passed away suddenly his son asked if I wanted to buy it and he let me try it out for a while. I couldn’t stand the neck width so I turned it down and also bought a used Danelectro 12 for around $300 and I love it. Also I restrung the Ric for my cousin’s son and that was a complete pain!
Just attach some weight in the body, and you'll fix it. A common enough mod is to take a 1 Lb Fishing Weight, and put it in the control cavity - though you may not need to put an entire pound of extra weight in the guitar. Though yeah, Danelectros are normally hollow bodied, so you could tape it in the body in many places.
Great assessment. I fulfilled a long standing dream in 2021 and got a 330 12 string in the Fireglo. I have the same feelings about the neck. It feels as "crowded" as a mandolin neck and challenges me to be more mindful of being precise with my finger placement. I really admire Roger McQuinn for all of the intricate playing he did on his.
I commend you Phil for getting that thing in tune. Took 2 years to get it, but I finally scored my 660/12 which gets you another thin slice of bologna in width. Also less feedback with it being a solidbody. But with the right songs the Ric 12 comes alive and the audience loves it. Puts a smile on my face whenever I plug it in with just a touch of reverb and hear the chimes these are known for.
Awesome video! As a big Beatles fan these guitars have intrigued me for years. Thank you so much for lifting the mystery from them. They seem to be as quirky as I thought they were but still cool!
Great sound demo. As folks mentioned, the 660 will get you the wider neck you want. I had the 360-12 and switched to the 660-12, and it's the right feel and has that iconic sound also.
This. I always wanted a Ric but couldn't get past the playability issues with my sausage fingers. The 660/12 solved that for me and opened a treasure trove of both iconic sounds and new adventures with the original material that my band is doing. Here's one: playing slide on it - Leo Kottke does it with an acoustic 12-string and I thought "Why not...?!" Turned out to produce an almost pedal steel-like sound that fit in perfectly with a new song we're doing. The only thing not to love is the price for these on the used market - and be prepared to wait if you want a new one. I was told that most models have a one year wait and apparently they aren't even taking orders for the 660/12 at this time...
@@greyseal53 you got that right about the prices. I had a GORGEOUS flame maple 660/12 for several years. Bought it in 2008, but can't seem to find what I paid for it. FF to 2018 and we moved out of the states for awhile, and I sold it for a song at 1650 on Reverb. After we came back, I bought a beautiful midnight blue 660/12 for... $2300. Ouch! Not as nice looking as the flamed maple, but I'm not unhappy. Andy Babiuk has a brand new flamed maple on Reverb now that's really close in appearance to my old one for $3109. About 6 months ago they were going for about 4k on there, now that people are selling off their covid acquisitions, prices are down to around 3k average.
Rickenbacker builds their guitars in batches of 25, so it takes them a while to work their way through the catalog.
I had that exact guitar years ago - wish I still had it. It's a limited palette, for sure, but nothing else does what it does as well. The only thing I didn't like was the gloss finish on the fretboard.
Roger McGuinn said he kept it tuned a half-step down and capoed to play with the band (to lessen string stress), and made his A chord with only 2 fingers because of how cramped the fretboard was.
To lessen string stress to make it easier to play or that he was also worried it was too much strain on the guitar ?
@@stringrip I believe to lessen the strain on the instrument itself. I do that with my acoustic 12-string also since I saw his video since they are literally tearing themselves apart by just existing.
@@mvp019 That is a wise precaution. Perhaps also by tuning the strings way down when the guitar is not going to be used. With solid body electric 12 string guitars its not such a problem. In the question and answer section of British Guitarist magazine years ago someone asked repairman Doctor Robert about their acoustic 12 string having very high action. Dr Robert replied - "in my experience most acoustic 12 strings eventually become unplayable due to the tops lifting under the strain of the strings. Electric 12 strings fare better ".
That bridge pickup sound! There's a reason it's so iconic. Three of the greatest rock bands ever (Beatles, Byrds and Tom Petty) used that sound to make a statement that simply could not have been done with any other guitar.
The Byrds?
I loved the clang of the first three strings. Yep, I'm sure the Byrds used the Ricky 12, especially in Mr. Tambourine Man..but will double check.
@@brianmorris8045 no need to check…..one of Rickenbacker’s first signature models was a Roger McGuinn model.
@@cyrenaica1967 Ta, sport.
Four, counting REM. Five, counting the Smiths.
i have a ric 360 12 and it does take a bit to get used to because of the narrow neck but once you get used to it it is an amazing sounding guitar
Great guitar! Probably the best Ric to me. I love that they switched order of strings to get the jangly sound.
Thanks for the deep dive!
I’ve owned a 330 six string since ‘97 and every time I think of trading it in for one great Telecaster and a cool amp the sound, vibe, and relative scarcity of the Rick keeps me from doing anything rash.
I have the 375 with 3 pick ups. I bought a nut from a company called Rickysounds. It widens up the space between the string pairs and was a game changer for me. Now I feel like it’s perfect!
The “blend” knob is just another volume pot on the neck pickup. It was a way to balance the pickups since the neck position is much louder.
I bought one of those because I liked Roger McGuinn’s sound. I play Strats mostly, and everything you said about the neck is spot on. My hands seemed to be too big. The string tension was tight. It seemed I was fighting and stumbling to play this guitar. I did lots of fiddling with action and neck relief, but nothing seemed to help. I finally tuned it a half step down, and like magic it was playable. I enjoy playing it now, but it sure isn’t a guitar for everyone. I’m still not sure if it’s for me, but that jangly sound makes it worth it.
I had a 67' and it had some interesting features. One night we were playing a gig at a club near some radio towers. I had to switch to another guitar because the Rickenbacker was picking up the radio signal and broadcasting thru the amp. Aside from that I loved that guitar and wish I'd never gotten rid of it.
Damn, a good subject to discuss. As a twenty+ year guitar tech and luthier (now retired), I found that maybe one in six Rics felt nice to play after I had set them up. But that is not saying that I’m alway able to judge what others may like. They’re just weird guitars with weird design decisions employed that don’t always make a lot of sense. I think they’re gorgeous beautiful guitars. What really surprises me is that every guitar company has in some way copied the strat, the tele, the LP, and others, no one has copied the Rics. I’ve built about ten guitars based on a “Ric Theme” of the Capri just for experimental purposes. I dig the hell outta the body shape. I addressed all of the annoying things I didn’t like such as pickup mounting, fret size, truss rods, and the cheesy bridge. The Ric’s original neck joint though is probably the best thing about the original design. It’s bulletproof and super easy to get the angle and fit perfect during construction. The neck installs from the back of the body with a cap attached to the back to cover the joint. The joint is never going to fail. The 3 (5)piece neck lends itself to being super stable in the long term.
Mark, what the 4003 basses?
@@clintwilson6380 Ric basses are a different story entirely. Although often still weird with design choices that don’t always make sense, they’re as a rule, great basses.
Hi; There's one company that made a nice reiteration of the Rick : Duesenberg with the double cat model ! I owned one and it was great but had to sell it and I still cry about that !
I used to have the same complaints about the neck. If you ever get your hands on a Rickenbacker 660 it will be a revelation you get the sound but have a 1.75 neck All your complaints will be gone. Thanks for the review
you can get the 660 like 1.75" wide neck with the 360 shape body on the 1993Plus model. That iconic shape is a big draw for some. For me it was. Couldn't justify the cost difference though so my Ric is a 330/12.
Thanks for the skinny on a guitar I seen many times on stage but knew very little about. This Highly Informative channel is worth it's weight in Gold wire frets! ;0)
Very unique look…nothing else like it…same with the sound…very unique. I can just hear the Byrds or Tom Petty.
I’ve had two of them Both in Fireglow a 360/12-63 GH and a 660/12 Tom Petty ..both were outstanding guitars and you have to adjust to the guitars..the narrow width and string spacing and tuning stability..they are one song and tune 12 stringers!! Especially if your recording..Plus restringing one isn’t the easiest chore!! But you learn to love them for exactly what they are!! “THAT SOUND” can not be replicated by any other 12!!
That thing sounds wonderful. And it's beautiful.
Seems to be one of the actual original takes on the guitar. No copy cat parts.
Strange or not, love it.
Designed by Roger Rossmeisl - may he RIP.
As someone who plays a 330, I have to say that your demo of the blend knob is the best/ most concise I have ever seen!
Great video! Excellent content. Having owned more than several Ricks through the years, may I suggest that you try either the 660/12 or the 1993 Plus models. They have the 1.75" width necks and are much easier to play! It's a shame that Rick keeps their necks so slim, and trust me they are aware. However, management will not change it and have stated that over years. I believe Tom Petty convinced them for a wider neck for his signature model (660/6 & 660/12) along with Pete Townsend's model (1993 Plus).
I got me one in New York 1971. What a beauty this guitar is, she is one of a kind, no doubt about this 🙏👌❤️
I was originally going to get their 12-String guitar but it was too narrow for me so I got their Gretsch hollowbody which I changed the strings into the Ric set-up. I've been playing this guitar so very long time when I first got it and I don't only play just Jangle-Pop music but also jazz, punk, rockabilly, and more.
However, I do have their 5-String Bass and I still love this instrument.
Thanks for this Phil. Rickenbacker are always a joy to hear and see. However, if the Neck is the biggest issue for you....check out a 660/12. Tom Petty had the same issue with the 12 string neck, and asked Rickenbacker to make the 660/12 less broomsticky. It worked. If the 360/12 feels too small for me at the moment, I pull out the 660 and suddenly all is right with the world.
One key point is there are only 6 adjustable saddles. Intonation is a huge problem. Model 660 solves this but has an odd look.
Also 44.5 vs 41.4 mm nutwidth, that's quite a difference.
Rickenbacker actually sells a 12 saddle replacement bridge. I've though about getting one for my 330 12 string.
Oh damn I didn’t even think about that!
It may have been mentioned but I did not hear, that Rickenbackers also are unique in that they are typically strung with the octave pairs in reverse from the usual, with the bass strings (of each pair) the first ones typically struck, then the treble/octave - meaning from the top down... Maybe a subtlety but contributing to the signature jangle.
One day I'll buy a 360 Jetglo because Peter Buck from R.E.M. played one
Marty Wilson piper gave the Australian rock band the Church there sound with a Rickenbacker,
Listen to mesmerised you’ll hear a Rick played to the Max,
Amazing sound.
I just never had the $$ for one, other gear was always more important. I played in a trio in the late 70's and used my Guild F212 with a pickup over the sound hole. I also used a rare Roger McGuinn Martin, a stock D28 with a G octave string only added. I loved that and wish I had kept it! I still want one, usually every time I see McGuinn or Tom Petty playing one. Thanks, great review Phil!! 8) --gary
Call for price
From the Rick Manual: Many Rickenbacker guitars come with a fifth control knob providing extra tone adjustment capabilities. Using this control to adjust the volume of the bass pickup in rela- tion to a pre-selected treble pickup lead volume setting, you can set it at the tone you will use more often. Or it can function as a bass/treble equalization control.
It's a blend knob for the middle position
I waited about 30 years to finally get a Rickenbacker. Once I had it, I hated playing it. I still love the sound of other people playing them.
Why did you hate playing it?
Hey, Phillip- thanks for this fascinating, in-depth examination of this Ric. In the past 8 weeks I’ve picked up a 6 and a 12, and I appreciate seeing you “undress” this 12 and explain all the details. My hands are large, the neck is skinny, but I figure that over time it will improve my technique. Maybe? Meanwhile, THAT SOUND! Anyhow, thanks for this great video! 👍
What a great sounding guitar !
I have 4 Rickenbacker's a 620/6 FG, 360/6 FG, 660/12 FG and a 1993 plus/12 JG. The 660 and the 1993 have a slightly wider neck which makes it easier to play with 12 strings. They both have the toaster PU's. The 620 and 360 play wonderful with the narrow neck and both have the High Gain PU's. I use the Jangle Box to get the 60's twang like Byrd's and The Heartbreakers.
Almost half of what you mentioned is why this thing tends to be problematic.
Or, it is so different it will force you to play differently. Not always a bad thing. Not for everyone for sure.
@@Channelscruf Agreed. It’s its own thing and I like them.
The more he keeps talking about it, the more I dislike it. I already wasn't a fan of the look, but I'm almost certain that I'm not going to be a fan if I ever get hands on one
May be a little uncomfortable to play but I really love the sound. Phillip I’m new to your channel but was wondering if you have done a review on the Mitchell guitars let’s say the md400.
The Hall family and Rickenbacker made a conscious decision to make a legacy product. Meeting the convenience expectations of post 60s players would put them in competition with multiple other brands who have been influential upon those moderns trends (powerful pickups, slim necks for light strings, vibrato bar tuning stability… read Les Paul and Stratocaster archetypes).They offer an alternative to those types and, by implication, that kind of musical genre. What legacy and musical direction do you want? People complain about their production numbers and price, but I think they have a pretty good perception of their market share. Plus, you gotta love any company in the 2020s that hasn’t changed their website in 15 years!😊
Wow - when you hit that first chord on the bridge it was instant "The Byrds"! Really nice!
Love the way it sounds but I couldn't play a broomstick, lol. It was cool to see the old NAMM footage at the end ✌
I think Phil's overstating a bit, mine doesn't feel like a broomstick. Narrow yes, but not a broomstick.
@mhicks5008 Fair enough. I do have a bass player sized hands, lol. I do like the sound, it makes me think of songs like 8 miles high. ✌️
Awesome video as always, Phillip! We bought a Danelectro 12-string for the band, after playing the (as you precisely compared) "broom with wall of strings" and can't be happier about that decision. The Danelectro (even with it's clumsy pickups) is waaay better in feel and experience than any 12-string Rics (1968 / 2003 / 2013) I've ever played. Now... The 1986 Ric 360/6 we just bought is a whole another story. Apart from the beautiful, chimy, punchy jangle and twang, it is hands-down one of the most versatile guitars, no matter if we use it as a Tele, Strat, Jazzmaster, 335 or even SG substitute, but it also has its own vibe and the whole band absolutely loved it. Cheers and have a great day!
I fell in love with the 360/12 when I saw and heard Jim McGuinn,and for the last forty years I’ve had a love/hate relationship with it.
Mapleglow 360/12 absolutely gorgeous. The fit the finish beautiful.
When it’s right it’s great.
Changing strings is a nightmare between the Head stock and the R tailpiece that comes off.Threading strings is labor intensive to put it mildly. Now at last they have the headstock drilled so it’s much easier. The piece that holds the R tailpiece cracked had to get a new one. They use cheap pot like metal for it.
Had to replace the compleat wiring harness, that wasn’t so bad. The thin neck is not a problem for me. Like I said love it hate it.
Dead right, had mine for 28 years, sometimes it's great, other times cant get it back in it's case quick enough :)
I want this sound so bad now!!! So glad you made this video where we just get to hear it!!!
Actually I like the extra rosewood under the binding. The fret board is 'thicker' adding rigidity to the neck, kind of like what parker did with the P38. A thick slab of rosewood with a thin maple neck, nice and strong.
That sound is so iconic and so sweet. I'm thinking Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers from the Damn the Torpedoes era. Right?
Yeah, pretty much everything on this is the opposite of what I'd want lol😅. It looks cool though!
Beatles, Byrds, Tom Petty.....They all used it on certain songs, but not on everything.
Phil, a great dive into that era. Love your honesty. I miss that era and I miss that talent.
I never liked the look of Rickenbackers at all. Still don't. Wasn't really impressed with the sound of them either and yes I've tried quite a few. If I need a jangly sound I'll stick with Gretsch.
Yep, it sounds incredible! And thanks for explaining that loudness control.
12 strings and a 1 1/2 inch nut width... tiny little frets... lacquered fingerboard...
Nope
I find that the Rickenbacker 12-string sounds subtly different from other 12-string electrics and the only thing that I have been able to attribute that to is the fact that Rickenbacker swaps the order of the strings. That is, on the sixth string pair, the low E string is above the high E string and when you strum downwards you will hit the low string first. I've not been able to find any other manufacturer that does this. They all seem to do it the other way around. So, different string order, different sound. Also, with respect to the width at the nut, although you can't change the width you *can* change the nut. RickySounds in the UK sells (last time I checked) a nut that a) slightly spreads the strings apart from each other and b) slightly moves the string pairs closer to each other. I have one and it made playing the instrument distinctly easier.
The Rickenbacker aesthetic just appeals to a pretty limited audience. It reeks of 50s aesthetics and never really left, while LP and Fender moved on in theme and color (as well as sound).
Your right, I don't even like to look at them.
Gibson and Fender have most certainly not moved on from the 50s. I don't think the one "modern" line each is enough to for that to be true.
That blend control should act like a bass control in middle position. The pickups have opposite magnet poles, like strat pickups, then mixing an in-phase signal with an out-of-phase one creates a simple bass rolloff filter.
I wouldn’t say I hate Ricks but I think they’re pretty darn ugly. Stereo jack is cool though. Looks well built.
TY Got my first one circa 66 sold it a few years later and bought another about 25 years ago. Nothing else gets that sound. It's a specialty type of axe and still a royal pain to change strings but for an old guy like me who loved the sound George, McGuinn, and Townshend got out of that thing, it still brings a smile to my face.
I'm not a fan of the Rickenbacker aesthetic, but I really do like the look of the neck and the neck binding. The way they do the binding is actually a really cool idea. It's purely aesthetic, but I think it looks very classy.
Gotta love the Ric 12 string guitar sound! I was missing that 12 string sound...but I couldn't justify a Rickenbacker, so I got an Eastwood Classic 12 and have been really pleased with it. Love the feel of the neck on the Eastwood.
Thank you for an unbiased review. Good points. Didn't just trash it. I play bass,and love Rickenbacker quality. I love that they are all American made. Not that other brands aren't good. Just something about American made that's pretty rare these days
What most people do is buy a guitar on looks or sound but what's the most important is comforbility/playability does it feel good to you; slim neck, narrow neck, low action, wide neck, deep neck, high action, or any combination there of is important to how it fits your hand. Ala comforbility playability
That fifth control is to blend the bridge and the neck pickups depending on how you like the sound. So, if you go to the neck pickup, you can blend some of the bridge in with it and vice versa.
The blend knob is for balancing the volume between the pickups. The circuit allows for the stereo 'Rick-o-sound where each pup is sent to a different amp.
Rickenbacker has schematics for all the instruments on their website, FWIW. Also note 660 and 650 have 1.75" nut width
Probably the most distinctive sound of any electric guitar. Utterly iconic. I need to put some of these pickups in my home built 12 string.
Owner of a 1998 Ric 360-12 identical to that one, I have it tuned to D standard with flat-wounds to take tension off that 6-string neck AND capo up two to E to get a little wider neck space. Absolutely love it, but I have smallish fingers so the narrow neck doesn't bother me, and neither do the shallow frets. One thing you did not mention, however, that makes these guitars unique, sound-wise, is the bottom 4 strings are strung the opposite of other 12's , where the standard strings are strung before the thinner octave strings, as opposed to after. This gives them that unique jangly sound we all love.
there is a time and a place for every guitar ... under heaven
That small fifth knob is usually used to adjust the neck pickup output to a pre set point, either to hit the sweet spot with both pickups on, or to reduce the output of the neck pickup relative to the bridge pickup.
Nice work Phil! Thanks for the thorough review and demo of the Rick!
The Rickenbacker _tailpiece_ there (not bridge). Compensated and similar to the Guild _Harp_ tailpiece. Give nice longggggg bass strings progressively speaking.
Coincidently, I own a pair of Ric 360's, a 6 ('72 checkerboard Mapleglo) and a 12 ('97 Jetglo) plus... a Danelectro Hodad 12. Your review is absolutely spot-on! I could not have said it better. Your experience with neck feel is mine-except I have even bigger hands than yours. Every Ric 12 player that I've talked to basically says the same, and that it that you wind up modifying your chord finger positions to adapt to the neck. I can readily see why because in my case, my fingers overcrowd the neck and yes, your observation on how the chords feel under your fingers is right on target. The low frets and glossy fretboard (and the iconic look and sound) are what sold me on my '72 360-6 when I purchased it back in '72. I was young and nothing else felt as silky smooth as that neck did to my inexperienced hand. Much later I added the 12 and have not looked back. Oh, and the Dano 12? It feels much like any other 12 string. I have the Hodad 12 because it has 3 pickups and it lets you really dial in specific sounds. They don't make it anymore, so pick up a used one- you won't be sorry.
the fifth knob is a variable resistor on the neck pickup's output. when you have both pickups running it does effectively create differences in tone because you're changing the relative volume balance between the 2 pickups and their individual sounds. it is a blend control but only if you're using both pickups. if you're only using the neck pickup it's just louder when you turn the knob down heh
IMO, I don't mind that neck - I have smaller hands.... My problem with Ric's are (usually ) high actions and the SOUND. If you want that "BYRDS" sound they are great but for ANY other sound they seem quite limited.
Thanks for the great video.
Rickenbacker 12 string guitars are not just musical instruments. They are works of Art! They hold a special place in the history of guitars because every Rickenbacker 12 string guitar ever produced was manufactured in the U.S.A. (BTW, I'm not American but this is a huge point of difference when comparing Rickenbackers to the other two big "American" guitar companies. )
Anyways a few of points if I may ...
-The bridge cover is usually removed to make it easier to mute strings with the strumming hand.
-The "R' tailpiece is best replaced by the traditional trapeze one which is a lot more robust and makes stringing the guitar much easier.
-The standard 6 string bridge can be replaced with a 12 string one to perfect intonation if required.
-Achieveing the CLASSIC RIC 12 sound requires replacing the HiGain pickups on your model with the classic Toaster pickups, wiring the special green capacitor into the treble circuit to provide treble boost, and running the guitar through some decent compression (McGuinn recommends the JangleBox) into either a VOX AC-30 or a Fender Twin Reverb amp. All 12 string Rickenbackers will give you tones with a decent level of jangle and chime . But achieving those classic Harrison / McGuinn / Wilson-Piper* / Campbell / Petty RIC tones requires a bit of tweaking. It's mainly the guitar but not just the guitar if you get my drift. (*-BTW Marty Wilson-Piper uses customised RIC 12 guitars that are strung in the traditional 12 string manner a la the first RIC 12 prototype produced by Rickenbacker that was gifted to Suze Arden by F.C. Hall. George Harrison got the second one which was the first one strung in the Rickenbacker manner.)
-Jangle and Chime can be enhanced even further by dropping the tuning by half a semi-tone so that the guitar is tuned into the key of Eb. That causes the strings to resonate even longer.
-FINALLY, the narrow neck of the stock Rickenbacker 12 string guitar necessitates playing modified chord structures. Fretting chords on a RIC 12 requires a bit of experimentation and "invention" to get the best out of it. Jim McGuinn explained this decades ago and it seems to have been lost on a lot of modern players. Perhaps that's why many of them struggle with the neck.
As for the Danelectro 12s ... they are a different beast. It is not fair to compare them with RIC 12s. They serve different purposes. One thing for sure though, the RIC 12 costs a lot more. But if the time comes to sell it. You will make money on it. Probably can't say that about the Dano or most other Electric 12 strings.The closest thing I've heard to a RIC 12 are Greco's replica RG-95 / RG-120 models and the more recent Eastwood Classic 12. In both cases the instruments were customised with a new nut to mimic the standard stringing configuration of a RIC 12.
Cheers from the Land Down Under.
I’m in heaven. I adore that tone so much. Thank you for doing this video. Super enjoyable!
I have a 2001ish 360 6 string, natural maple finish and i absolutely love it! Feels great, has its own sound, action is amazing, etc.
I play in a cover band, and one of the guitarriests has a Rickenbacker like this one. The sound is fantastic, but other 12 strings sounds quite like it. But the sound of a 12 string is unbelieveable nice!!
1993 Plus and 660 models have a wider nut width(1-3/4) with better string spacing. If you have a “standard”(1-5/8) neck width, you can buy a replacement nut that spreads the strings out across the board and brings the string pairs closer together to improve the string spacing.
As always, a great review.
I’ve watched your content for some time, but just subscribed.
I appreciate how thoroughly you approach your reviews. I also like how you are able to honestly point out negatives without resorting to bashing. Very level-headed, polite, and informative.
I’m a luthier by trade. Let me tell ya, Rickenbacker designers literally set out to make the most awkward, backwards, impractical guitar on the planet. And they succeeded. No one likes to work on Rickenbackers….their bridges are simply ridiculous. If you take the chrome cover off, the saddles will rip your hand to shreds….because they align the saddles at the factory, and SHARPEN THEM on a belt sander! No joke!! When you adjust them for intonation….another feat of unimaginable frustration, you create a series of staggered razor sharp teeth!!
Don’t get me started on the bizarre control wiring, or truss rod adjustment. And when you finally get it all sorted, you have to crunch your fingers together tightly just to fit your fingertips on the fretboard. It makes my head hurt just thinking about it.
Thanks for the review Phillip.
I have a similar guitar and have several 'fixes' to improve the instrument.
Firstly, ditch the six string bridge and get a twelve string bridge. On the guitar I have each string has its own intonation length which a six string bridge can't compensate for. I could tune the guitar perfectly in the open position then move to the twelfth fret and boy was the string pair intonation out. With a twelve string bridge it's in tune at any fret.
Secondly, I reordered the strings on the G, B and E strings so that the tuning pegs acted the same. The vertical pegs are basically the same as on a six string, but this all changes for the G, B and E strings. I found it confusing so I altered the strings and it all works together, no having to think about which tuner to reach for.
Thirdly, I found Rickenbacker support in Australia to be extremely poor. I took my guitar to rehearsal one time and opened the lid and was met with a mass of strings. The tailpiece had fatigued and everything let loose. I contacted the local agent and ordered a replacement tailpiece. Rickenbacker have a policy that you must hand in the failed tailpiece before you can order a replacement. Whilst I was waiting, I bought a third party tailpiece and fitted that. No, it didn't look that good compared to the original, but it works and most importantly I could play the instrument.
Now comes the 'fun' part, it too a whole year to receive that replacement tailpiece. No way out of it, that is extremely poor service by Rickenbacker.
As a side note, the tailpiece seems to be die cast. Yes, it's shiny on the top, but rather rough underneath. That poor tailpiece is under a lot of tension. I would have expected a more physically robust tailpiece.
For what it's worth.
Good, honest review. I really want one but have never played one.
The “broom stick” neck might be an issue for me.
The 660/6, 660/12, 1993 Plus/12, and the discontinued 650 models are a wider 1.75” nut.
Phil, excellent. I know an old timer who got his on his big trip to California in the early 70's. the 6 string though 360-6 or whatever. 1964 model Maple neck. Heavenly action play like butter living in the blue plush and tweed case that in came in this whole time. He said he bought it before the Beatles got to the states and it was not very popular instrument at the time like G or F.
got to noodle it for a minute. the real deal. Never dis the Rick'
In the 70s I played a ric bass. Loved that bass it was mapleglow and had very fast action and a great sound.
I have the 6-string "mapleglo" model, that I bought for $800 - it still had the hang tags on it. It was a gift and the owner never got into playing guitar - lucky for me! I really enjoyed your review. The neck isn't as much of an issue for me, but it definitely is different and takes some getting used to. Maybe you could do a comparison of the 6 and 12 string 360 at some point? One thing about the Rick - at least mine - is that the build quality is excellent. I only have that one Rick... but the workmanship is perfect. I have several Gibsons and Fenders, and they're great, but the build quality of the Rick is a cut above, even better than my Custom Shop LP. Thanks again for a great review.