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I have a new Ric 330-12 string on the way .Should be here Thursday.Anyone have string pref ? On my six string Ric's I use Pyramid Flats. Any trouble tuning or keeping in tune? I have a Peterson strobe that has not let me down yet. What about the 12 saddle bridge for intonation? ...........Anyone?

mark1 wrote:I have a new Ric 330-12 string on the way .Should be here Thursday.Anyone have string pref ? On my six string Ric's I use Pyramid Flats. Any trouble tuning or keeping in tune? I have a Peterson strobe that has not let me down yet. What about the 12 saddle bridge for intonation? ...........Anyone?

First off, there is a 6 string saddle on the 330/12, unless you bought used and someone wisely made the switch.

Having owned 2 Ric 12's (a 330 and 360) I have to say, and this is just my opinion, be prepared to be tuning between every song. There is just no way that those things can keep in tune. They tried to fit 12 strings in the space made for 6, so the neck is too narrow for most people. The "R" tail piece is held in place via string tension and that doesn't help with the intonation. Good luck re-stringing, my advice for that is to start with the octave strings first then go to the regualr ones. This is one instance that locking tuners would come in handy but I do not think there is a company that can make them for the octave strings of a Ric.

There are some things you can do to make it more playable, like getting a wider nut, a 12 saddle adjustable bridge but that is up to you.

Good luck

I have a '67 360-12 Fireglo that I've tried everything from Slinkys to Pyramids to whatever the flavor of the month was, but recently I've been using the standard Rickenbacker flatwound set. They have the tone and feel that just seems to work best for me right now.

While I can agree with some of vjf's complaints, I've not had that many tuning problems with mine. The 12-saddle bridge will improve intonation.

Just be extremely careful when adjusting the neck on this or any Rickenbacker.

Sorry to come off negative. I didn't mean to rain on anybody's NGD but everytime I hear the name Rickenbacker I remember those guitars I owned. I even had a 330/6 and that one wasn't too bad but those 2 12 strings were a nightmare.

Why Rickenbacker would use the 6 string saddles on their 12 string still puzzles me .

I never had a tuning problem with any of my six string Ric's. I do want to get the twelve saddle bridge. It makes more sence than six but at $130.00 or so It might have to wait As far as strings go Rickenbacker calls them ( compressed ) Is that their term for flat wound?

mark1 wrote:I never had a tuning problem with any of my six string Ric's. I do want to get the twelve saddle bridge. It makes more sence than six but at $130.00 or so It might have to wait As far as strings go Rickenbacker calls them ( compressed ) Is that their term for flat wound?

Would this work?
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_ta ... uitar.html

I have a 450/12 but I did it up like Fred Smith, strung as 6 and put humbuckers in. It's not very good at staying in tune but I did change the bridge to an ABR1 and it helped a lot.

I always assumed that the 6-saddle bridge was cheaper and they tended to be a company steeped in tradition, so that's the way it was done back in the 60's, that's the way we do it now.

And yes, compressed is their version of flatwounds. They really aren't wound with a flat or tape winding, but a round winding wire that is then compressed to a flat shape.

VJF1968..I'm looking for a bridge that fits the same footprint as the orig. The stew Mac looks like a bottom load ,not a top load, and would need a lot to make it fit. But thanks for the effort. I appreciate it.



Mr. Bill....After I posted I found the info. on how they have it done ( Ric has some one make their strings for them ) The strings are put through a roller system that (they say) makes the string smoother and more uniform for the entire length and improve intonation