Rickenbacker 330/12 12 String

1997 model (marked 4-14 in the electronics cavity under the pickguard) made in USA. Semihollowbody 12-string electric guitar. 24 frets on an unbound lacquered rosewood fingerboard with dot position markers. 5-piece maple and walnut laminated neck with dual truss rods. Schaller tuners. Ric 12-strings are "reverse strung", with the lower-pitched string of each course being on the bass side (opposite of "normal" 12-string convention). 6-saddle bridge, though a 12-saddle bridge is available as a retrofit (Ric part #00821). Semi-hollowbody with maple top, sides and back in gloss "Fireglo" (red outer fading to natural center sunburst) with "slash" f-hole on the bass side. 2 high-gain single coil "rivet top" pickups with 2 volume, 2 tone, 3-way pickup selector, and a blend pot (works when the switch is in the center "both" position). Includes moulded hardshell case. More detail on features may be found at www.rickenbacker.com/us/33012.htm. I have made one modification since purchase: having Lindy Fralin rewind the pickups to a lower impediance (dc resistance lowered from 11K+ ohms to 3.1K ohms) to capture more closely the traditional '60s "jangle" sound associated with Rics. (For a good example of the sound of modern Ric pickups on a 12-string, listen to "Walking Away a Winner" and "Streets of Your Town" from Kathy Mattea's "Walking Away a Winner" project.) Rating is for the instrument after having Lindy rewind the pickups; previous rating was an "8".

Ric 12-strings are "niche" guitars - they only do a few things, but do them exceptionally well. They have a unique voice and will definately get you out of the mainstream. The guitar has a beautiful acoustic tone. Before having Lindy Fralin rewind the pickups the guitar (when plugged in) had a very strong midrange, distorted easily, and lacked the high-end sparkle associated with the traditional jangly sound. After Lindy worked his magic, the guitar has all of the jangle you could ask for. I agree with Bjorn Roth and others that to really bring out the classic Ric sound a compressor is a must; I use either my amp's built-in compressor or an original MXR Dynacomp. The amp is also a strong part of the equation. On my Line 6 Flextone the guitar likes the "Blackface", Vox, and Matchless settings best now. Interestingly enough, I can still get the strong midrangy sound (less distortion) by using the neck pickup and the "Brit Blues" (Marshall JTM-45) setting. How Lindy did that I don't know because the physics associated with pickup design and winding that favor one sound tend to exclude the other. So now I have a two-trick pony, and it does both tricks extremely well. Rating before Lindy's rewind was a "6".

Rics are very well made: they don't have to release vintage reissues because they pretty much build them the same way they always have (things like 24 vs. 21 fret necks excepted). The neck does take some getting used to, as it is only 1 5/8 inches wide at the nut (which is at the narrow end of 6-string neck widths today) and has a profile which is different than anything else. The profile is hard to describe, the best I can do is to say that it is the opposite of a v-shape and has a flat back with rounded square shoulders. The instrument stays in tune well, but like all 12-strings a good electronic tuner is a must. Other reviewers have commented about the difficulty changing strings; it really isn't impossible provided you lay the guitar down on its back, use both hands, and have a pair of needle-nose pliars handy to help get strings into their slots on the underside of the "R" tailpiece. The secret is to keep tension on the string once the ball end is in its slot in the tailpiece. I wouldn't change all of the strings at once, because the bridge and tailpiece will probably fall off if you do. Also, the guitar seems to develop various buzzes from time to time but I've never heard any come through the amplifier. Be patient, they will go away in a few days or weeks, probably to be replaced by others which won't come through the amplifier either. In short, if my guitar is any example Ric 12-strings are built like brick outhouses but have eccentric personalities and you just have to learn to live with - and laugh at - their idiosyncrasies.

The guitar is solid and can be depended on, though semihollowbodies in general won't take the abuse a solid body will. Given that it is a "niche" instrument and I'd use it only on a few songs, I'd gig without a backup.

Have never dealt with Rickenbacker, so I can't say.

I have been playing 30 years (I refuse to grow up!) and finally am financially secure enough to start building the collection of guitars I always wanted. I don't collect "collector's pieces", but good working instruments I can use in the studio, in church, and enjoy at home. If I had to replace the Ric I'd either get another 33012 and have Lindy do another pickup rewind, or get a vintage piece for the sake of the sound. If I went the latter route, I'd look real hard for a model 1993 (the Rose Morris export version of the 33012, also known as a 330S/12), though they are so rare I probably would say "that's too much to pay" if I did find one and go the former route.

Made in the USA, Nov 1966. I bought it new in Sept 1968. Semi-hollow body carved from single maple blank. Twenty-one fret, dual truss rod neck.
Two "toaster" pickups. Three way pickup selector switch for neck/both/bridge; vol & tone for each pickup, plus blend control that seems to determine which pickup is dominant (and by how much) when the selector switch is in the both position.
This is the classic Rickenbacker 12-string with an incredibly small neck. Jetglow with R-tailpiece & unique Rickenbacker 12-string tuner arrangement.
This is of course a 10, otherwise I wouldn't have kept it for 30+ years

Byrds - Mr. Tamborine Man, Turn Turn Turn. Can you say "Jangle"? Everyone will tell you you have to have a Vox AC-30 to get the ultimate Rickenbacker sound, but I use either Super or Vibrolux Reverbs... and of course a compressor.
Rich, full, bright sounding. Everytime I pick it up, I relive the baggage car scene from Hard Day's night. You can do anything you want with this guitar, despite some people's conception of Ric's as a one-trick-pony.
Likes/dislikes? How about love? I loved this on the moment I picked it up, and it's never disappointed me.

Rickenbacker always has, and probably always will set the standard for Made in the USA QUALITY!

Rock solid. I've had it 30 years.
Would I gig it without a backup? No! Why should I? I have another Ric 12.

Due to a current backlog of orders (about 6 mos at the time I'm writing), Rickenbacker does ONLY warranty repairs.
When I did send it back to them several years ago for some work, Rickenbacker performed like champs.
The warranty if 5 years to the original owner (from the date of delivery to the original Rickenbacker dealer). This sounds like it might be a problem, but Ric's seem to be in pretty good demand, and they don't seem to linger for a long time in some dealers back room.
OTOH, Rickenbacker has its own newsgroup, alt.guitar.rickenbacker, where you can find expert advice from fellow Ric enthusiasts, including Rickenbacker Enthusiast No.1, John Hall CEO of Rickenbacker. Try getting an answer from the president of Fender or Gibson in alt.guitar!

I've been playing for 30 years, although I'd consider myself a reasonably competent rhythm guitarist. I've several other guitars, including Gibson & Ovation accoustics, Strats, and a Rickenbacker 360/12. I don't collect, I only buy the guitars I want to play.
If it were lost or stolen, I'd be devastated. This one is irreplacable, although I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Rickenbacker, and hope to do so again in the future.

1998, Made in the USA. Two volume, two tone, one 'color' knob for balancing between the two pickups, three-way selector switch. Maple body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, semi-hollow body. Came with a gorgeous hardshell case that looks like James Bond's airline kit, cleaning cloth. This was one sweet deal.

Listening to this baby through a nice amp is like watching the sun rise through a jar of honey. Bright, sweet, warm, glowing-golden sound, the likes of which I've never heard before. This is what 12-strings should sound like!

No complaints. Quality control was excellent, guitar was well put together and not a single thing wrong with it that I could find.

I'm a little worried about the sound hole -- it seems the finish is a little rough there, and there's a possibility for chipping here. Since I don't tend to brush up against it when I play, I'm not really worried, but it's still a concern. The guitar feels solid, and I've seen what Ric's can withstand -- I'm sure this one's fine.

Don't know, haven't talked to them.

I've owned this one for a month, and I love it. I'd always dreamed of owning a Rickenbacker, and now I do.
Folks, if you want an electric 12-string, this guitar's for you. End of discussion.

I purchased new in 1997. I will not repeat what the previous reveiwer said. I will say that the hollow body adds a great deal to the overall sound. If you liked the early Beatles or Byrds stuff, this is the guitar for you. I find that it stays in tune...which is unusual for a 12 string. Mine is a black finish and looks similar to the John Lennon 6 string. I also like the blend knob that moves the sound between the pickups. But I also recommend using a compressor. (unless you buy the 370 Roger Mcuinn model which comes with a built in compressor)

This guitar has a unique sound that no other guitar can match. The wonderful full ringing sound is unmistakeable if you have ever heard it once.

Set up from the factory was perfect. I didn't change a thing

Only had a year now....but no problemo.

Been playing for 30 years. I have an old Kay acoustic 12 string...a Martin D-35 which is 10 years old and only gets better with age, which I thought was impossible since it was perfect from day one.....I have another 6 string acoustic......and I have a 1976 Telecaster Deluxe...I think they only made them for 8 years.....If the Ric was stolen I would buy it again or the 370 if I could find one. They seem to be hard to get. The worst thing about this guitar is changing the strings.....Oh yea, I recommend a video tape for new Ric 12 string users= THE 12 STRING GUITAR OF ROGER McGUINN. Put out by Homespun tapes 1-800-33-tapes. Just happen to have it near by so I can give the phone number. No, I have no connection with them, I just liked the tape

My 330/12 is a 1978, made in California as all other RICs. It's all maple, Fireglo (kind of red-to-pale-read burst) 24 frets, and no bindings. It has two hi-gain pickups, and an ordinary three-way switch. Four volume/tone knobs plus a mix knob, so that you can blend between the pickups when the switch is in the middle.
The neck is narrow and has a rounded profile. It takes a while to get used to the very small distance between strings.
The body is hollow, as on all 3xx models, and the weight is just right, although it is just a bit neck-heavy.
The bridge is a standard 6-saddle, which makes intonation a bit off, but it can be replaced with a 12-saddle. I removed the bridge cover so you can damp the strings with your right hand.
The guitar came with the original hardcase, and a RIC cleaning cloth.

This guitar is for jangle! Think of the Byrds, and Beatles of 1964. You need a compressor (I use a BOSS CS3), but then you're off. My amp is a Marshall JTM45 Bluesbreaker re-issue, it's actually more fender-ish than later Marshalls.
When using the bridge pickup only, the sound is very trebly. In the middle position, it has a much fuller sound. The neck alone is rather useless, it sounds very muffled. But with the mix knob, it's easy to vary the sound.

Since I bought the guitar used, and it was nearly 20 years old, it was in good condition. The action is okay, but the frets are a little worn in places.

I've used this guitar live, and it worked well. A problem could be that it's a bit hard to tune, and if it goes out of tune on stage, it can be a little tricky. Use a digital tuner if you can.
The strap buttons are non-locking, but work OK.

I've been playing for ten years, and this guitar really added another dimension to playing. It does definitely not suit all styles, but no other guitar sounds like this. I would only trade it for a Rick 360 or 370.