Rickenbacker 360/12V64 Reissue

I purchased this guitar c.1991 so it has the same features as described elsewhere except they hadn't gotten around to going back to the silver case so mine came with standard black case. Since I'm not a finger pickin' guy (and since the strings are so very close together) I've had the strings reversed so when you pick or strum downwards the first string you hit in each pair is the high one--which, after all, is what makes a 12-string sound like a 12-string. All other 12-strings are set up this way, anyhow. I personally love the feel of the laquered fingerboard. Yet another Rickenbacker oddity is that there seems to be a disagreement as to what the fingerboard is actually made of. If it is rosewood, its the lightest I've ever seen. If it is pecan wood, its (I think) the only guitar that uses this wood. Whatever it is, its gotten lighter over the years. If you look at pictures of the Byrds or Beatles you'll see the inlays stand out against the dark wood. Who knows. The slotted head, while unbelievably cool looking, is actually a horrific pain should you be unlucky enough to have to change strings. The "trapeze" tailpiece is not as attractive as the beautiful "R" style but the real drawback is--incredibly--it has only 6 holes. Yes friends, 12 strings anchored in 6 holes. So if you're gonna go with the trapeze, there's a former Rickenbacker employee ("Dr. Rick") who sells a trapeeze with 12 holes, which is worth 100 times what it costs.

It sounds like a Rickenbacker 12 string--which is to say, great. But honestly, 75% of what makes a 12-string sound the way it does is the fact that its got 12 strings! I adore my Rick and can even put up with the ridiculously narrow neck but I've played other 12 strings that, with a little chorus and compression sound pretty similar.

Again, the neck is simply too narrow. When Roger McGuinn has to play an A chord using 2 fingers, you realize how silly this is. But as another reviewer noted, Rickenbacker isn't exactly known for innovation. Hands down, the Fireglo color has to be the most exquisite guitar finish in existence. You can take all the boutique guitars with their "10" tops, flamed bubinga wood and other nonesense. None looks as beautiful as the Rickenbacker and I am often struck at how lousy some of the exotic woods sound. My guitar came with a few tiny checks or cracks where the neck binding is, but at the time Ricks were so hard to get, I wasn't gonna fuss. Action was fine. The 6-saddle bridge is, by definition, impossible to intonate but you can buy a 12-saddle for around $80. BTW, I have noticed that the same model Rick can vary quite a bit in terms of color, absence of flaws and especially, weight--so shop around.

I gather that one change Rickenbacker HAS made is a stronger neck. If you're old enough to remember when the Beatles hit and everybody had to have a Rick, there were some problems with neck warping. As for the finish, etc, Ricks are not made to be smashed by zero talents like Pete Townsend (If Allan Holdsworth wants to smash one I'll give him some slack). So Ricks are not Strats but if you don't throw yours down a flight of stairs it should be fine.

A quirky guitar made by a quirky company. Even having been there and meeting John Hall, there's still something...(theme fromTwilight Zone) I can't put my finger on. I could go on but let's leave it at that. My one customer service experience was strange, too. The guitar comes with this big warranty tag with a gold seal--the sort of thing one would like to hold onto. So I send a letter giving the guitar's s/n and date of purchase, asking if this will suffice for the warranty (leagaly, all you need is your bill of sale, right?). I get a letter from Teresa, saying "No, that's not ok. If you want a warranty, you have to turn in the warranty card." I'm not angry but I sense this weirdness...maybe its just my imagination.

I've been playing since Blue Cheer was hot. Besides the Rickenbacker I have a few Strats, an Ibanez and a Taylor. Got a rather nice Peavey tube amp. I won't bore you with a list of pedals. I'm embarrased to say, what I love most about the Rickenbacker is how incredibly good it looks. Next comes the sound which is stellar--however--what I hate is that the neck is so narrow which makes almost any other 12-string easier to play. What can I say? This is the guitar I wanted from the first time I heard the Byrds doing Feel A Whole Lot Better, but in those days it was around $400 so I could only dream....

As the others have mentioned. Flame top (the reddish color).

Sounded great except for it was somewhat tight feeling playing open position chords, i.e. C or A. Could not get a great feel there, maybe I wasn't used to it.

Sounded great however with that chorus effect.

I bought from Witchita Band Instruments (E.M. Shorts). I told them if it had any scratches or dings, don't send it out. Guess what? It had a major scratch under the plastic piece on the head stock and a touched up ding on the heel of guitar. Very disappointing and extremely disappointing. Ending sending it back and ordered a new one.

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So after ordering new one, I waited six months. I called EM Shorts and they said, "Hey, didn't you get our letter?" turns out they no longer do business with RIck and were glad about it. Said Rick's service was poor, etc.. So I got name of their contact at Rick and I called him. He basically passed me on to someone else who said, "You can buy one from another dealer." thanks, buck. I ordered this guitar two days before that quit taking orders at end of Dec. 2000. they would not honor my order and could care less. Sucks! I'm gonna buy a carvin AE 185-12 instead. Rick's are cool, but I won't buy from people jackin' me around. So neither EM Shorts or Rick cared to help me.

Got to give it a two since I now don't have a replacement and EM SHorts or didn't want my business and could care less. What a shame!

My guitar was made in 1998. This guitar is set up with vintage style hardware as used on George's 1st Ricky 12, although the pick-ups are hotter than the original toasters from the '60s, and are way too much midrangey. I had the PU's unwound to '60s spec, and it sounds PERFECT. The current reissue toasters are now made to original spec.

As I said before, with the PU's unwound to '60s spec, it sounds just the way a Ricky 12 should sound, particularly when using the bridge PU only. This is an awesome-sounding guitar!!

The 6-saddle bridge is impossible to intonate perfectly, which is frustrating. I use a good tuner to get the main strings in tune, and then tune the octaves by ear. Sometimes the open strings will be in tune, but sound "off" when fretted - this is where you have to find a good compromise when tuning. I've heard that the use of Pyramid flatwounds fix the intonation problem, but they didn't do the trick for me, and the guage that Pyramid offers (.011) is too heavy to play comfortably. The Fireglo finish is good, but a bit more "candy apple" than the old Rics, and not as nice as the '84 330 I own. The pickguard and headstock are clearly not shaped exactly like the '60s Ricks, either. Supposedly, the soon-to-be-released 360/12c64 is a more accurate reissue, but it carries a very high list price. (You might as well buy a real '60s Rick!) The vintage silver case is exactly like the old ones, as far as I can tell.

This guitar has stayed in tune remarkably well in live situations, which is a blessing, considering what a pain they are to tune. QC at Rick isn't as good as it used to be, I'd say. In the three years I've had it, a strap button has regularly come unscrewed, and I lost one of the screws holding the knobs in place, even though I never mess with the knobs when playing.

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For the '60s 12-string jangle there is no other choice than a Rickenbacker w/toaster pickups. I wish I could afford one of the 360/12c64's when they come out, which supposedly has corrected all the vintage details.

This particular guitar was manufactured in May of '99, but I just purchased it in April 01. Contrary to the last review, the Ric warranty clearly states 5 YEARS from date of manufature, not 6 months. Rics are made in Santa Ana, CA. The 360/12v64 is a reissue of the model used by many of the rock groups of the early to mid 60s, most notibly the Beatles, Byrds and Beachboys. The body of this semi-acoustic is all maple. Neck is also maple with laminated rosewood fretboard. The finish is Ric's stunning Fire-glo - as a Harrison fan it was really the only choice - with beautiful wood grain pattern below the deep clearcoat top finish. Bridge, tuners, and of course the pickups are all Ric vintage reissue parts. I believe Ric uses Schaller tuners on their current models. These may be Schallers, but they are stamped Ric Classic. At first I thought they were too easy to adjust, but I've had very little problem with this guitar staying in tune. The guitar has separate volume and tone controls for both pickups, a select switch to move from bridge, combo, or neck pickups and there is a master blend knob for fine tuning the mix. All Rics come with a hard shell case. Newer Rics have a custom fit interior molded to the shape of the guitar. The vintage reissues come with a vintage case. Difficult to say which is the better case in terms of protention. My vintage case sans guitar is pretty dog gone heavy, so I'm not too concerned. One word of warning... make sure if you buy a vintage reissue you actually get the reissue case. The sales man tried to place my in one of the standard new cases and the headstock would not fit into the molding. At first he maintained that all Ric headstocks were the same and that this and the 330 and 360v64 sixes would all take the same case - WRONG! When another salesman produced the vintage case the problem was solved. I would not have purchased the guitar with a case you had to force shut. I've had the guitar almost a month and love it. There is no sound quite like it, no guitar looks quite like it, and I plan to never sell it.

Our band is mainly a 60s and early 70s cover band, so the Ric 12 fits perfectly into what we do. Certainly on the bridge PU there is the distinctive Ric chime the Beatles and Byrds made popular. Blending both PUs actually makes the over sound a bit louder and slightly mellower than I would've expected from things I'd previously read. Running on the neck PU produces an almost acoutic 12 sound. Ten years ago I had a 12 string acoustic and this setting sounds just like that guitar did. I run the Ric through a Peavey Delta Blues 210 tube amp with no effects save for a built in boost and gain switch that are really better suited for my six string. Nevertheless, the Ric produces a very interesting sound with just a touch of distortion.

Fit and finish at absolutely first rate. One tuner key seems to have a loose feel to it. I don't know quite how to explain it, but it apparently has no negative impact on either tuning or keeping the guitar in tune. Each pair of strings is adjustabme for height. I've read some comments that people have switched out the bridge for one that permits individual string height adjustment, but I guess my feeling is the point of having a vintage guitar is having it set up the way it was originally. The overall string action seems a bit high for my liking and I may lower it a bit at some point, but there is a difference in playing effort between and 6 and 12 and I'm going to give it a bit more time.

The way I view this guitar may be different from many people. It is a vintage guitar intended to have a certain look and sound. Like buying a sportscar compared to a mini-van, this guitar may well require more attention to detail and routine care simply because of what it is. I have no reason at all to suspect this guitar won't be durable and dependable for live gigging if you treat it like a fine instrument, but if you are looking for something that some drunk can knock over without damage then buy something else. George Harrison toured extensively with his through 64 and 65 and used it again 20 years later to record songs for his Cloud 9 album. I'd say that's pretty durable. We have certain songs in our set that just don't call for the sound of a 12, so I will always have a six along for those, but this guitar is up to the task of being a primary instrument for me.

Too soon to tell. I've heard both good and bad comments about customer service from Ric, but then I've heard the same about Epiphone and service from some Fender dealers. Ric is very particular about their service and I think a big part of that involves doing it in house.

I've been playing guitar for roughly 35 years. The Beatles first appearance on Ed Sullivan was my inspiration, so this guitar seemed a natural for me. I also own a 1968 Vox Spitfire (strat style) six string (also reviewed here) and run both through the previously mentioned Peavey amp (new last year). If this guitar were lost or stolen I think I would not hesitate a moment in buying another. I've always loved the sound of a 12 string and miss my Epiphone 12 acoustic for that very reason. The sight sound of the Ric 12 is like a time capsule. You are buying an instrument and a piece of history. I don't know that there is anything I hate about it, but then I haven't changed strings yet!! I did compare this guitar, but not with any other 12s. My intention was to buy a Ric 330, which also has a great sound, or a 360v64 six string. The 330 I played had both the Ric ring, but a surprising mellow tone when played on combo PUs. But when I saw the 360/12v64 and realized I could get a 12, and Beatle guitar at that, for less than $200 more than the 330 I couldn't pass it up. Maybe in a year or so after I pay down this transaction I will likely look at a 330 to become my primary 6 string. A 12 is not for everyone and would not fit in every band's lineup, but for the sound, the Beatle/60s vibe, and the price the Ric 360/12v64 is a tremendous value.

This is a 2000 model I purchased. it has the usual Ricky controls and toaster pickups to give it that Beatlesque sound. As always Rickenbacker has many beautiful guitars. This one is in Fireglo, and has a bit of a flame to it, which I never saw on a Rickenbacker. I was truly struck by it's beauty. I like the trapeze bridge on this baby, it's easier to change the 12 strings. I used to own the old 360/12WB which was the non-vintage issue of the same guitar, and that "R" tailpiece made it a bit difficult to replace the strings.

I like the jangly sound of these pickups. I had the non-vintage 12-string a few years back and the newer pickups with the black pole pieces didn't quite give it that Rick sound I was looking for.

As always Rick guitars are awesome looking! The gripe I have with Rickenbacker is that they had 50 years to fix all the little imperfections they have with their manufacturing of guitars. The model I got had the 2 truss rods curved up at the opening on the headstock, under the nameplate. My guitar tech told me it wouldn't harm the neck.. After calling Rickenbacker, I found out the warranty is good for 6 months, FROM WHEN THE GUITAR WAS MADE! So in their eyes, if the thing was hung up on a store's wall for a year, they didn't care. I explaind to them I just bought it, so they gave me 2 weeks to ship the guitar back to them to fix. I didn't have a shipping box mind you. ANother gripe I have is that this was the 3rd guitar model I bought in a space of 4 months, after returning the others. It seems to me that Rickenbacker's quality control supervisor was out to lunch when they packed my guitars. The necks were so warped you could have used it for bow and arrow practice.....Anyone got an apple?

I think Ricks are so fragile it isn't even funny!

I hate the support people @ Rickenbacker. They think they're on top of the world. Ask them for info on new models, instead of sending you some literature, they read it to ya over the phone!

If it isn't a Rick vintage, don't buy it.....These new Ricks sound horrible!

This is a new one a 200 model. It's like taking a ride back to the train scene in "Hard Days Night". This guitar looks sounds and tastes just like a Ric should. 12 string, single coils, two truss rods. FireGlo the only color for a Ric of this kind!

Sound? Yes is has it! Let's face it if your interested in this guitar you want it to sound like The Beatles or The Byrds and it does it well.

When you're not used to the Ric neck it's a bit hard to grasp. Tight fit on the strings so some chords are hard to finger. Once you become used to it, it's not that bad. Large hands will complicate the matter.

I play live with it. It's a bit of trouble to tune (takes a while) and is subject to temp. changes so it has to be tuned often. The finish is great and all the hardware seems to hold up.

Called them one time and they were not very helpful. The case was damaged on this model and I asked them to help me with the dealer to get it replaced and they basically blew me off. After insulting me on the phone.

The guitar is great. I like it very much. Even with the bad taste that Rickenbacker support left, I would still buy it over again.

Purchased new in January 1998 at Guitar Center, Lawndale, California. Color is Fireglo. 2 "vintage-style" single coil pickups, silver vintage hardshell case. This is a very nearly dead-on copy of the original with the following exceptions (spoken from direct experience): The neck profile if thicker, particularly at the nut and the body has additional bracing. Has dual "mono" output jack like original (no Rick-O-Sound), large triangle inlay (across the width of the fingerboard), body binding front & back etc. The body in particular is very impressive being all maple. But they should put a 12-saddle bridge on this. The 6-way makes exact intonation impossible. My other gripe (which for cosmetic reasons I can't change) is the flat tailpiece. It really makes re-stringing this beast a nightmare.

I have used Rickenbacker 12-Strings for 33 years professionally and it is particularly useful for my work with "Beatlemania". Obviously, it nails George Harrison's 12-string sound the the letter. But one caveat: you really must use the guitar with a good compressor and noise gate to get the best results. I recommend either the MXR DynaComp or Boss CS-3 and the Boss NS-2. This will give you the sustain found on Beatles and Byrds records and liven up the guitar's output considerably. The sound is quite bright but that's it's signature. There isn't too much variety available but that's not what you want it for. I use this guitar with the Line 6 FlextoneHD/2x12Cab setup and it works quite well although I also recommend any Vox AC30 or the Fender Vibrolux. A Twin is really too bright with it. I use the treble pickup mostly and occasionally mix with a little middle position blend. I also recommend a good electronic tuner. It really makes the process go quicker! Tune this up from the "inside-out": that is, tune the inner strings first (e.g. the D strings and the G strings). The move outwards. This helps stabilize the twin truss rod neck for longer life.

These guitars are very idiosyncratic. Tight fingerboard, low frets. I'm quite used to it after so long. Roger McGuinn has adapted by modifying the shapes and fingering of certain chords and I've followed his lead. A look at his video will clarify. The finish is incredible. Rick always does great work in that area.

Rickenbackers are very touchy to weather changes. In all my years of using them, I've always watched their necks warp. So very proper care and constant maintenance is necessary. But worth it. The guitar will last a long time if cared for. The strap buttons are very solid. I always use it without backup although it's not the only guitar I perform with. I do recommend using Rickenbacker's house brand strings. They seem to make a difference in the tone. This instrument is one of the best examples of craftsmanship available for a moderate price.

I've always enjoyed a close relationship with the company. They've always been there for me, no matter what the problem. John Hall and his staff have been able to repair whatever was wrong. The warranty is 5 years. But the company is very, very back-ordered these days so "custom" orders which were once so much a part of my plans are almost out of the question unless you have the patience of Job.

I've been playing guitar for 35 years (33 with Ricks) so I can safely say the following: you want a 12 String electric? Rickenbacker is the only choice. I've occasionally used Vox Phantom 12-String Guitars and they're OK but nothing delivers the goods like the Rick. If it were lost or stolen, I'd buy another in a minute. I've probably owned 30 or more of these guitars over the years (wish I still had them now!). This model is superior in appearance and sound to the regular 360/12 in my opinion. The only Rick 12 better than this is the McGuinn Limited Edition and those are rather pricey now. But if you're into the Beatles- this is where it happens!

Bought new in October 1998- fireglo, single coil vintage pickups, silver vintage hardshell case. Supposedly a copy of the original 1964 in looks and sound. I've never seen or played an original 1964 version, so I can't validate that bold claim.

The sound is great-good for Byrds and the few Beatle songs recorded using one. I use it mainly with a 1983 Fender Concert set on full treble,presence and bright turned on-needed for that Byrds sound. I mainly use the bridge pickup, ocassionally blending in the fingerboard pickup. The Beach Boys even used one of these guitars for their few 12 string sounds.

The action and intonation from the factory was terrible. The trussrods were so loose the bridge kept having to be adjusted until it was all the way down. After tightening the trussrods about 5 times over a long period of time, the neck is finally good and I was able to raise the bridge up to get it away from the bridge pickup. This needs to be done over a long period to allow the neck to settle in to each adjustment. The fit and finish and materials used are excellent, especially for the price. The case is excellent-vintage silver.

Judging by the good quality materials used, I'd say it should last a lifetime with proper care, as long as the poor factory settings are taken care of early on. I've noticed used Rics usually have very tarnished tuners, so I'd recommend using the Ric polishing rag to clean everything up after each use.

It has a 5 year warranty that I hope to never use.

I've been playing since the mid 1950's. I bought it for the sound and it's unique looks. I've have a near mint ES335-12 Gibson that I wouldn't trade for 10 Rics. I probably wouldn't replace it, but I probably won't sell it either.

1993 reissue of the 1964 Harrison 360-12 guitar. Maple body, maple neck with walnut laminate wings, Jetglo finish, 12-string, dual mono output jacks, vintage tuners, rosewood fingerboard with sharktooth inlays (full across, I think it's better than the smaller ones the Rick has on their contemporary axes), Slash "f-hole", body binding front and back, along with the neck. White 2-level pickguard, 2 vintage reissue single coil pickups, trapeze tailpiece, 2 tone/2 vol and 1 mixer knob. Silver case. Really narrow neck, but that is pure Rickenbacker anyway. A copy of one of the best 12-strings ever made.
The scale is, I think, 25", but I could be wrong.

The sound of "Help", "Anytime at All", "Call My Name", right at your fingertips. But, of course, it doesn't sound exactly like George's. I've used it with Fender and Vox and Lee Jackson. The pickups will hum and feedback (the whole guitar literally comes alive). The sound is pure single coil, very bright. The stringing of the 12 is such that the octave strings are below the normal strings (i.e., if you have the guitar strapped on and you are looking at your feet), so it always sounds trebly on the upstroke. The best setting is neck pickup on mid-volume, 1/2 tone, and the bridge pickup on full volume, with full treble. The more treble, the better.
I've always wished that Rick would get a 12-string that has humbuckers (i.e., like a ES335-12, but without the goofy headstock and imbalance), but they are too retro for that. Even their humbucking pickups sound single-coil.

Amazing finish. Glossy black, leave the mirror at home ("I can see myself!"). Really neurotic attention to detail -- I've yet to see a new Rick at any dealer that had flaws (but I'm sure there are some out there). The action is really too high -- the factory typically sets their guitar actions for someone who plays with ball peen hammers on the fretboards -- and so a twist on the truss rod and a lowering of the bridge usually bring things down to playable.
Here's what keeps this guitar from reaching a "10" in this category. My major beef with this 12-string is the stiffness of the action -- I realize that the neck and string tension on any 12 approaches infinity, especially a new guitar, but really, if you are used to a Gibson or Fender, you are in for a workout. Forget string bends. I've played older Ricks and Fender 12's which have been worn in, and these a far easier to master than this current guitar. I suppose that if I play it constantly for 3 years it will settle in. See you in 2001.

Ricks are really durable -- I've dropped them on wooden floors several times and found no scratches -- haven't tried cement yet. I have a 1961 Rick 365 that has survived countless gigs and several coats with housepaint and, today, still sounds unbelievably sweet.
Having said that, I think that the Rick, alongside a Fender or Les Paul, it a bit too delicate to bring out if you play behind chickenwire on stage, so leave it at home, for God's sake.

Rick is a mysterious organization; they do provide excellent support, they'll even give you a new guitar if they find a finish flaw, but they seem to want to keep their fans at bay, compared to Fender and Gibson. They are really helpful, swell people. I've even gotten John Hall, the CEO, on the phone regarding a question about an old Rick that I have.
However, the "strange" factor is this: Compared to the other US guitar companies, you hardly ever see Rick promoting their stuff, and they even avoid NAMM shows (well, most of their products rarely change, so I suppose they shouldn't waste the planefare). There are a lot of artists out there who use their guitars, but you'd never know unless you actually went to the concert and saw it with your own two eyes. Compared to the hype of the other manufacturers, Rick doesn't seem to care if they sell anything, and they are terrible retro in their approach to guitar making. If you don't believe me, check out their website. Yeah, I know, they're famous for their past, but hell, times DO change...
The warranty is 5 years, non-transferrable. I think they should follow Gibson's lead and make it lifetime.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this guitar if you need a 12-string electric acoustic -- I think it's better than the standard 360-12, in appearance and sound alone. Besides, who other that Hamer, Fender, and a few other manufacturers put out a production 12-string electric?