Rickenbacker 360/12V64 Reissue

Wow! Finsh is perfect!!!! Tuners work good. The 360 12v64 was made in 1998 I bought it new... And got it on Ebay... Toaster pickups...Fireglow finish...Maple wood construction...

This guitar is a one trick pony... However, it's the real-deal!!! Beatles, Stones, Who, Birds, and modern etc.. I love to play this guitar with my Divided by 13 ERT-33 amp! It's a very good sounding amp for any guitar however, the Ric sounds amazing through it!!! I find I like the bridge and middle positions best the neck is a little to bass heavy for my style. The guitar makes the best 12 string sound in the world for an electric guitar bar none!!!! No dislikes!

The guitar was not set up very well however, the guitar was new when I got it but it had sat for 9 years in a music store storeroom.. The pickups were ajusted great! The build of the guitar was spot on!!! No flaws in the finsh it ws perfect!

Yes this guitar has played perfect on stage.. All hardware is sparkling.. The strap buttons are strong.. Yes I do depend on this guitar.. I use this guitar without backup with confidence!

Haven't tryed?

Been playin 43 years.. I have lot's of amps and I have lots of guitars... Yes I would buy it again because there is nothing quite like a Rickenbacker 12 nothing..

Beautiful Guitar....I love it.

Sounds UNREAL.........

No guitar made looks as beatuful........A classic!!!!!!!!!!

Well made. I do hate the headstock and tuning. It's a real pain

Great company

A+++++++++++++++++++++ Get one now!!!!!!!!!!
I am a Beatle nut and love it.......

1995 360/12v64: Fireglo finish - I can't imagine why they bothered with or why anyone would want any other finish.
The guy who sold it to me claimed that the bridge pick-up had come from a genuine '64 360, though I have no way of verifying this. In any case it works, which is good enough for me.
Other features are the same as all the others.
I'm giving it a 9 as an acknowledgement of the fact that this is a fairly faithful reproduction of a classic design and was never meant to address any of that model's design flaws.

I tend to use it with a compressor with the release up full and the tone set high so the chords ring out forever.
I mostly use the bridge pick-up, very occasionally set it to the middle with a tiny smidgeon of neck.
It sounds exactly like a 12-string Rickenbacker - a truly wondrous sound. Sounds unmistakable through every amp/amp simulator I've used it with - valve AND transistor - though I think a Marshall would be a poor pairing.
Suits my style to a tee - I play a lot of melodic rhythmy guitar lines and a bit of double-stopping and this is definitely THE guitar for that sound.

I bought it second-hand so I can't comment on the factory set-up. It seems to be a very well-made guitar, but, like many others, I consider the 6-saddle bridge and 6-hole tailpiece basic design flaws.
God only knows what they were thinking of with that headstock design - trying to wind the strings round and thread through the recessed machine heads nearly gave me an ulcer and I am dreading replacing them. Also the string routing is knocked off course by the high profile of the truss rod cover, which can't be right.
I have the same problem as many others playing in the first position; it feels like you have to approach the fretboard from a 90 degree angle - classical guitar-style - to play some chords (notably C) without damping half the strings. I find using a capo up the neck a bit solves the problem, but I think I'm going to have to learn how to play it sooner or later.
I'm somewhat heartened to learn that McGuinn had to re-learn guitar to play his, as I guess I am going to have to follow his lead (nothing new there, then) after having spent what for me is a small fortune on this guitar.
Another snag I've found is the finish on the back of the neck. It feels rough and sticky and no amount of cleaning and polishing seems to solve the problem. Not that I play much in the way of fast, flashy lead parts or anything, but it just doesn't feel as comfortable as I would like it to.
The jack mounting-plate has gone that speckly, flaky way that besets aged chrome already, which doesn't really inspire confidence, but maybe the previous owner played in airless Cavern-like venues a lot....
The 5 I've awarded it may be generous when all's said and done, but everything it lacks in practical terms it makes up for in other equally important ways.

The previous owner played in a Beatles tribute band, so I guess this guitar has been gigged a lot in its lifetime.
I've only played it live once (without back-up), but only because I don't play live much. I can't imagine wanting to go onstage without it.
The small strap buttons didn't give me any problems, but the tuning drifted a fair bit between sound-check and gig. If I could've afforded a second one as a back-up I would've taken it along, but I would'nt have needed it.

Haven't dealt with them, and wouldn't want to by the sound of things.

I've been playing for about 25 years. I have a variety of guitars - I tend to favour certain guitars for certain sounds rather than look for an all rounder.
I have had a lifelong love affair with the 12-string Rickenbacker sound, being hugely influenced by George Harrison, Roger McGuinn and Johnny Marr, and finally owning one - particularly one just like George played - has been a real eye-opener: stringing this guitar up, trying to set the intonation and trying to play the damn thing have proven to be so much hassle I've seriously thought about cutting my losses and buying something cheaper but much less challenging.
Having said that, I always thought I was capturing THAT sound with the various other 12-strings I've used through the years, but playing this brings it home to me how wrong I was - I don't think anything else could really come close.
Unapologetic aesthete that I am, I've always considered a guitar's looks important and seeing this sitting in the corner usually puts a smile on my face.
Knowing what I do now, and figuring on the scarcity value pushing the price up even further, I think the insurance money would have to go on a custom-built 12-string semi using toaster-top pick-ups and similarly nice woods, while side-stepping all the quirks that make playing this one such a hard day's night....
But, boy, would I be sorry to see it go.

2000 360/12V64 in Turquoise. 21 frets, joins at the 21st fret. Dual toaster style single coils. Ric-o-Sound stereo wiring. This is the style of Ric 12 string used by George Harrison in the Hard Day's Night sessions.

Awseome vintage tones, that characteristic Ric 12-string trebly jangly sound is right there at your fingertips!

How well was it set up from the factory? Well, let's start by saying that this is a difficult guitar to play. It has a narrow neck which makes it rather difficult to play chords in the first position without your fretting fingers muting or partially muting adjacent strings. Kinda defeats the purpose of having a 12 string! Also, the frets are quite low and the neck lacquer quite thick which further detracts from the playing experience.

Fortunately, there is a CURE for these problems! Mark Arnquist in Everett, Washington, is a superb Ric Doctor!! He put on new frets which are slightly taller, narrower, and which extend over the binding to the edge of the fretboard. This allows for a wider string spacing at the nut. Also, he replaced the 6 saddle bridge with a custom tooled 12 saddle bridge. Other goodies include: replaced the aluminum truss rod cap with a brass one which is shaped to fit perfectly into the truss rod cavity on the headstock, reshaped the truss rod cover so the strings don't bid up against it, round off all the edges on the two-tier pickguard, replaced the stereo Ric-o-Sound wiring with two mono inputs -- one with the same voicing as the original mono input and the other with an added capacitor for a more vintage sound with less bass response.

After Mark's mods, THIS GUITAR PLAYS AND SOUNDS INCREDIBLE!!!! Perfect intonation of all 12 strings is possible, the guitar tunes up more smoothly, the guitar has a twangier sound with more sustain, and importantly, it is now possible to fret the guitar without bumping into adjacent strings because of the wider string spacing! Absolutley NIGHT AND DAY type difference after all of Mark's mods!!!

I've had the guitar for about 2 months now. Only time will tell how well it will hold up.

Chris at Pick of the Ricks was nice enough to work with. Haven't talked directly to Rickenbacker for anything.

I've been playing guitar music of all kinds for over 30 years. After this guitar was modded by Mark Arnquist, it is an absolute joy to play! Nails all those classic Ric 12-string sounds played thru the right amp. There is nothing else quite like it!!

I purchased a 360/12v64 MG in April of 2002. The guitar was made in 2000. It has the usual features of this model: trapeze tailpiece, binding on front and back edge, two vintage "toaster-style" pickups, maple semi-hollow body and maple neck with rosewood fretboard and the "shark's-tooth" pearliod inlays.

This model comes with a 6-saddle bridge. I purchased a 12-saddle bridge from Rickenbacker and had my local luthier install it. Note: this 12-saddle bridge has holes for the bridge cover screws, but they are not tapped. The biggest pain was tapping these to accept the screws.

The neck is slender on this model. This one came with the vintage silver case.

The sound is why one buys this guitar. This is the distinctive Rickenbacker-12-string-sound. This instrument is a specialty guitar. Do not expect this give you a wide range/vvariety of sound. That's not what this is about.

TThe sound it makes is excellent and distinctive.

The action on this is fast and low, especially for a 12-string.

As mentioned earlier, I had a 12-saddle bridge installed. So the set-up on the guitar was done at that point. The factory set-up was OK but nothing special.

The fit and finish is excellent. This is my third Rickenbacker and my instruments all superb craftsmanship and finishing. I have read complaints, but have only experienced high quality.

This guitar is a studio instrument. t seems solid enough to stand up to live gigs. It is not made for shredding-heavy-metal mosh pit action, but is solid for use.

Strap-lock style buttons. Would I use it at a gig without backup?... Yes, but since it only does duty on selected songs ? why not?

The folks at Rickenbacker aren't the best or the worst at customer service. They did get me a 12-saddle bridge in good order. hey do not do a good job with their Web site or dealer network. I'm not sure they know who is a current dealer/distributor in many areas of the country.

I own a Rickenbacker 360 JG, Rickenbacker 660 MG, Fender Telecaster (1971), Koll TV Glide (custom-made 6-string electric), Fender P-Bass (Japanese-made 1992), Guild D-25 6-string acoustic and a Gretsch jumbo acoustic (shockingly good Korean-made acoustic).

I have been playing for more than 35 years (yikes).

I love the Rickenbacker 360/12v64. It sounds great, is comfortable to play. I used Roger McGinn's bridge set-up as the guide to intonation and the sound is superb. There is no other guitar to which this can be compared. This is the benchmark for 12-string electric guitars.

Would I replace if lost, stolen or damage. In a heartbeat.

I also got a pretty good deal on this because it unsold dealer stock and the Guitar Gallery seems to be out of the Rickenbacker business now. My good fortune, I guess.

This is one of the last 360/12V64's made, as the factory stopped taking orders on this guitar in 2000, and mine dates from August of 2001. It is typical of the 360/12V64 reissues -- made here at home in the USA, 21 frets with lovely triangle fret markers, 3-way pick-up selector with 5 control pods (volume and control for each pick-up and the 5th "blend" knob placed on Ric deluxe models), 2 vintage reissue 7.4 Ohm toaster-top pick-ups (b/c they actually look like mini-toasters) which are famous for the '60's Beatles/folk-rock jangle, 6-position bridge (granted a bit odd for a 12 string, but they've been doing it for years and it gives me no problem), semi-hollow body with the slash sound hole, Kluson-style rewinds, trapeze tailpiece, and the double bound body. The necks of these guitars is comfortably narrow for me, but I've heard that those with bigger hands have more difficulty with playability.

The sounds is great if you're looking for that jingle-jangle Beatles/Byrds sort of thing. I've found that it has nicer tones when on the middle position (both pick-ups on) or in the treble position. With only the base pick-up, it's a bit muddy. This was also George Harrison's opinion, I believe.

For a 12 string, the action is comfortably low. The finish is unlike any guitar I've owned. I've got a rare midnight blue (with sparkling undercoat), which has a feel like a piece of art. The finish gleams and is remarkably smooth to touch, like satin. It feels great in my hands. I've not had any difficulty with the electronics, the guitar has remained as it was set-up standard at the factory.

I've not gigged with it...yet, but I will say that I'm a bit concerned about it. It's not got a rough and tumble feel to it like my Telecaster, which I could (and have) dropped without any resulting problems. However, you shouldn't be dropping a guitar anyway! The strap buttons are narrow, and I use the plastic, wind-on strap locks when I play just to be certain. I've heard people complaining about warp in these guitars, but so far I've had no difficulties.

Typical warranty is 5 years, but because I'm out of California I think I'd just pay for repairs on my own. I've spoken with folks at the company on a few occasions, and my interactions were fine -- nothing remarkable one way or another.

I've been playing guitar for over 25 years, in and out of bands, but since I picked-up this guitar I'm dying to get back into a band and gig. It's got a great feel, it's a lot of fun to play, and although you're somewhat limited in the type of sounds you can produce, what it does, it does like nobody else. If it were lost or stolen, I'd get another.

1991 360/12v64; 2 toaster RI pickups, measuring at 11.4 and 11.7K ohms, respectively (bridge and neck; more on this later); .047 microfarads capacitors hooked up to TONE control from each p'up; trapeze 6-hole tailpiece. Fireglo. Gets an 8 for putting the thing out with non-reissue "reissue" pickups and capacitor. It's been said, "put these RI next to the old vintage and you'll hear the diff!"
Well....

Prior to mod, not bad. After mod, ALIVE. What you do (This is not for the faint of heart; having ophthalmic surgical instruments around, plus a certain degree of experience handling materials with the consistency of human hair helps): 1.unwind the pickups back from 11.4K ohms to 7-7.5K ohms. The real pain is the consistent monitoring throughout the procedure, as it can be difficult to place that little wire on the probe of the multimeter. 2. change the capacitor to a .0047 mF. 3. make sure you get flatwound strings (Pyramids seem to be the favorites of the guys that know). 4. If possible, get an ac-something. 15 or 30. Or some other Class A will work, I'm sure. I'm currently finshed with step 2, and just for purposes of comparison I'v not done the neck pickup yet. Using amp grilles as illustration, you're looking at two beautiful, say, all original super reverbs. One's dark and grungy with nicotine stain, the other. like it came out of the showroom. Excuse the hyperbole, but I think you get the point. Definitely an 11 after the mod.

action good. Fit seems OK. Finish not bad, although as I understand the V63 has more correct coloration of 'burst than does the V64 (shrug).

had it for about 6 months. It's very cool.

Axed them one question, they responded promptly with "check with your local dealer" which I did. The morons knew even less than I did.

If you have the means, I highly recommend it. I don't have a Vox yet, and already I'm darn close to the vibe.

It was made in May/June 2000 in USA. FIREGLO. 21 frets with pearloid triangle inlays on Rosewood fingerboard..highly laquered. Hand-made maple body carved out from back..and fantastic designed 12 keyed headstock.2 tone and 2 volume knobs,1 blend knob and a 3-way switch for pickup selection (all vintage re-issue). 2 single coil vintage toaster pickups,with 6 saddle bridge and Plain (beauty in simplicity ) trapeze tailpeice.Scratch-plate 2 tiered white plastic.Tuners Ric deluxe vintage re-issue (none locking ).Beautiful bound and very slim neck...bound body and deeply cut out horns.Nice and slim body but large breadth to it.Came with fantastic silver Ric re-issue case and tools(keys and allen-key)polish cloth.Plush blue velvet lining.

My musical tastes are 60s Beatles,Byrds,Folk-rock so the sound suits me perfectly.I also play it through Boss GT3 processor mainly with just compression and a little reverb and delay.My son plays it through new VOX Cambridge 30 R twin and it sounds amazing.A full rich sound and very jingly-jangly.It also distortes quite well but string-bending rock-solos are out of the question....But what 12 string can do this ?

I bought mine secondhand but in immaculate condition.The salesman (who is an ex-professional player ) set it up for me and the action is just fantastic...very low without buzz and no pressure needed to obtain great sound..even high up on neck.The intonation is ok but I have heard of problems because of 6 saddle bridge.I want mine just like 60s model but I know you can fit it with 12 saddle.
The actual finish is amazing.Mine is probably a little light in colouration compared to some I've seen.Very highly polished and deep sheen which changes in different lighting...Beautiful !!!

I only use this at home but I dont see a problem with it live at gigs.
I go every year to Liverpool Beatles festival and see this beauty perform hour after hour without any problems.It has a good solid finish that will last a lifetime if looked after properly.The strap buttons are very solid ..but small..as are all Ric...strap buttons.The hardware is very highly chromed and polished and should last.The control knobs are solid enough and well positioned not to knock accidentally.

Never had to deal with them yet over the guitar.But I have sent them several enquiry emails and they have always replied to them.

I have been playing guitars for 20 years and nothing gives me more pleasure than this Rick...If it was stolen I would have to buy another one...I dont know how ,but I would find the money somehow.I just love the whole appearance and sound of it and the neck is just beautiful...my favourite part of the guitar.The neck is narrow at nut-end,but persevere and you will be rewarded with magical sounds.
Before I bought it I tried an Epiphone Supernova 12 string and it was ok..but nothing compared to this.The only thing I HATE about it is I have to polish it after every play...because it is such a beautiful looking guitar.I will never part with it and one day in the future it will pass on to my son..who is a huge Beatles fan and also loves the guitar.RICKENBACKER 360/12 V64 ...THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GUITAR EVER MADE...BUY ONE !!!!

This one was born in 1993. I say that because I swear it's alive. It has all the goodies too. The 5th tone control is a bit hard to get used to but it gives you much more variables in tone. A beautiful finish too. I freak out because I noticed that mine didn't have the "R" tailpiece. I called Ricenbacker. None of these did. I did notice that the pick-up switch was kind of cheesy but other than that the features on this guitar are awesome.

This is where the Ric shines. It does take a LONG time to get to where you feel comfortable. But once you master it. There's nothing that can compare. The beautiful chimey tones. The sustain is AWESOME. Contrary to other reports here I find it very easy to play. It just takes time. I'm playing thru a Vox AC30 and just touching or brushing the strings can send chills thru me.

I took mine to a luthier and he started laughing. His laugh slowly turned into comments like "That's cool" etc. Anyway, I guess the truss rods are hard to get right. I'm not that into this aspect of guitars but it did take him a while to get it right. The finish is absolutely beautiful. The toaster pick-ups are very strange looking but the sound that comes out make up for their looks.

I am afraid to play it a some bar gig's just because I love it so much and don't want it to get hurt. But it is totally dependable. I'm not afraid of something going wrong. Even though it feels delicate you can tell it's very sturdy. The workmanship is top notch. I have played it at mellower gig's like weddings. I had a smile of my face the whole night.

I've called them twice and had great service. One time I asked them if I could take 6 of the strings off and play it as a six-string. Take my advice don't ask them that. They gave me a lecture and a half. They either want me to "buy" a six string or as I took it were very proud of their work. The other time was to order Rickenbacker strings. Overall I would say they have really good service. They didn't make me feel like I was bothering them or anything and took their time explaining stuff about the guitar that I didn't know.

This guitar is a beauty. It must be treated with respect. You can't just open the case strap the guitar on and have it mastered. It takes time and patience. But when that time is up and you feel comfortable with it there's nothing like it.

I had a 2000 Model year. I say had because I unloaded this peice of crap. This guitar is impossible. Please read on.
Features. 12 strings, two pickups, two tone, two volume, one master volume, two input jacks.

The sound is there if you want the frustration of dealing with the guitar. It sounds just like every other Ric 12 string.

Action on these suck. They are hard to setup. Two truss rods and you have to screw with them all the time. The necks are too thin and everytime you leave the house the temp is different the neck is out of adjustment. I have had two Rics and this has been a problem with both of them. They make them in California and are setup there so by the time they reach any other climate you have to adjust them. It is impossible to intonate this guiatr because you have six saddles and twelve strings.

If you are going to play this guitar out then you have to leave the truss rod cover off because when you get to the gig the neck will be out of adjustment. If you have a guitar tech that travels with you then you won't care about this. Most players don't.

Customer support is the worst that I have experienced in the business. The won't help you at all. If you are not a dealer then they won't even listen to you. You will be blown off and told you have to see a dealer about anything. Most dealers have dropped them because service sucks so bad. They were also very insulting. I knew this before when I had my first Ric but I still got his one. I will never have another.

The only reason this guitar gets a rating of 2 is because of the sound. It does sound like it should. The playability is not there though. Even when the neck is adjusted proper and the strings are where they should be in relation to the fretboard, the guitar is hard to play. The neck is really narrow and the strings are really, really close together. I have average sized hands and a C chord was almost impossible to play without thumping. It's not worth paying that kind of money for a guitar that is hard to deal with and they should have the best Customer Service for such a premium price. I sold this guitar and I'll NEVER have another Ric. I have had two and trouble with both, I'm done. Like most of the dealers that have parted with Rickenbacker I could not be happier.

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?