I think I want a Rickenbacker 360

[Fac 50]

Good info folks, on the Mastery Bridge. I will keep an eye out for a used one I think. I don't feel the original bridge is THAT bad, although it's not high quality - none of mine have really rattled, but you do get the occasional 'sitar' effect from one of the high strings. A bit of graphite in the saddle seems to cure that. Tuning on all of mine have been rock solid btw, taking into account temperature fluctuations.

Restringing - yeah one at a time. I use a capo to kind of clamp the string into the bottom of the tailpiece and that makes it easy and fast. It's a wretched design though.

[Fac 50]

The pick-ups are definitely where it’s at pre-1994. My understanding is that before 1994 the bridge hi-gain was much lower DCR than the neck pickup. My 1986 360 measures around 12k in the neck and 6.25k in the bridge. They also were still using the vintage value pots (250k/500k) which affects the tonality. This is also where the 5th knob really shines in helping blend in the right balance.

This is the “jangle” you (and I) seek from 80’s alt/post punk and early 90’s shoegaze. There is a lot of depth and dimension to the sound…and stereo outs…a huge bonus of the Ricky 360 so few use…but should! A TRS cable for $20 (and two amps or modeler inputs) is all you need.

I like my Gumby head with West German Schallers, little fin, flat-fretted laminated board, and no-folk reverberated fuzz jangle in stereo 360.

Good info - thanks.

[cestlamort]

Restringing - yeah one at a time. I use a capo to kind of clamp the string into the bottom of the tailpiece and that makes it easy and fast. It's a wretched design though.

It’s a bad design but the real issue is that the metal in the tailpiece is crappy, so the string slots aren’t always great at holding the ball end in there. (You had ONE job…)

I haven’t had trouble when slotting the string and using a capo around the third fret or so to maintain tension for the ball end in the slot.

I recently did a full restring (and periodic clean) on my 330. Not a big deal: take off the tailpiece, slot all the strings, use a piece of blue painters tape across all of the slots to make sure they don’t fall out (leave some excess tape on the ends), restring and then remove the tape. This may actually be easier than doing it string by string since you don’t have to fuss with navigating the ball ends into the slots. (And the best way to deal with restringing a 12 string). The tailpiece does shift a little as you tune it up. Roughly get all strings somewhere near tension and then tune the D and G and work outwards. It may take a couple timing passes for to all to settle.

I guess it doesn’t bother me that much, and only adds a couple minutes if that when restringing. (Certainly better than when you first discover that floating bridge on your guitar with a bigsby isn’t pinned down!)

[UlricvonCatalyst]

better than when you first discover that floating bridge on your guitar with a bigsby isn’t pinned down!)

I have to say I've never found this a huge big deal if you can live with less than watertight intonation (which I can, being mostly a rhythm guitarist). It's fairly easy to wiggle a bridge to the point where both E string 12th-fret harmonics sound okay.

In my experience, the single worst Ric restringing experience comes when trying to deal with the dreaded 12-string scalloped headstock.

[i love sharin foo]

In my experience, the single worst Ric restringing experience comes when trying to deal with the dreaded 12-string scalloped headstock.

Yeah, those are the worst!! It’s such a pain in the ass.

[Pacafeliz]

I swear by my Mastery. Definitely added a bit of sustain and heft to my 330's sound, and also it got rid of the incredibly frustrating rattle of the stock bridge.

Same here. My 365 was almost useless before. HAET
On my 480 i have a modded/conversion ToM bridge, but if i have too much money over some day (...) I'll get another Mastery

[SpookyReverb]

I've had several Rickenbackers (modern versions of 330/6 and 360/12) and still have a 360/12. I love them, they sound amazing and are fun to play.

The narrow neck on the 12-strings can be a bit tricky, however I replaced the stock nut with a wide-spaced version from RickySounds and it made it so much better, for me at least.

The latest ones no longer have the fretboards dipped in clear, so they are a lot closer in feel to other guitars than the older-spec models

There were about six months in 2022 where they didn't lacquer the fretboards, but started doing it again in August or September of 2022.

[mekhem]

I have a White and Black Tuxedo 360 from 1990 that I picked up a long time ago. The "R" bridge is a massive PITA the first few times you deal with it - its a terrible gotcha. I play it in cycles but have not had any issues adjusting to the neck even though i generally like medium>small carves and mine is definitely a fuller "C".

Mine is still running the stock bridge but It was previously owned by a touring musician so I think they worked out whatever kinks existed. No rattles - works fine so I never considered the Mastery replacement.

[preservation]

I played a Jetglo 360 into a Fender Twin for years.
High-quality and fun-playing instrument whose only MASSIVE FLAW was the previously mentioned tailpiece.

Restringing was a nightmare, and in hindsight (c.2005) I should’ve just swapped it out for something else.

I think I bought mine from “Buffalo Bros Guitars” for $1300 shipped in 2003 or 2004. Good times.

[mediocreplayer]

Every single day the following sequence of events happens: I see this topic and and think to myself "why would anyone would want a Ric 360", I open the thread, and a few minutes later I check prices on Reverb. I still have not succumbed!

[Gav Haus]

If you can, try and play a late 80s / 90-91 one - they’re by a distance my favourite. 90 and earlier have the fibreboard topped hi-gains which sound glorious, and the neck profiles are superb. My ‘91 360 is one of the best guitars I’ve ever played and brings me joy every time I pick it up. Impeccable build, really lightweight, resonant, stable… everything is spot on. I swapped the bridge pickup out for one of the above mentioned 80s hi gains, but beyond that I wouldn’t change a single thing. Oh and on the mastery front, have had them on Rics before and I’d say they’re entirely unnecessary.

[JM Convert]

Great Pic Gav.

I have a late 1980s Midnight Blue 'color of the year' 330.

I love just looking at it. I wouldn't have picked out a Midnight Blue with Black hardware guitar but I bought it used.

It is unique and does what it is supposed to do.

[Gav Haus]

Great Pic Gav.

I have a late 1980s Midnight Blue 'color of the year' 330.

I love just looking at it. I wouldn't have picked out a Midnight Blue with Black hardware guitar but I bought it used.

It is unique and does what it is supposed to do.

That’d be right up my street.