The reason being, as Mr. JH himself has posted in other threads, is that contrary to the hype, they are NOT the strings John, Paul & George used. More than once Mr. JH has said they used Rick strings made at the time by Maxima, and were nickel flatwound, not chrome flatwound. He should know, he was in the pipeline supplying the strings, and even still has the old set catalog/stock numbers memorized!

The closest thing, if they made a 12 set, to the old Maxima strings would be if someone like TI, who makes pure nickel flats, put together a string set. But until then, unless you makeup your own set, the RIC set is still the best. It's just a tad heavy for my hands, so I make up my own set out of D'addario standard singles:
9-9, 11.5-11.5, 17w-8, 22w-10, 30w-14, 40w-21w.

I also use the same gauges on the "standard" part of that set on my 320 when I have it tuned up 4 frets to G# as a "Terz" guitar. With this tuning, and a touch of compression and chorusing, it has a great tone more similar to a mandolin, and really makes for a novel tone in the mix.

iiipopes said

Do you have any recordings of this? In my first band, maybe 1982, the lead "guitarist" actually played a home-made 5 string (single course) electric mandolin tuned CGDAE (like having a mandola/mandolin). This was long before Terz was even in my vocabulary. He added a great sound to our songs. I think he's won at a third party and Rockygrass and teaches at Chicago's Olde Town School of Folk music these days. And he was the first person I knew to play a Rick.

Since this thread is dealing with 325s, my G-string's (NO PUN INTENDED!!) tone is always little too flat or too sharp. I've used 3 different types of tuners and made a bridge adjustment on that string to correct it. This is the second 325 I've had that has had the same issue with the same string.

Does anyone else here have the same issue and if so, how can I correct it myself? I am paranoid about taking it to a guitar tech in my area because nobody specializes in Rics.

Are you saying that it wont stay in tune or can't get in tune? In either case I would start with a new string. What kind of vibrato is being used? I would also look at the nut. Maybe it is cut too high. Or if it is catching the string, try some guitar grease on the nut (some pencil lead will do).

What gauge strings are you using, and is the G string wound or plain?

Flatwounds always sound better on a 325. If using the accent vibrato, the seating of the strings can be a little tricky. It looks like the metal loop should fit straight in the V notch at the base of the vibrato. Not so, -- they should bend under so you can't see them when you look directly facing the guitar front. That can cause a tuning problem if not correct. If it's a Bigsby B5, make sure the loop is squarely on the peg, not tilted or kinda lop-sided. That's a tuning problem too. And, like stated above, a little graphite on the nut grove prevents the string from hanging up and not moving to it's proper tune. Also put a little on the bridge saddle to help slide it along there as well. I was fortunate enough to get hold of a roller bridge. It does make a world of difference as the strings don't rub along a stationary saddle any longer.

If all that doesn't work, it could be your intonation. To set that, the individual bridge saddle must be moved forward or backward until the open note is the same pitch (octave higher of course) as the 12th fret note. It's trial and error, and time consuming, but the only way to intone a guitar. Good luck.

Do 325c64's have a roller bridge?Just curious.I ordered a 325c64 from MF on last week and the shipped it today so I have to get some flatwounds.

Check out all of the specifications while you wait for your new Rickenbacker 325C64.

http://www.rickenbacker.com/model.asp?model=325C64

Ok thanks.I guess it does have a roller bridge.

That's one thing I can't figure out. The re-issues are fitted with rollers but you can't order a roller in the parts section. You can get toasters, tails, saddles, etc, but not the roller. What happens if you break your roller? Is your 325 SOL and must make do with saddles? Respectfully curious......