Hi.
From when/wish year did Ric change the string spacing at the nut on their 12string guitars?
I have played a Tom Petty model and I really liked the spacing on this guitar...then I played a 330/12 and on this guitar the string spacing was to close for my taste.
Thankxx in advance for answers.
Cheers.

Perhaps it was only the Petty model, then? I'm not aware of when changes, or if changes, were made - But signature models have key differences. I don't think Ric would bother making a signature model if there was not something unique about that model.

All 650 & 660 have wider string spacing than 300 series. Designed that way. Not an issue of some model-year switchover.

Don't confuse string spacing with nut width.

The 660-12 has a 1 3/4 inch nut width. Most of the other models have a 1 5/8 inch nut width. Of those that have the 1 5/8 inch nut width, Mr. JH has posted elsewhere on the forum that the E string slots have been moved closer to the edge of the fingerboard ever so slightly, with everything else proportioned accordingly.

Does anybody know if I could put a 660 nut on my 360 to spread the string spacing just a bit? I am quite capable of trimming the ends of the nut to fit on the headstock, I just wonder if it would place the outside traces too far out and miss the ends of the frets? I would also like to know what type of adhesive to use to secure it. I love my 360 body shape and the 660....not so much. I do wish the wider 660 neck profile was available on a 360. However, if this mod would fit, it might suffice and my hands would be much happier.

In a word, no. The nut is too wide, and the string slots will go off the fingerboard at the nut. How old is your 360-12? If it is of recent manufacture within the last few years, it may already have the slightly wider string spacing.

My 360 is a 2003 model. The string spacing is 1-5/16" from outside of E string to E string , slightly less than that center to center. But it looks as if there is room to spread them by possibly 1/16" either side if the string spread is more than 1-7/16" you are most probably correct, however if the string spread is exactly that measurement or less, there might be hope for trying this mod. One could go to the lengths of refretting the neck and overhang the binding thereby getting a wider fretting surface but the practicallity of going this far might be too much and is certainly a daunting task. I might consider doing this after the guitar has worn in and is ready for a refret job.

In other words then...if I like to have a Ric 12string that has a wider string spacing at the nut then a 660-12 would be the best choice for me or?
The reason for asking is that I have only tried out a Tom Petty signature model but never a standard 660-12.
Grateful for answers.
Cheers.

here's my experience:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=13283&hilit=spacing

you won't have more string spacing at the nut but I can assure you that having few space more at the bridge made my 360 the most comfortable guitar in the world!

as far as I know the 650 & 660 have the same string spacing at the nut but the 650 has a wider spacing at the twelve fret already and the more you get to the bridge the more the difference increases...

My concern is with the left hand. With the strings so close together near the nut one has to sometimes use one fingertip to press down two courses of strings simultaneously. This makes some "moves" challenging. If the spread at the nut was just a little wider my left hand would be happier. iiipopes, thanx for your input, but since I posted this question, I have heard of one case at least where a 660 nut was fitted to a 360. This from a friend who owns a 660 himself. I cannot wait until I get the chance to get the two guitars together for a measurement session. I think it might depend on the individual 360 (how the frets are dressed on the ends) that might make the difference between success and failure. I am hoping I have enough room on mine to try it.