Rickenbacker 325
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| Rickenbacker 325 | |
|---|---|
 Rickenbacker 325C64 (A reissue of the 1964 model 325 played by John Lennon) | |
| Manufacturer | Rickenbacker |
| Period | 1958–present |
| Construction | |
| Body type | Semi-hollow |
| Neck joint | Set-in |
| Scale | 20+3⁄4 inches (530 mm) |
| Woods | |
| Body | Maple; alder on 50s instruments & reissues. |
| Neck | Maple; alder on 50s instruments & reissues. |
| Fretboard | Bubinga (1960s–2000s), Paduak (late 1950s), Chechen (current). |
| Hardware | |
| Bridge | 3-way |
| Pickup(s) | Three single-coil pickups |
| Colors available | |
| Mapleglo (natural), Jetglo (black), Fireglo (red sunburst) | |
The Rickenbacker 325 is the first of the Capri series of hollow body guitars released in 1958 by Rickenbacker.
Overview
The 325 was designed by Roger Rossmeisl, a guitar craftsman from a family of German instrument makers. Production models were 20+3⁄4 inches (530 mm) short scale, dot fretboard inlays, and a small (12+3⁄4-inch-wide [320 mm]) body. The body is unbound, semi-hollow, with an angled sound hole, and boasts "crescent moon"-style cutaways. These instruments gained prominence due to John Lennon's use of a 325 during the early years of The Beatles. Lennon's 1958 model was among the first batch made and has the pre-production feature of a solid top with no sound hole. All subsequent production short-scale 300-series Rickenbackers (310, 315, 320, 325) had sound holes until the late 1970s. This series is currently available only in "C" reissue form, although the reissues lack a sound hole to mimic Lennon's instrument.
Notable players
- John Lennon played 325s and their assorted variants during the 1960s (Including a 12-string made to match his second 325).[1] A replica of Lennon's 325 is available as a guitar controller for The Beatles: Rock Band.
- Susanna Hoffs of The Bangles played the 325 and its full scale variant, the model 350.[2]
- John Fogerty played his modified Fireglo 325 on many Creedence Clearwater Revival songs and live concerts, including their appearance at the 1969 Woodstock festival.[3] Fogerty modified his model to include a Gibson humbucker pickup.
- Maurice Gibb of Bee Gees used the 325 for all live performances between the late 1980s until 2003.
- Multi-instrumentalist Toots Thielemans regularly played Rickenbacker guitars and his usage of a Combo 400 model inspired John Lennon, a fan of Thielemans, to take up the instrument. Incidentally, a photograph of Thielemans at a 1958 US trade shows a 325 that is likely to have been the very guitar later purchased by Lennon in Hamburg.[4][5]
Gallery
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325C58 MG
A replica of the 1958 model played by John Lennon -
325C58 MG(Pickup Zoom) -
325C58 JG
A replica of another 1958 model played by John Lennon
References
- ^ John Lennon's musical instruments
- ^ Sollenberger, Kraig. "Susanna Hoffs Yesterdays... And Today". Vintage Guitar Magazine. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ Fanelli, Damian (16 February 2017). "John Fogerty Is Reunited with His CCR Rickenbacker After 44 Years". Guitar World. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
- ^ Smith, Richard R. (1987). The History of Rickenbacker Guitars. Centerstream Publications. p. 75. ISBN 9780931759154.
- ^ Crowley, John F. "John Lennon's Guitars, Part 3". Fab Guitars of The Beatles. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
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