Difference RM 1996 and 325

[Medicus1963]

Hi experts,
Is there any sign how you can say this guitar is a 325 fireglo with f hole or an 1996 Rose morris, which are all fireglo and with f-holes i suppose ?

Thanks

peter

[collin]

Are you talking about 1960s instruments?

Early ones, say around 1964, are identical. There is no difference, except that the export RM models would have a small metal "Rickenbacker" tag on the case. Of course, this should never be the only determining factor, since cases are easily separated.

[glen_l]

Basically, If it's not made in '64 it's not a 1996. They were apparently only made in that one year. If is is a '64 it's almost certainly a 1996, as 9 out of 10 made that year were 1996's. The case badge is a good indicator, although Lennon's DB122 had a badge on the case, and it's not a 1996 - so not foolproof. Later in the year the knobs wold be the only way to tell the difference. Rose Morris exports were all given plain black knobs well into '65, whereas domestic models were fitted with the silver topped knobs starting approx Aug/Sept '64.

[collin]

Rose Morris exports were all given plain black knobs well into '65, whereas domestic models were fitted with the silver topped knobs starting approx Aug/Sept '64.

I think it's safe to assume that any '64-'65 guitar with silver-topped knobs is likely a domestic model, but that can't be said in reverse, especially into 1965.

Granted, I don't have a 1996 to reference, but my domestic 335S from July 1965 has the original black knobs, which is somewhat late for these. Domestic "export spec" models seem like special order items, which would account for inconsistencies.



(Btw, my apologies in advance for the horrible iPhone photo, it's late at night here, bad lighting etc. )

[Medicus1963]

Wow Collin,
This is a great collection !

Congrats !

Peter

[collin]

Hey, thanks Peter!

I promise you they look better in person than that photo suggests.

[glen_l]

It wouldn't be suprising that a '65 335S had export specs including plain knobs. It would likely have been picked out of a batch of export built guitars to fill a domestic order. It's always been said that Ric made guitars in batches, so it's unlikely a single 335S was made.

'65 was certainly well into the silver topped knob era for regular US production models. A browse through some images in the register shows the first variant of the silver topped knob appearing as early as July '64 on deluxe models. It appears that the plain black knobs where allowed to run out on the lower end and export models over the following year or so.

It also seems that the only definite way to tell if a guitar is domestic is whether or not it appears on the Rose Morris export documents. Neither the knob type or the case ID plate are reliable means.

Further to the short scale models. Besides Lennon's 2, I've only ever seen one other example of a genuine '64 325. That was a fireglo model internally marked as a sample, made in January. All the other '64's I've seen have been 1996's, or likely converted 1996's. There are a small number of fireglo '64 325's somewhere out there, but I've not actually sighted a definite one.

[militarycollector]

Cool thread.