John Lennon's 1964 325 Miami

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Little Ricky 64
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John Lennon's 1964 325 Miami

Post by Little Ricky 64 »

Does anyone here know the story of who did the work on John's guitar at the Rickenbacker factory in Feb 1964?
What employee did the work?
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jdogric12
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Re: John Lennon's 1964 325 Miami

Post by jdogric12 »

Google led me to facebook, which says it was YOUR MOM!

(serious, guys!)
‎Mark Tandle‎ to Rickenbacker
January 20, 2013
My mother made John Lennon’s, 1964 Rickenbacker Guitar.
My mother... Dorothy J. Tandle was working at (RIC) Electro Strings Rickenbacker Guitars back in February 1964. (from 1959 to 77...Main Street Santa Ana California)
After seeing the BEATLES on the Ed Sullivan show and seeing John With a RIC the CEO got a brilliant idea… Go meet them and give them some new guitars.
When Francis C. Hall got back from Miami, after talking to John, Paul and Ringo.
F.C. Hall presented Lennon with a new 325 to replace his road weary 1958 one during the group's first trip to New York City. John used the new guitar on The Beatles second Sullivan appearance and on the group's subsequent tours and albums.
My mother was asked to follow Lennon’s Custom guitar from start to finish.
This was the Black & White semi-hollow bodied “Miami” model (serial number db122, d=1964, b=Feb.).
She sanded the body, then worked on the neck & fret board,
then she assembled the guitar after the finish was applied.
She did all the work herself.
She did the same for many custom orders at that time.
She was trained in all areas except the wood shop and finishes.
She did all the sanding, fret board assembly, and put all the other pieces on John Lennon’s Custom 325.
After finishing the guitar, she gave it to the tuner/inspector. He asked my mother “Since you built it, what song would you like to hear?” My mother said…“Peanut Butter And Jelly”.
That was a song she wrote and the tuner knew the cords. My mother sang the song as it was being played. SO… The very first song ever played on John Lennon’s famous 325 was a song my mother wrote about the messes I made as a child.
There is a “GREEN” check mark inside the guitar.
My mom made virtually all the famous guitars of that era.
Harrison & McGuinns 12 strings. Pete Townsend & John Entwistle and many others.
Mom is 81 years old and lives in SO Cal.

My Father was the insurance man for "RIC" for 19 years. He used to go Bowling a lot with Ward Deaton, the GM at the time.
My dad has watched my mother several times do all the work on custom guitars at the factory. He would give them advise on safety issues. I have been to the factory in Santa Ana as a kid.
My dad says he has watched her work a few times over several years while there discussing insurance.
This is all absolutely true history.
I am in no way claiming my mother was involved with making all the guitars at that time.
She did mostly custom work.
Ward told my father on numerous occasions that my mom did the best detailed finish work at the factory. That is why she was picked to do some of the most famous guitars at that time.
She deserves the credit, she did the work.

In the seventies, I worked for “Fender Musical Instruments”
I made a Fender Roades Electric Piano for John Lennon.
The one used on “Walls and Bridges”

My mother and myself are the only mother/son that both built an instrument for John Lennon.
My mother made guitars for many famous Rockers, including the red guitar that was smashed by Peter Townsend of the WHO and is in the Rock HOF. I have built pianos for “You name it”
just about everyone IE: “Pink Floyd” on “Dark Side Of The Moon”
It is our little contribution to Classic Rock.
I’m very proud of that fact.

Have a Great Day.
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electrofaro
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Re: John Lennon's 1964 325 Miami

Post by electrofaro »

Interesting
'67 Fender Coronado II CAB * '17 1963 ES-335 PB * currently rickless
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libratune
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Re: John Lennon's 1964 325 Miami

Post by libratune »

"She did all the work herself."

I recall when this post was made on Facebook over a year ago, it was met with some skepticism.
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leftybass
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Re: John Lennon's 1964 325 Miami

Post by leftybass »

:|
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johnhall
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Re: John Lennon's 1964 325 Miami

Post by johnhall »

Being back in California for a few days and with some time on my hands, I thought it would be interesting to do some research and followup on this story.

Ms. Tandle was hired on 8/9/65, according to the payroll logs, so it would have been impossible for her to have been involved in the production of John's guitar in 1964.

Furthermore, even in 1966 she was the least senior of the seven finisher/assemblers, whereas a Ms. Watson, who was Tandle's supervisor, was significantly more experienced. I can't say now what was done then, but it seems like more experienced personnel would likely have been assigned to custom work.
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jdogric12
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Re: John Lennon's 1964 325 Miami

Post by jdogric12 »

Oh snap.

Thanks for taking the time to look that up Mr. Hall!
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scotty
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Re: John Lennon's 1964 325 Miami

Post by scotty »

Well that puts that story to bed lol
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godber
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Re: John Lennon's 1964 325 Miami

Post by godber »

scotty wrote:Well that puts that story to bed lol
Wow, are we all really going back to accepting facts over opinions again now? Sweet :wink:
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sloop_john_b
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Re: John Lennon's 1964 325 Miami

Post by sloop_john_b »

Nice!
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paologregorio
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Re: John Lennon's 1964 325 Miami

Post by paologregorio »

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
There is no reason to ever be bored.

...why yes, I suppose I do have a double bound guitar fetish...

"Uh, I like the double bounds. . . ."
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johnallg
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Re: John Lennon's 1964 325 Miami

Post by johnallg »

sloop_john_b wrote:Nice!
Hey John! How ya doing?! Long time no see.
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collin
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Re: John Lennon's 1964 325 Miami

Post by collin »

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Love it! Thanks John.

Please let this (rather boring) tall tale die, already.
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