How many lefty 68 fireglow 360s were made?

Early years of Rickenbacker Guitars prior to and including 1972

Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4

Post Reply
macgregor2150
New member
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2017 4:36 pm

How many lefty 68 fireglow 360s were made?

Post by macgregor2150 »

I THINK this was a 68. I bought it in '76 from a guy in Collinswood NJ and the idiot I was for bringing it, had it stolen from the back of my van in Tijuana in '80 while in the Navy. It was of course a red lefty 360 with triangular inlays, 6-string with the smaller headstock with the horn that curved upward. It had stereo outs like I imagine most did. I remember the tuners were smaller with a square fluted gearbox; not the basslike flat tuners which I've seen. I don't think I have any documentation from it, but I am curious; How many guitars like this were made?
User avatar
Ontario_RIC_fan
Advanced Member
Posts: 2794
Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2008 8:39 pm

Re: How many lefty 68 fireglow 360s were made?

Post by Ontario_RIC_fan »

Greg:

Very few were made is the answer. lol


See this as an example

viewtopic.php?f=68&t=411491


http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... 6lefty%3D1


Be keen to see a picture if you have one.

The "red" finish is either Burgundy (like the example in the link) which was all one shade, or Fireglo, which was a burst. Both were options in 1968.

Oh and the tuners were most likely Klusons, rather then the Schallers used on modern RICs.
Brian Morton
A Rickenbacker Fan
in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
=========================
67 FG 625
74 JG 4000
76 JG 430
77 JG 620
77 JG 320
79 JG 4001
80 FG 620/12
81 BG 480
91 JG 610
02 BG 620
78 TR7
83 TR25
macgregor2150
New member
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2017 4:36 pm

Re: How many lefty 68 fireglow 360s were made?

Post by macgregor2150 »

First let me thank you for your reply. My mother had some pics of me with it, but she's dead and who or if someone has the pic now is unknown.Your example looks like the basic guitar. Though in addition to mine being a fireglow, the machines were definitely different. I believe it actually said 360/6 by the stereo outs. Also, while the white 'horn' plate on the headstock was curved upward, the name 'Rickenbacker' was not upside down. It was stolen from my Blue chevy Van in 1981 while it was in Ensenada Mexico(not Tijuana).
User avatar
jps
RRF Consultant
Posts: 37132
Joined: Wed Feb 12, 2003 6:00 am

Re: How many lefty 68 fireglow 360s were made?

Post by jps »

macgregor2150 wrote:I believe it actually said 360/6 by the stereo outs.
The only thing that would be on the jack plate besides the silkscreened labels for the two jacks would be the stamped serial number of the instrument, not the model designation. The S/N would have two letters (for year and month of manufacture) at the top with the "sequence number" at the bottom.

Did yours actually say Stereo by one of the jacks?
User avatar
leftybass
RRF Consultant
Posts: 5359
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2001 10:23 am

Re: How many lefty 68 fireglow 360s were made?

Post by leftybass »

Here is a pic of my left-handed 360/12, but it is from 1967.
36012case.jpg
macgregor2150
New member
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2017 4:36 pm

Re: How many lefty 68 fireglow 360s were made?

Post by macgregor2150 »

68, 67...the exact year I was never sure. But this photo here. THAT is the guitar. Though the felt was blue I remember, it had a different case. Black on the outside. This one in the picture looks pristine. Mine was actually my first real guitar(I moved up from a Kay). I don't remember scratching it, but it took many trips in the tiny trunk of my '78 Spitfire. Being the salty sailor back from Asia (at 20 years old)I would take bootcampers down to Mexico to blow their bootcamp money in Ensenada. A streetcop gave me a sign he was looking after it, but what he really meant was he needed money to do that. I was an idiot to bring it down there. I believe the place was called 'Nick's piano bar.' This was like 1980 or 81. At the time I was on per diem and lived in my brand new medium blue chevy van pretty much. They got everything; uniforms, cruisebooks....that so sucked. The guitar may have flowed back into SoCal but don't think it ever was quite that perfect. Thanks for showing me that picture! That is it definitely. 360/12 indicates 12-string? Mine was a 6-string.
User avatar
opticnerve
Advanced Member
Posts: 1685
Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:00 am

Re: How many lefty 68 fireglow 360s were made?

Post by opticnerve »

Give it back John!!! :twisted:

Black Tolex with blue lined cases started in mid/late '68, so if your case

was original to your guitar, it would be safe to say that the guitar wasn't a '67.
Post Reply

Return to “Rickenbacker Guitars: Vintage Years - Before 1973”