I played this 1996Re C64

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 10:50 am

I'm looking for the one that says 'John S.' in the cavity...

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 10:56 am

OK, Glen. You win. I saw only one at NAMM. Perhaps there was a spare.

krick · Post by **krick** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 2:03 pm

Thanks Atsushi and Glen.

FYI, The smaller box is the original RIC shipping carton. I believe it was marked 1/2 at the factory because it matches the other markings on the box and I have other RIC shipping boxes marked like this. I think it indicates the number of units shipped to a dealer at one time. The larger box is there because I asked the dealer to "double-box" the guitar for it's trip to me.

BTW, RIC uses FedEx now to ship guitars to their dealers.

ben_hall · Post by **ben_hall** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 2:30 pm

Yes, there were two 1996's made before NAMM and one was slated to go but I switched them at the last second for some reason I don't recall right now.

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 4:10 am

Looks great. I can't wait!

krick · Post by **krick** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 5:30 am

Thanks Ben, that's interesting news.

Is there anything else you can tell us about the two 1996 models that were made before NAMM. Were these done as "prototypes" or were they the first two of a regular production run?

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 12:51 pm

Is it possible for an after the fact/exacting reissue to ever be considered a "prototype?"

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 3:57 am

Hmm. I will say yes, although you could call them different things to get to the same conclusion; 'sample', 'design study', 'pre-production model' etc...

I know what you're saying Glenn, I tend to think of the very first attempt as the prototype myself..

ben_hall · Post by **ben_hall** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 7:04 am

Prototypes of these were made well before these two were built.

krick · Post by **krick** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 10:19 am

Ben, so was the 1996 shown at the Yokohama Music Fair last year a prototype?

Since it had a 20 degree (1 o'clock) f hole and Mr. Hall stated earlier in this thread: "FYI, the shipments to Japan this next year will have 30 degree (aka 2 o'clock) -F- holes, not like this one." I have a feeling that it probably was.

krick · Post by **krick** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 12:12 pm

I found another post in a different thread by Mr. Hall that answers my question.

Posted on Monday, November 28, 2005 - 02:11 pm:

"The correct designation for this guitar is Model 1996, after the Rose Morris model number. The rest of the production units have the 31 degree soundhole, unlike the prototype shown above. ("2 o'clock -F- hole" is a horribly inaccurate term.)"

"The Japanese chose to have some of the 325C64's they had coming to be delivered as this sub-model variation as they appear to be more cognizant in Japan of the John Lennon connection to this model."

wj350 · Post by **wj350** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 5:49 am

I just sent Gary at NCM my deposit for one of the new 1996s--thought it would be the perfect companion to the 325c58, although of course the perfect trio would include a c64. I thought the 1996 was unique enough to explore that one next...

randyz · Post by **randyz** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 6:23 am

Bill: As soon as I get a minute, I'm going to send a deposit to NCM for a 1996. Any idea how many are in line right now? I'm prepared to wait a few years, but it will be worth it.

glen_l · Post by **glen_l** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 12:41 pm

If I was ordering one I'd probably go for the 1996 too. The 325C64 resembles the V63 whereas the 1996 is a cool and previously almost unavailable reissue.

Perhaps the 1996 at the Yokohama Music Fair last year wasn't one of the new reissues. It could have been one of the reissues made in the year 1996 ordered into the Japanese market. Unlike the the new ones, they did have 1 o'clock soundholes.

krick · Post by **krick** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 2:22 pm

Glen, I believe the 1996 at the Yokohama Music Fair had the same type bracing as the new 1996 reissues and the original 1996 models. This was reported by Atsushi Yoshida, who saw it in person and thought it was X bracing. As shown earlier in this thread, I also have one of the Fireglo 325V63 f hole (20 degree) models produced in 1996 and it is not made like that. I believe that some of the ones made in 1996 had 31 degree f holes as well. Someone here sent me a photo of one once.