Beatles' Custom Rics of '66

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 1:49 am

The visit with Peter Fonda was in 1965, but the attempted visit by Rickenbacker to The Beatles to 'present' them with different guitars was in 1966 while in the US on tour. Paul got his Rick bass on the '65 visit, but their(Rickenbackers) next attempt in '66 was unsuccessful, according to 'lore'....YMMV....

feedback · Post by **feedback** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 4:46 am

Hi Mathew..check Oliviailouks thread on Ric. forum..

feedback · Post by **feedback** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 4:58 am

'cept it's a '67..Doh!

karl_teten · Post by **karl_teten** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 11:51 am

The Fonda experience was '65 (oops!!!...lying on floor in fetal position sucking thumb..lol).

I still say they were probably tripping on acid at the '66 RIC visit. Their biggest acid year was 1967.

lennon211 · Post by **lennon211** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 12:31 pm

It would be great if Mr. Hall could weigh in here and maybe fill in the details about these guitars and their whereabouts.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Thu Mar 08, 2007 12:38 pm

I could swear I saw the rounded top 325 while I was in Santa Ana for the 75th.

8mileshigh · Post by **8mileshigh** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 12:30 am

Round top 325? you learn something new everyday!

8mileshigh · Post by **8mileshigh** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 1:15 am

Was this the one John?

karl_teten · Post by **karl_teten** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 7:20 am

White nut, early high gains. ???

deaconblues · Post by **deaconblues** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 8:28 am

That's a full-scale solid-body guitar that the Smith book says is a prototype from early 1969. I always thought that the rounded-top 325 would look more like a mini 370.

blazer · Post by **blazer** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 8:51 am

"Mr. Hall Sr may have noticed that both John and George had switched to guitars with more powerful P-90 pickups by 1966. I wonder if hi-gains were developed in reaction to their switch? When asked to compare hi-gains to another brand of pickup, it seems P-90's often crop up in the conversation."

The beatles switching to playing Epiphone casino guitars came about when Paul got one and the others like the way it sounded. John Lennon also loved how sturdy an Epi Casino was all of his ricks sustained serious damage during tours. AND you can't change the fact that George still used a rounded top version of the 360/12 on stage in 1966.

cowboy_joe · Post by **cowboy_joe** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 10:11 am

Epiphone Casino, sturdy?

Not the way I would describe it. I've got one, and play it quite a bit, but it's fully hollow and plywood. I'd suggest the J160e is stronger--it's at least heavier. I'd put the 325 and the Casino on equal footing as "fragile" guitars--at least compared to something like a Strat, which John also had access too.

tennis_nick · Post by **tennis_nick** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 10:35 am

compared to a Strat, Hummer H1's are fragile. I also have a Casino but consider it to be fairly sturdy. never got a ding on it yet...

blazer · Post by **blazer** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 3:27 pm

Joseph.

The "Beatles gear" book tells about how the necks of John's ricks came off and how touring took it's toll on the guitars. But it doesn't state anything about the Casino's sustaining any damage during the 1966 world tour.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 6:13 pm

Wouter: John's second 325 wound up with a broken neck (later repaired) after he dropped it off stage. Neither his '58 325 or his 1996 sustained any sort of similar damage.

John toured with his '58 incessantly for almost four years. The Casino only saw action in 1966.