John Lennon's usage of his 325s during "Beatles for Sale"

[JakeK]

Listening to "She's a Woman" right now. Could the chords be John's 325/6 or George's Gretsch Tennesean?

[2ricks]

Didn't he use his '58 325 on Rock n Roll Music?

[JakeK]

That song was recorded October 18, 1964, along with various other tracks from that album. The '58 325 was last spotted in the studio September 29/30, 1964, so using the '58 on that song is a no-no.

[deaconblues]

What if they didn't take any pictures?

[babysinblack]

I read that the solo on "You Can't Do That" is John on his 1996. (I think the reference is from Geoff Emerick's book but I am operating from memory right now)

[tennis_nick]

I read that the solo on "You Can't Do That" is John on his 1996. (I think the reference is from Geoff Emerick's book but I am operating from memory right now)

I think it's too soon for the 1996, I always figured it was the 2nd 325

[babysinblack]

I was wrong, it wasn't Geoff Emerick. Ray Coleman reports that John used his Rickenbacker 1996 slimline - acquired for "an astronomical $159 guineas at the beginning of 1964" - on the solo on "You Can't Do That". (page 237, Ray Coleman, "Lennon"). According to Coleman, John "hankered after(this guitar) during his lean, struggling years", and described it as his "pride and joy".

[wj350]

I'd never heard that before--I was under the impression the 1996 was a quick substitute provided by Rose-Morris after discovering the neck crack in the Miami guitar, but I don't have any citation for where I heard that....

It seems you learn something everyday!
Bill

[JakeK]

I agree with you Bill. The place where I heard about the neck crack was Beatles Gear.

It doesn't make sense to me, as he would have taken it to America and all that.

I'M SO CONFUSED!!!

[babysinblack]

The plot thickens! Beatlesinvasion.com also supports the "Miami Replacement Theory" (MRT)

"When John’s second Rickenbacker was dropped during a 1964 Beatles Christmas show, he needed a replacement quickly. Rickenbacker’s exclusive British importer Rose-Morris Ltd. jumped at the opportunity to give John a new one. This fourth 325 (counting the 12-string) had a Fireglo (sunburst) finish and an f-hole. John used it for the rest of the 1964-1965 Christmas shows while his Jetglo was repaired. Shortly thereafter Rose-Morris Ltd. began marketing this “1996″ model of the 325 as the Beatle Backer."

So we have two conflicting accounts: Coleman says Lennon bought the guitar, gives the price, and dates it as early 64 - the other story says he was given it in late 64. It's a rickenbacker wrapped in an enigma....someone must be wrong. But even if he didn't know guitars, it seems unlikely that Coleman would have mistaken the red 1996 for the black 325 in his description of "You Can't Do That". Any chance Lennon owned a different Rickenbacker?

As for not taking the instrument to America, Coleman says Lennon asked Mal Evans to take "special care" of it (again, page 237); perhaps he didn't take it along because he didn't want to risk it. (It would be exciting and heartwarming to speculate that he took the 325/58 as a backup!) One thing I agree with you guys about - if the 1996 was a Rose-Morris, how could Lennon have hankered after it during the "struggling days"? But since John knew so little about details like model numbers, etc, perhaps he just thought the 1996 looked like a Ricky that he HAD hankered after....sorry bout the headaches!

[JakeK]

I'm thinking that Coleman mistaked the two 325s for each other. The December '64 acquistion of the 1996 sounds more correct to me.

[ric325v63]

Listening to "She's a Woman" right now. Could the chords be John's 325/6 or George's Gretsch Tennesean?

I would bet a stack of bills on the 325/6 for the off beat chords. That clanking is pure 325.