Calling all 320 owners: please check in

[seanyfitz]

I was always cheesed that Suzanna Hoffs got her 320 in the 4th grade and I had to wait till I was 21 for my 330. I now want a 320. I found the necks on the ones I played to be too thick for the fret spacing if you can believe it. Would a 350 be a cop out?

[JWL1964]

Just Received my 1984 Jet Glow 320, so this is me checking in!

Absolutely love the guitar, plays like a dream, sounds incredible and allows me to fondly imagine that I play just like Lennon

The only thing I would say is that I will probably swap out the 'R' tailpiece for either a Bigsby B5 (although my local Luthier is claiming that it won't fit) or the fabled Accent Vibrato if by some miracle I ever actually find one for sale, at any price, anywhere in the world!!!

Other than that this is my dream guitar and I couldn't be happier with it.

[kiramdear]

...this is my dream guitar and I couldn't be happier with it.

+1

[doctorwho]

Kira, it's a 1991, I got it for a Christmas present that year. If I recall correctly, RIC made the JL's in four different configuarations, a full scale 355, a 325/12, 325 with trapeze tail-piece, and the 325 with the Accent. I've always called it a 325JL. Yeah, Paul, you told me about your three quarter scale 325/12...wow man, I'd have a real problem with 12 strings on a short scale guitar! Thanks to both of you for the response.

You have some beautiful Ricks there Kira!

I play the 325, but prefer my Les Paul Standard for any length of time. It's just such a 'little' guy, so it stays in the case most of the time.

Best Regards,
Gary ( modrock )

Actually, there were only three JL models (excluding the left handed versions): 325JL (short scale, Accent tailpiece); 355JL (fullscale, trapeze tailpiece); and 355/12JL (full scale, trapeze tailpiece). The 325/12 was a different issue entirely and did not have the JL logo pickguard.

Gary, measure the distance between the nut and brifdge on yours ... my 320 Silver measures about 21" ... if your scale length is closer to 25", it's a 355JL.

[kiramdear]

Ahhhhhhh, this is starting to make sense to me.

[seanyfitz]

I put a bid in o the 320 BG on ebay a while back. That was a sweet guitar. A week later I ran across a 91 330/12 for $900 and snapped it up.

[modrock]

Hi Gary, ( drwho ),
It's 24.5 +/- inches from nut to bridge and has a trapeze tail piece. The Certificate of Authenticity lists it as 104 out of 2,000 and is signed by John Hall. I thought it was a 1991, but the date on the certificate is 23 May, 1990. I must have received it in December of 1990. BTW, I have a list price sheet from 1990 from RIC. Imagine a 360/12 for $1,229...and now they're worth twice that at least.


So, I have a 355 JL? It still seems like a rather short scale guitar compared to a Strat or Les Paul, is it still considered a 'three quarter' size guitar then?


Thanks,

Gary ( modrock )

[kiramdear]

Ah, mystery solved
Gary, you seem to have the full scale cousin of the 320-325 series', the 355JL. Did they put a typo on your certificate or did you misread it?
If you think the 355 feels short, you should try my 320, at 20-3/4" scale length.
Thanks to Gary C. for illuminating us.


Hey, but don't go away, we love you anyway

[modrock]

The 'Certificate of Authenticity' does not designate whether it's a 325, 355, or whatever, it just says 'John Lennon Limited Editon' and gives the manufacture number out of a run of 2,000. I just saw a 325JL for sale on Ebay, and the seller says only 1,000 were made. I emailed him and said he should make sure about his facts because of my certificate indicating 2,000.
But hey, it's a cool guitar, and even if I don't play it as often as I should, it's special to me because of the circumstances of aquiring this beautiful guitar. I have a friend who is a total Strat head, and made a brain dead comment like, 'Well, that's cool, but it feels like a student model guitar.' DUH ??? Tell John Lennon he played a 'student model guitar '

Thanks to all who commented on my JL !

Gary

PS: There are Fat-heads, Strat-heads, and Les Paul-heads, but then there are the rest of us with Rickenbackers!

[mike_d]

Kira, it's a 1991, I got it for a Christmas present that year. If I recall correctly, RIC made the JL's in four different configuarations, a full scale 355, a 325/12, 325 with trapeze tail-piece, and the 325 with the Accent. I've always called it a 325JL. Yeah, Paul, you told me about your three quarter scale 325/12...wow man, I'd have a real problem with 12 strings on a short scale guitar! Thanks to both of you for the response.

You have some beautiful Ricks there Kira!

I play the 325, but prefer my Les Paul Standard for any length of time. It's just such a 'little' guy, so it stays in the case most of the time.

Best Regards,
Gary ( modrock )

I may be mistaken but I think they also released a 355/12JL 12 string. I'm not sure they released a short scale 12. I have one of the 1999 325/12 models of which they made limited run of 136 for the U.S. or something like that.

[kiramdear]

I may be mistaken but I think they also released a 355/12JL 12 string. I'm not sure they released a short scale 12. I have one of the 1999 325/12 models of which they made limited run of 136 for the U.S. or something like that.

Rickenbacker presented John with the first 325/12 in March of 1964. He played it in the promotion film for "Ticket to Ride" and then used it on the recording. The song has a special sound because of it. I have no clue how many more they made.

Here's the "Ticket to Ride" promo film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etjpcF2X_mY
It's hard to say, but it seems like an awful lot of tuners on the one he played in the "Help!" promo. They're wearing the same clothes in both films, so I bet it's the same guitar:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ibX3TejlZE&NR=1

[octagon]

Does this 320 make me look fat?

[kiramdear]

Nah, but that hat... just kiddin' Mitch. I always thought that Amberglo was slimming.

The finish looks really rich, or is that from the incandescent light? How do you like the hi-gains?

[octagon]

Nah, but that hat...

Hey...That is my favorite hat!

[kiramdear]

I'll bet it's a favorite, living in Minnesota. And the amberglo will keep you warm too on those chilly nights