325 in black

[Tim_Fletcher]

Chris, I'd value your opinion. Peter McCormack has done much sterling research on where John Lennon had his 325 re-finished black in Sept.'62. His conclusion is that it was probably done by Derek Adams, a subcontract spray-painter to Burns in London.

I'm sceptical about this : London was a long way from Liverpool, and it seems to me that there would have been plenty of people locally capable of painting an unbound guitar black. A comment made by George in Anthology that John "had it painted" destroyed my theory that he probably slapped a coat of Woolworths' finest black enamel on it himself.

Having been there at the time, do you think it would have been necessary to go as far as London to get the guitar re-painted ?

[scouser]

Tim,

Thank you for the question and the vote of confidence. In truth, I don't know where John got his Rickenbacker painted. Although we were friends, we were seeing each other less often as we (The Undertakers) were also on the road, touring all over Britain and doing 2 - 6 week stints at the Star Club, in Hamburg, or the Star Palast, in Keil. Germany. I saw the guitar just after it had been painted but didn't think to ask where or why it had been done...why would I?

I believe that Peter's research, and that of many other extremely informed "Beatle People", is correct: that Burns, in London, had done the job. The distance between Liverpool and London was not really that great - approx 225 miles from Liverpool's City Centre and Marble Arch, in London. The new Motorways had opened up England in the late fifties and early sixties as never before.

[admin]

Chris: While I suspect that it may be asking too much to comment on aspects of John's refinished 325 after last seeing it perhaps 40 years ago, I cannot resist the temptation to ask you a couple of questions. To begin, do you recall whether the refinishing appeared to be professionally done? Further, do you have a memory of John using guitars other than this cherished 325 for a period of time in the fall of 1962. Did you observe John to be the sort of person who was forever tinkering and adjusting his guitar? Finally, do you think Lennon used Gibson sonomatics or perhpas flatwounds. I realize that these are leading questions and are asking too much but I don't get the chance everyday to speak to people who actually saw this guitar.

[scouser]

Peter,

To my recollection the finish on the guitar looked professional. I would have definately noticed a 'do-it-yourself' paint job, especially back then, when our instruments were a source of pride. I don't remember another guitar in John's life during the 1962 period.

In answer to your question, "Did you observe John to be the sort of person who was forever tinkering and adjusting his guitar?", the answer has to be that I honestly don't know. When we put the Bigsby True Vibrato on his guitar, it was me who did the actual tinkering. John held the guitar down and I did all the screwing and set the bridge. I have heard various stories about the middle pickup of the 325 being disconnected and other modifications, but as these things seem to have happened later on, I don't know who did them.

Finally, you ask, "...do you think Lennon used Gibson sonomatics or perhaps flatwounds...(?)" Well, I do know that we used 'Sonomatics' that day. They were my favorite string, back then. As to whether John used wire or flatwounds on a regular basis, I don't know. But I do know that, as the first American string available in Liverpool, they were very popular. They had a bright and aggressive sound. Also, as there were no 'light guage' strings in those days, they were perfect for setting up with a banjo 2nd. string as the high E, then using the 'Sonomatic' E thru A strings and discarding the low E string.

[Tim_Fletcher]

Thanks for the info, Chris, it does look as though Peter's research leads correctly to Burns. Certainly the motorway networks were being set up then - in fact I remember being taken to the opening of the Rugby-London stretch of the M1, and waving a little Union Jack at the Queen as she swept by in a big limo ! That would have been about 1959 or 1960, and after that motorways sprang up all over the place.

As there were hundreds of guitarists and guitars in Liverpool in the early 60's I wondered if there might not have been someone locally capable of repairs, re-sprays etc. But if it was a profesional job it might well have had to go to London. Probably when John got his J160E he was able to spare the 325 for a few days while it was re-finished.

[admin]

Tim: Be rest assured that I will not rest until I hear from Derek Adams himself that he did the work. I too have always held that John would have had the J160E as a backup. Unfortunately, I do not have any dated photos, as yet, of him on stage playing the J160E acoustic during this time period.

[scouser]

Both John and George got Gibson acoustics around the time of "Love Me do". They got the instruments from Rushworth and Dreapers, in Liverpool, just before heading down to London to record. When I answered Peter's question, "do you have a memory of John using guitars other than this cherished 325 for a period of time in the fall of 1962", I omitted the Gibson acoustic because, being an acoustic, I didn't consider it as an alternate to the Rickenbacker 325.

[Tim_Fletcher]

As the J160E had a pick-up it might have been a suitable substitute for the 325 for a few days while the 325 was being re-finished. They recorded at Abbey Road on 11 Sept.'62 shortly after getting the J160E's, it's possible the 325 was dropped off at Burns in London after the session ?

[Dr._Winston_O_Boogie]

Tim; A very good point! Althought alot of folks have surmised that John's 325 was painted on the 18th of September as that was "there only day off", it seems to me quit possible that the paint job could have been done September 10th thru the 11th as John would have had no need for his 325 during that (2) day period. Although through much research on my part as well as others, at this point it's still just 'speculation'!

Chris; It is indeed a pleasure to have you sharing information with us. As time goes on without people like you sharing most of this info would be 'lost' forever. I hope you are well and still playing.

[admin]

O Boogie: I quite agree with you on two points. First, welcome to Chris Huston and his insight. Second, the 18th day of September is certainly speculative and it could have been earlier as you say. There is always the possibility that John used another guitar for a day or two. The absence of photos of him performing with another instrument does make this theory somewhat tenuous I suppose. One thing is for sure, this story is far from over. Thanks for your comments. I really enjoyed reading your post.