If I Want To Buy A Short-Scale 325....I Can't?

[Tommy]

I look on the Ric web site and I see there are no 325s other than the super expensive John Lennon ones. I don't look like John Lennon nor do I play in a Beatle's tribute band, so the Lennon "Miami" model certainly is not practical. What happened to the schort scale 325s? Discontinued? Why? Will they return?

[kiramdear]

As another shortie-lover, I sympathize with your frustration. It may be that the short models are just not popular enough to justify keeping them current. Hopefully they'll be offered again in the future, but for now your best bet may be to look for a used one in good condition. The most affordable used ones are the 320s, of which they made tons through the decades, while the V's and C's and signature models are priced like all the "rare" or limited run models. You may get lucky in finding a case queen 320 in the $1200 - $1500 range if you advertise here and look online. Good luck! I'm feeling your pain on this one.

[Tommy]

Yeah, it's a bit odd that one of Ric's most noted models, I can't even buy.

Buying used is not my thing. I like the non-scratch new shine, the tags hanging all over the guitar, the knowing that the guitar is mine-all-mine and only mine, the care I will give it will be what it deserves. Have to buy new. And that Lennon Miami model is waaaaaay too expensive.

Seems weird. I bought myself a new 360/12 at a reasonable price fifteen years ago. There was no need to buy a Vintage model of that; just the basic 360/12 was what I wanted and what I bought. Why not some basic 325s for sale?

[kiramdear]

Yeah, Tom, I totally hear you. I bought my 320 new in '83, and later I was lucky to find an affordable v59 in purt-near mint condition. There's nothing like the sensation of a new guitar. I'm guessing the lack of current short models probably has to do with there being just not enough demand due to changing tastes in popular music - how often do you see them played? It's a cryin' shame for you and me who love them. Maybe if people catch on to just how versatile and capable they are (not to mention easy to play) and start using them again we could see a renewed demand for them. Maybe one day after they clear out that backlog at the factory we will see the resurrection of the everyday short-scale model - we can only keep our fingers crossed, I guess, and nicely express our wishes from time to time as we're doing here. They do read us at the factory.

[collin]

Whatchya mean, Tom?


The Lennon guitars haven't been made in a decade and a half.......I looked on RIC's website, and I see the 325c64 offered. They aren't "Lennon" only guitars, they're reissues of vintage models.

Do you want a "less-accurate" cheaper 325 or something? It wouldn't make any sense at all, seeing as how they offer a perfectly good vintage-accurate reissue, priced at the normal rate for such a vintage reissue Rickenbacker.....I don't see what the fuss is about.

[Tommy]

they offer a perfectly good vintage-accurate reissue, priced at the normal rate for such a vintage reissue Rickenbacker.....I don't see what the fuss is about.

The fuss? I don't want a vintage-accurate reissue guitar. I just would like to spend my money on a standard basic 325.

As I pointed out, I was able to purchase a standard 360/12. I didn't have to go to the "Vintage Series" or "C Series" (whatever that is) in order to buy a make of Rickenbacker guitar. Did Lennon buy a "Vintage" 325? No, he bought a 325. Did the guy in The Romantics or John Fogerty buy a "Vintage" 325. No, they bought a simple 325. Why can't we do that today? Why must a 325 be an exorbitant purchase of some reproduction? I said I am not a Lennon in a Beatles tribute band. I don't need his replicated guitar. I simply want to buy a 325. I have a fistful of money saved, I search for that little guy...and they don't even sell them, just sell these crazy "vintage" or "C Series" (whatever that is) ones.

[tennis_nick]

Why can't we do that today? Why must a 325 be an exorbitant purchase of some reproduction?

A few reasons.

1. There's almost no market for a non-Lennon 325. As much as I would love Gibson to make an SG with my name written on it, I know I'll be the only customer, and THEY know there's no market. For them, why bother?

2. A non-reissue 325 would be everything the market has been complaining about! Hard to restring R-tailpiece, hi-gain pickups... You get the point.


I understand wanting to buy new and not used, but it's an argument that is invalid in this case. If I want to buy a SG Jr with small guard, I HAVE to buy used, I can't get mad at Gibson, we're just end users!

It seems like YOU'RE the one in the bind, not RIC, or any other company for that matter! If you don't want to buy used, you're immediately stuck with current production. But if they don't produce exactly what you want, that's it then isn't it?

[kiramdear]

Nick has confirmed what I suspected, that there's just no popular demand for a straight short scale model in the same price range as a 330. Much as it would be nice, RIC won't stay in business if they can't sell what they make.

[tennis_nick]

Here you go buddy, brand new 325, and it isn't Lennon Spec in the least!

If you're lucky, it'll be cheap!..... yeah right!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rickenbacker-325C64 ... 286.c0.m14

[buchrob]

I can really sympathise here.

NO guitar mfgr makes a quality 3/4 scale anymore. They are all assumed to be toys for the kiddies, so your $100 gets you a Squire Mini made somewhere on this planet where they know nothing about guitars.

Ric originally made the short-scale guitars to please the jazz players who wanted something "faster". It's just an accident of history that John Lennon picked up one of these in Germany because the Beatles were looking for "different" sounds, while all the other gin-joint performers were jumping on the Fender or Gibson bandwagon.

Last year, I managed to find a 325v63 JetGlo with all the case candies and tags that was in IMMMAAACCUULATE condition. It was fun to play for about 15 minutes, with me all dressed up in non-scratching flannel, and after nailing the sound on a few Beatles classics, I figured, this is a piece of art, I can't bang this around the playroom as a player.

So I sold it with regrets. My comment at the time was, in a few years it will be the 50th anniversary of the Beatles appearing on Ed Sullivan, playing this guitar. 30 years from now, nobody alive will possibly remember this as a watershed event.

So... if you want to improvise:

Buy yourself a used 330 or Epiphone Casino, or whatever hollow thing the cat dragged in. Install a set of heavier strings (.12), put a capo on the third fret, and then tune it to concert pitch with the capo on.

Very close to the 320.325 feel, and even the sound depending on the pickups.

Unfortunately, Ric probably has an order backlog that puts "cranking out" 325's at the same rate and price as 330's impossible.

I only wish that before I'm dead and gone that Mr. Hall and his folks will stand up and acknowledge their place and thus, duty, in history and make some kind of 320/325 affordable for the up and coming guitarists out there. There's no reason it can't be done, other than for the profit motive.

[kiramdear]

Sometimes I think I'm one of about eight people on the planet who prefers these shorties for what they are and who plays them a majority of the time. I didn't mind paying the premium price for a re-issue when I could - it's what I had my heart set on - it's really nice and worth it, collector's item or not. And I'm not afraid to ding mine up because I know they're going to bury me with it. I just want to have it and play the heck out of it while I can.

[Tommy]

Excellent responses all.

Yes, I do see the point of public dictating what a company manufactures. The demand for a short scale may be low and the notion that short scales are kiddie guitars is high. Ric may not do super-well producing a standard short scale guitar.

That notion of capoing up a heavy gauge Casino is interesting. I already have heavy gauge flatwounds on mine. Maybe I'll give that idea a go just for the fun.

Bottom line is this:
I am a rhthm player. I can't even play the lead to "Yesterday" -- by the way, there is no lead in "Yesterday" and I can't even play that. Rhythm, strictly rhythm. I love playing rhythm and the playing of a short scale is a direction I want to go in with my money and my next guitar purchase. Obviously being a Beatle fan and a happy as hell owner of another Ric, I choose the 325 (I only played one once years ago and it was....just me. In my hands it was the right tool for my style of playing - sloppy, aggressive and quick rhythm.) Am I really an oddity? All I want to do is spend a grand and a half on a short scale guitar. Ric, who for years did accommodate many like me, no longer chooses to. Maddening.

[analogpackrat]

If you could simply compromise a bit on having to have a new instrument you can solve your problem. I picked up a used 1992 jetglo 320 a few weeks ago in excellent condition for $1200 including original TRC and pickguard (it has gold replacements on it). It's a really nice guitar and you can hardly tell its not new. They are out there if you keep your eyes peeled. Can you give us some idea roughly where you are located?

A P

[jingle_jangle]

Here you go buddy, brand new 325, and it isn't Lennon Spec in the least!

If you're lucky, it'll be cheap!..... yeah right!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rickenbacker-325C64 ... 286.c0.m14

Nope. That one's already got Witty's name on it...

[paologregorio]

3/4 scale's just a bit too short for me going up the neck...but a 7/8 scale just work for me...