Rickenbacker 325V63

[Lewis1965]

So last night I made a snap decision...not sure yet if I will regret it or not so came here first to check with you guys...

I have been watching 325s on eBay for a number of years on the off chance I would see one cheap enough for me...I had pretty much given up as the lowest price seemed to be around £2000 ($3000) .....so last night while trolling eBay I spot a 'Newly Listed' one with a 'Buy it Now' for £950....It is advertised as a 325V63 but on checking the Rickenbacker models on their site I see no '63' model...only the 325V64...

This guitar was made in 1999

The photos were pretty detailed and I could see that there was little wear but that someone had added some awful looking SPERZEL lock tuners which I will be replacing with some vintage Klusons when the guitar arrives....

I have a few questions if anyone would be kind enough to help me here...First, the tailpiece is not the tremolo version but the trapeze version. Is that standard?...I notice in the photo of this guitar below that the seller has also included a tremolo arm in the plastic bag which would indicate that he has sold/lost the original vibrato and that this is a replacement?..Could that be true?

What differences are there between the V63 and the V64?..All the V63s I have seen on the internet look exactly the same as the V64 so I am a little confused and hoping I haven't missed something here..

So my dream guitar hopefully arriving in a couple weeks...

[Lewis1965]

Any help here would be...er...well...helpful!

Thanks in advance...

[clementc3]

Be patient - the forum "regulars" don't check it every day. There are a number of people can likely help you.

[clementc3]

Paging Brian Morton, paging Brian Morton ...

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

Paging Brian Morton, paging Brian Morton ...

Ok I am here, I am here everyday, but have not posted much of late. Busy with a move (14 years since the last one - so lots of stuff to sort).

Looks like a 325 to me.

What is the SN? That will date it at least.

[Medicus1963]

Hi Lewis,
I cannot see any photos, please paste the URL of the auction.
First there is no such thing as a 325V64 but there is a 325C64, which came after the V series and is a more accurate Version of the historic model.
The main difference is that the V63 has the Higain Toaster Pickups and the C64 has the lower gain scattterwound Toasters. There are also some differencies in the internal bracing and the headstock design, but this does not affect playability or sound.
the V63 comes with the accent vibrato as standard, so the trapeze is a replacement.
The rest of it, when i got photos.
(By the way, i owned several 325 models, so i know what i am talking about)

Greetings

Peter

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

Found the Auction.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Rickenbacker-ele ... SS:CA:3160

SN is 99 32811 So week 32 = August of 1999
Good deal. Congrats.

Yes I too think the guitar is a 325 V63 with the Accent swapped out for a trapeze.

RIC has not made a V63 325 since about 2001. They first made them in 1984, just after John Hall bought the company from his father FC Hall.

RIC still does make a 350 V63. But current 325 production is only the C series. Hence your confusion.

[iiipopes]

It should be a relatively easy matter to reinstate the Ac'cent whammy if you are inclined to do so.

[Lewis1965]

Thanks you fellas so much for your input here....It is so valuable to me and will save me weeks of trolling I am sure....

and clever to find it on eBay too...lol

My mistake typo on the 'C' and 'V' models...by the way

I have been checking ebay for years to check for a 325....My favourite would be the V58 or 59 natural one but this one will be a great addition to my guitar collection....There was no way I could justify (especially to the missus) a £2000 guitar so when I saw this one below £1000 I was panicked into buying before I thought someone else would snap it up...and like with anything you get a good deal on I was wondering where the catch was or if I'd missed something obvious...so its a bit of a relief to hear that you think it is a good deal too...Thanks for your input

I already actually have a fireglo 330 from 1989...and that is a wonderful guitar....It is set up so well...low action and no buzz...Its one of my favourites...

You know I was so keen to get a 325 I actually made one last year...in 10 days too...I mean it was like 14 hours a day and spread over 2 weeks but it can be done....I know Rick are a bit sensitive about copies.....but this one isn't for sale...Its a home build and it is just for me...Its like a Hamburg replica (apart from a couple personal changes eg. double pickguard, thin nut, and head shoulders)..It plays surprisingly well with chunky flat wounds on it and it is one of the best guitars for staying intune...

Here's the vid for anyone that's interested....i'll tell you know once you have made a guitar like this and this was my only one it changes the way you fell about every guitar you own...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2qqB2O6bR8

[Lewis1965]

I also want to try making scatter wound pickups...The 325 build I made has cheap lookalike pickups (very cheap £20 each) and I have bought the wire to go about winding them myself.. so..that will be my next project to do...

[casinoman]

Interesting project, and well done from what I can tell. Especially given the kind of tools that were available...

[Lewis1965]

I have just had a letter from Parcelforce indicating that I have to pay customs duty and Import VAT at a total cost of £259......OUCH!..I didn't expect that....

So the guitar has cost me in total £1300

Now not as good a deal as I once thought....

Would I get that kind of money back if I was to sell it I wonder?...not that I would sell it...but the extra £259 cost has taken the shine off it a little

[jps]

I have just had a letter from Parcelforce indicating that I have to pay customs duty and Import VAT at a total cost of £259......OUCH!..I didn't expect that....

So the guitar has cost me in total £1300

Now not as good a deal as I once thought....

Would I get that kind of money back if I was to sell it I wonder?...not that I would sell it...but the extra £259 cost has taken the shine off it a little

Were you expecting a freebie from the Queen?

[iiipopes]

If the cost of taxes and import duty is a deciding factor in purchasing an instrument, you should not have purchased it in the first place, and should have been researched going in. The world does not function according to WalMart. You bought it, you own it.

Swallow hard, pay the taxes and import duty, and enjoy your instrument.