Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

In just two days, I've met John via e-mail, joined his group, and found out more about my Guyatone/Fenton Weil than I ever thought I'd ever know!

Apparently this ****** little resto project, which I bought on a lark because it was sooo ugly and disproportionate, is identical to the one played at one time by Hank Marvin (pre-Strat), Johnny Guitar, and--yes--Ringo Starr. (Check out the picture on John's site if you think I'm kidding!)

OK, John Lennon removed the Kauffman from his first 325 and replaced it with a Bigsby B5. What happened to the Kauffman? Why, it was given/sold to Johnny guitar, who installed it on his Guyatone, in place of the stamped metal "banjo" type tailpiece that originally came with the guitar.

Here's a shot of Hank and Cliff Richard's backup group, The Drifters, at Abbey Road Studios. Note the guitar that Hank is playing. Yeah, I know, odd.



Next, a later shot of Hank with the Shadows, post-Cliff Richard:



Finally, Ringo playing the Guyatone, borrowed from Johnny Guitar for the evening. This is the guitar that later got JL's Kauffman:



Now I feel motivated to actually complete the resto of the Guyatone. I managed to pick up. not one, but two complete NOS pickguard assemblies for this guitar, complete with all electronics, including the odd 1/8" output jack. Both were still wrapped in tabloid newspaper from February 1964! Also note (most obvious in the center picture) the Hofner knobs for volume and tone.

So, a bit of veneering to replace that which the last owner sanded off, removal of the fretboard to install a proper truss rod, and a good refin and we may end up with something playable, yet. Wish me luck!

See all you guys (who questioned this fact on another thread on the forum) who were doubting Ringos very keen ability to play guitar, thanks to Paul we now have a pic of Ringo rocking out.

I love it.

dang... look at that fingerwork! go, Ritchie, go!


Here we see Ringo instructing the lads on the finer points or rockabilly picking. Obviously Paul is having a hard time keeping up.

Fenderish headstock aside, it kinda looks like one of those custom jobs Lindsay Buckingham has been playing the past 20 years or so.

Glenn: I have it on good authority that Lindsay Buckingham learned everything he knows from Ringo. It therefore only makes sense that he would have custom guitars built in tribute to the great master (Ringo).

Randy, I believe you mean Lindsay Lohan... Sorry! That was bad.

FYI: Buckingham plays a Turner Model 1 C-LB...rather well I might add.

I always thought Ringo was better than most people give him credit for. I'm glad you're not one of them, Randy.

Glenn: Ringo is the best at whatever Ringo does!

Which is?

Whatever Ringo does!

I see Randy! You are exactly right.

Getting back to the original point of the thread, I want to thank Bjorn Ericsson for a good headstock shot of a WITH bass. It shows very limited work done to the headstock. Nice job Bjorn!

What was done to the headstock?

The photos I have show a stock one...

Just a few streaks of silver. Again Bjorn has informed me that this picture comes to him from WITH. How accurate are these guys Paul?

Well, I can't see it in person but in comparison to the pictures it looks like a pretty nice job.

A couple poor quality frame grabs. The back appears to be white.