Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Any way you look at it, people value things differently from one to another.

Why are 1954 Strats bringing $15K plus??
Because people will pay....

With all due respect to all the Fender fans (I like them and own one too), I don't think there is a Fender in existance worth $15,000.(Maybe Buddy Holly's). To me, they just don't have what it takes. Alot of other stuff doesn't either, some Rickenbackers included. Just my 2 cents!!

The designation 370/12Byrd and the all like it would not exist if it weren't for The Byrds and Roger McGuinn.

There is little if any mystery at all surrounding Tomcat's Rick, and I only wish I could be in the running for it. Alot of us do.


Gary is right; it is a very fickle environment.

Time will tell!!!

Thanks Gary and John, I am very much enjoying your comments and thinking about this instrument. Is it the fame of the musician or the success of recordings associated with the instrument that determines its value? I vote for both. With regard to comparing George's 420 with Roger's 370/12Byrd, I think that the of chart success of the recordings made with McGuinn's instrument outweigh the performances involving the 420 of Harrison. Following this line of thinking, it would seem reasonable that an American auction of the 370/12Byrd would fetch a fee close to that received for the 420.

Yep...Not only what you mention, Peter, but also in terms of what the instrument signifies in the timeline of all the music we on this forum hold dear.

Looking at it from a 'guitarhead' standpoint, Roger's first guitar (the 1964 that was retrofitted) and Tomcat's Byrd 370/12#2 were big steps in the evolution of the Rickenbacker 12-string in so far as what could be done with it in terms of sound; Roger Mcguinn's playing style plus the mods to the guitars controls gave us the sound of the Byrds, and I'm pretty sure no other band has used the instrument to this degree since the heyday of the Byrds; if there was anyone who did, the band to come closest I guess would be Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.,Nevertheless George Harrison introduced the Rick 12 to the masses, but it IS the trademark of James Roger McGuinn, just as the Hofner 500/1 is Paul McCartney's.

Here's an idea I haven't seen elsewhere....

Tomcat and Roger could collaborate (by Roger authenticating the guitar) and they could split up the $$$$ from the sale of the guitar at a prestigious auction.

Doesn't sound like it would happen...but both of them could profit big time.

Brian: When one examines the available information with regard to this instrument's history, I consider that it is McGuinn's second Rickenbacker 12. For this reason I am not sure that Roger's authentication is necessary at this point. While it is not known when it will be sold, chances are it is going to fetch a handsome sum when it does. My wish would be for the instrument to be purchased by a museum where it might be on display for all to see and examine from a technical and historical point of view.

I realize that this is the real deal as well. I have no question about that. The issue is getting someone to plunk down that kind of money (100's of thousands of $s) for an instrument that at one point (prior to the GC sale) was separated from Roger in an - at best very shady fashion. So if you were a big-time collector would you risk having Roger claim it was his and he wanted it back after you plunked down $250-$500K on it??? Thats why I suggested they get together and work out a deal highly lucrative to both parties and to remove the element of risk to prospective buyers.