Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Wheather John's 325/12 was ever used on a recording is highly debatable. Of the 1000's of Beatles photos I've seen, I have never seen a shot of that guitar in the studio. As John's backup tour guitar, it dissapears from the photographic record after the summer tour of the USA in 1964. ( with the exception of a photo of how it is today in a recent Rick book)

Having owned played and recorded one of the earliest 325/12 (320-12v63) re-issues for over a decade, I have found the sound to be not that far off of a 360/12 that it could be distinctively detected on record.

It would be great if someone out there could prove me wrong and show photographic evidence or the like of his 325/12 in the studio.

The other night in response to a similar post/question, I checked in Lewisohn's "Sessions" book and it said that Paul played the lead on TTR and I know that the chunking rythm is JL. While GH probably played the 360/12 on this live (he used it on a lot of live shows) I don't hear the characteristic Ric sound on the intro.

Just my two cents.

Also, I recall hearing that the 325/12 wasn't used much because of the tuning/intonation problems of a short-scale 12 string

If I remember right in their 1965 appearance on Ed Sullivan George played his Gretsch Tennessean when they performed "Ticket To Ride".....

i saw a tribute band do ticket to ride and they used a Rick 360/12. George did, however definently use a Gretch on Ed Sullivan in 1965. this was obviously live and not mimed cause of al the stuff ups. he also used it at a show in Blackpool that appears on Anthology 2 (record and tv show). this doesn't mean it was used in the studio. i've seen them doing all kinds of songs were they used a 6-string on the record but George played his 360/12 live. i've got a show where it was the only guitar he used, so as far as live shows go, they are no way to tell you which guitars they used in the studio. i hope all thjis makes sence.

damm, i knew i should have checked my spelling! hehehe.

The intro to Ticket To Ride was played by Paul on his Epiphone Casino.

Paul played the riff at the end of the middle eights on the Casino, and George did the jangling stuff on the 360/12.

By the way, there recently was some ultra rare footage on German TV of the Beatles' Munich gig in 1966. A policeman right in front on the stage had a camera, and he really made a colorfull document! George used his modern style 360/12.

I actually read somewhere that it was Lennon who played the opening riff on his 325/12.

Jeff - I don't think the 325/12 that was a one-off to match John's 325 ever saw recording duty due to the inability to get a short-scale 12 string to tune/intone correctly.

But, I wasn't there, so I can't say, however to my tired old ears (ringing as they do with tinitus due to standing in front of too many amps turned up to 11...) I do NOT hear the characteristic Rickenbacker 12-string sound on the recorded opening to TTR.

That said, I >>KNOW<< that George played many songs live using the Ric after he got it - I've seen him play Roll Over Beethoven on it! Clearly NOT a 12 string song... but there you have it.

Here are two pics of Lennon in the studio with the 325/12.





The 325/12 remained in the studio at least into '68 because there are photos of it there taken out of the equipment locker during the White Album sessions. The 325/12 was used on "Every Little Thing", which is likely what those pics above show because of the tympani drums in the foreground. You gotta dig McCartney playing Lennon's 325 upside down. A friend of man ran into little Steven on the weekend who said that he ran into McCartney a few weeks ago when he was recording at the Henson studios out in Hollywood. Little Steven told him that McCartney grabbed his Gibson 335 out of his hands and started jamming with it upside down, with the right hand stringing, needless to say amazement followed.

The intro to "Ticket to Ride" was a 12 string, but which one is open for debate. I have a copy of two interviews with Harrison which he states that the 360/12 was used in the one interview and the 325/12 was used in the other interview, so even he doesn't know. McCartney played the little leads throughout the song and ending on the Casino, you can detect a similar guitar tone and style on McCartney's lead work on "Another Girl" too.

The "Roll Over Beethoven" on the twelve was actually mimed to earlier recordings intended for the TV show that aired in '64, I've seen in pakaged in many VHS formats as "Ready Steady Go!" and a few others.

Here are two pics of Lennon in the studio with the 325/12.

http://www.beatles.com/html/eightdaysaweek/archive/photo9.jpg

http://www.beatles.com/html/eightdaysaweek/archive/photo3.jpg

The 325/12 remained in the studio at least into '68 because there are photos of it there taken out of the equipment locker during the White Album sessions. The 325/12 was used on "Every Little Thing", which is likely what those pics above show because of the tympani drums in the foreground. You gotta dig McCartney playing Lennon's 325 upside down. A friend of man ran into Little Steven on the weekend who said that he ran into McCartney a few weeks ago when he was recording at the Henson studios out in Hollywood. Little Steven told him that McCartney grabbed his Gibson 335 out of his hands and started jamming with it upside down, with the right hand stringing, needless to say amazement followed.

The intro to "Ticket to Ride" was a 12 string, but which one is open for debate. I have a copy of two interviews with Harrison which he states that the 360/12 was used in the one interview and the 325/12 was used in the other interview, so even he doesn't know. McCartney played the little leads throughout the song and ending on the Casino, you can detect a similar guitar tone and style on McCartney's lead work on "Another Girl" too. The Beatles issue of "Rolling Stone" from a few months ago made reference to McCartney playing the intro, another poorly researched piece of info that has been put into millions of hands.

The "Roll Over Beethoven" on the twelve was actually mimed to earlier recordings intended for the TV show that aired in '64, I've seen it packaged in many VHS formats as "Ready Steady Go!", "The Beatles on Top!" and a few other titles. George wasn't actually playing it live on the tweleve, watch it again and you'll see what I mean.

Sorry guys, I went in to edit and it posted twice.

Great pics, Nick!!!

Fantastic Pics! I've been looking for 325/12 studio shots for 15 years. These are the first I've seen. Usually its the same 5 live & backstage photos making the rounds. Its great to see confirmed use of it in the studio. Love to see more shots of this, the coolest guitar ever built. (Don't argue with me... it IS the coolest guitar ever built!)