Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Paul,

I think if you look at Lennon's early 325 you can see how the refinish penetrated the wood.

Paul, the luthier, who will do the refinishing for me, has also told me that we will have to see how the guitar looks like when the finish comes off. Then I will decide whether the guitar gets a transparent, "mapleglo" finish or something else - if I have the guitar refinished at all - I have not decided yet.

The modifications I did to my new 325C64 proved to be very successful. The guitar plays better, looks better and sounds better with the standard bridge and trapeze tailpiece. I am also beginning to realize why so many of you like the 7.4k pickups so much. But I think I will really have to remove the .0047 cap.

Hey, it only took me a month to get some pictures!

http://s24.photobucket.com/albums/c22/duffman650/?action=view&current=P1010095.jpg
http://s24.photobucket.com/albums/c22/duffman650/?action=view&current=P1010094.jpg
http://s24.photobucket.com/albums/c22/duffman650/?action=view&current=P1010090-1.jpg

Markus, I see where you're coming from...I bought the c64 because I wanted a 'time machine' piece from the '60s, and it does come with all the quirks of that time. However, it would be cool to see a non-reissue update of the 325 with more modern finishes and playability.

I'm glad you got yours the way you want it, good luck with the refinish!

I have to say that I walked into my local Ric dealer and tried out the 325c64 that they have hanging on the wall. It kind of left me flat. I have a 325v63 (as well as a 325/12v63), and I guess I just expected to be blown away. It didn't do it for me the way that my others have. I didn't find the playability any better. I was impressed at the impeccable finish and the appearance of the guitar. Plus my 325's already have the vintage spec toasters, so that was one more point for mine. More or less anti-climactic I suppose. However if anyone is looking for a c64 though, Guitar Emporium in Louisville KY has one.

Well, it took me some time and some modifications, replacing the accent vibrato, the roller bridge, changing the wiring, getting rid of the .0047 cap. But now I really like my 325C64. I have also found out what people like about the 7.4k pickups. For certain clean sounds they are great. And it is even possible to use them for distorted sounds if you turn down the tone knob a little. The C64 could never replace my V59 but it makes a great addition to my little guitar collection.

Markus, glad you're liking your C64.

Paul, I just heard from my luthier that he has no difficulties to remove the black color, because the guitar is so properly grounded, that it is easy to remove the black color. This means that my old 325V59 in jetglo will soon be a brand new looking one in mapleglo! I am already very excited!

In the meantime I have made several modifications to my 325C64 and I am beginning to love this guitar as well. The only modification I am not that happy with is the .0047 cap I removed - it seems that for this guitar with these 7.4k toaster top pickups the cap is quite useful indeed.

But I am currently thinking about humbuckers for the bridge and neck position anyway with just a single 7.4k toaster in the middle position.

All these things, standard knobs instead of the special 325/ 350 knobs, trapeze tailpiece, standard bridge, different wiring, different pickups, rubber foam instead of rubber grommets must seem pretty strange for those of you who love the C-series for historic authenticity. I guess I am not the right customer for a C-series guitar. But what should I do - there is no other, modern 320/ 325 which I could buy.

You could always buy a used 320, right?

Daniel, "always" is a little exaggerated. I have watched ebay for a 320 in good condition for quite some time and there has been none for years. If there was a 320, it was usually at least 20 years old with considerable wear. And I wanted a new guitar anyway.

"I have watched ebay for a 320 in good condition for quite some time and there has been none for years."

Untrue. You haven't watched closely enough, apparently. There have been four or five in the last 12 months alone, all in pretty good nick. Our very own Mitch Berger had a beauty in FG on Ebay only a couple of months ago.

There was a White one on there a few days ago, and Mitch's was relisted last week.

Oops - double post, sorry.

Paul, have these 320s been available for international/ worldwide shipment? I have used the search function on ebay in Germany to remind me of any new Rickenbacker 320 listed and I have never seen anything that I liked. But I have only received a notification if a 320 was listed for shipment to Germany, of course.

Well, I don't think you've been notified properly, then. THe ones I'm mentioning are all on American Ebay, and most were OK for international shipment. In fact, I don't recall any saying "only USA" on them.

Okay, maybe the notification did not work. It does not matter anyway. Now I have got my 325C64 and I am going to keep it. With my modifications it is the guitar I want and there is no need for me to look around for another 320/ 325 any further.