Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Yep. The Nashville/USA Lennon Casinos have a nitro finish while the Elitists have a poly finish. The Lennon Casinos have the 60 spec five ply wood (maple/birch/maple/birch/maple) while the Elitists are five ply maple. The neck binding on the USA Lennon models covers the ends of the frets (like other Gibsons) while the frets extend over the binding on the Elitists. And the Lennon models have the 60s -correct "E" trussrod covers while the Elitists have 'Elite' on their trussrod covers (interesting that the Lennon models share this feature with the Korean models). The main difference between the Lennon models and the Elitist models is $2500 for a USA Lennon vs $1150 for an MIJ Elitist.



It got my Elitist 65 Casino and my 325C58 for less (combined) than the retail price of a Lennon Casino (admittedly, however, my 325 was a GC "blowout").

**And the Lennon models have the 60s -correct "E" trussrod covers while the Elitists have 'Elite' on their trussrod covers (interesting that the Lennon models share this feature with the Korean models).**

Actually the Lennon TRC only uses 2 screws vs. 3 screws for the MIK and the "E is not as Elongated on the MIK.

So you were one of the lucky ones to score a 325 in the GC blowout. Congrats. I'd eventually like to own one of those as well but there's still more practical guitars I would like to have first. But if I could have got a 325 at that blowout price I would have had to jump on it. My local GC only had 2 that were sold immediately and were both bought by the same person.

Thanks for delving into the details, alot of that I'd never heard about.
So I guess getting an Elitist is somewhat of a middle ground between the three.
Is the Lennon model the only one that has 'nylon' saddles or is that an Elitist thing too?
I read a thread that Peter had started about switching his saddles to nylon and claimed to get a better sound out of it.

Yes the Lennon model is the only one with the nylon saddles and also the Corian nut. I suspect the plastic saddles may rob some of the sustain but I never really tested that by swapping bridges.

I feel the ELitist is a smart choice of the 3 with a good balance of quality and price.

Jamie, I noticed the glut of 325C58s on ebay, and came here to the Ric forum to see what was going on. I then immediately called several of the GCs in my area (region, really), and found one Mapleglo remaining in the Nashville store (a four hour drive). I put it on layaway and drove up the next day to get it. Like you I could never imagine getting one of those at regular retail price -- but at $800 it was something I just couldn't pass up. I got mine on 9/10/04, and it's thus named (appropriately) "One After 9/09".



My Elitist Casino had steel saddles on the stock bridge. Do some come with plastic?