Yeah, it's incredibly clean. It's like playing something out of a time capsule! Here's it's sister:
http://www.rickbeat.com/gallery/jonmagu ... aguire.htm (one serial number away)
The only difference between the 1997 and the 330S were the knobs (but not in the case of this guitar - the knobs are original) and the tailpiece (I prefer the trapeze above all the other Ric tailpieces). From what I recall, 1997 was the name Rose Morris gave to the guitar, and Rickenbacker called it a 335S. Mine has the 345 designation on the inside so it could have been used for a 330S up through a 345S. The silver case didn't have a Rickenbacker plate on it either, but otherwise they are the exact same case.
I used to own a May 1964 1997 with the Accent vibrato and I hated it! Perhaps that's why Pete Townsend swapped his out for either R or trapeze tailpieces. I could never keep it in tune! It's the guitar at the upper left here:
http://www.rickbeat.com/photofeatures/b ... obkat2.htm. Most of the parts on this guitar aren't original and it's been routed for a humbucker at the neck pickup.