Rickenwhitefalcon

[fretbuzzard]

This late 1980's Rickenbacker 370/12 is a one-of-a-kind. Built to order for a Nashville session player who didn't take delivery, it was offered to us to sell.

The white finish, gold binding, gold plated parts, and uncarved 381 body depth would remind any guitar savvy individual of a Gretsch White Falcon. This resemblance seemed lost on the folks at Rickenbacker until it was pointed out to them after we presented it for sale.

We had the guitar for a couple of months before RIC CEO John Hall requested the guitar back. To my knowledge it is still hanging in his office with the remaining instruments in the company's collection.

This studio shot was taken during the same session as my lefty 1959 Les Paul Special that appears in The Les Paul Book, and a one-off Gibson that will be featured here soon. Jeffrey did not take this image. I am quite certain he wants that known, as he was less than complementary about the way it turned out. Regardless, it is an image of a truly one-of-a-kind Ricky 12.

In fact, the "Nashville session player" (Fred Newell, who played with Waylon Jennings) requested that RIC build him a flashy White Falcon-style instrument, so they pulled out the stops. In fact, if Newell didn't "like" it, it was no doubt because John Hall drew the line at the gold sparkle Gretsch-style binding that a factory employee was going to apply, insisting on black binding instead. Outside of this discrepancy, all the stops were pulled out.

http://www.myspace.com/frednewell

Fred Newell is known for his excessively gaudy instruments. Here's a link to one of his best, a Gibson Howard Roberts with a virtual tour of Nashville appliqued on its top and fretboard:

http://www.guitars.com/features/newell/newell.html

He played this Gibson (among other outrageous instruments) on the 'Nashville Now" TV show, on which he was staff guitarist.

This 370/12 was not "returned to RIC". In fact, its current whereabouts are unknown.

Interesting! Me, I like the black--classier in a Ric kinda way. But then again I'm someone who never really "got" the white falcon (I own two guitars--both black!). Looking at that Gibson I can see why it wouldn't be to Mr. Newell's taste!

[route66guitars]

Scott Jennings is referring to photographer Jeff Veitch, who took photographs of many of the instruments Scott sold at his shop. Jeff was obviously less than happy with the way the photograph of the guitar turned out and wanted to emphasize that he had not taken the photograph.

That is correct. Jeffrey was disappointed with the unnatural angle at which the guitar was shot.

While I agree it should have been shot both head-on and against a white background, it was an extra thrown in while shooting several of my instruments for a Gibson book, and there was no time to do more. Jeff's great shot of CG725 took him an entire day to set up and photograph. Work for hire guys don't work like that…

[route66guitars]

This late 1980's Rickenbacker 370/12 is a one-of-a-kind. Built to order for a Nashville session player who didn't take delivery, it was offered to us to sell.

The white finish, gold binding, gold plated parts, and uncarved 381 body depth would remind any guitar savvy individual of a Gretsch White Falcon. This resemblance seemed lost on the folks at Rickenbacker until it was pointed out to them after we presented it for sale.

We had the guitar for a couple of months before RIC CEO John Hall requested the guitar back. To my knowledge it is still hanging in his office with the remaining instruments in the company's collection.

This studio shot was taken during the same session as my lefty 1959 Les Paul Special that appears in The Les Paul Book, and a one-off Gibson that will be featured here soon. Jeffrey did not take this image. I am quite certain he wants that known, as he was less than complementary about the way it turned out. Regardless, it is an image of a truly one-of-a-kind Ricky 12.

In fact, the "Nashville session player" (Fred Newell, who played with Waylon Jennings) requested that RIC build him a flashy White Falcon-style instrument, so they pulled out the stops. In fact, if Newell didn't "like" it, it was no doubt because John Hall drew the line at the gold sparkle Gretsch-style binding that a factory employee was going to apply, insisting on black binding instead. Outside of this discrepancy, all the stops were pulled out.

http://www.myspace.com/frednewell

Fred Newell is known for his excessively gaudy instruments. Here's a link to one of his best, a Gibson Howard Roberts with a virtual tour of Nashville appliqued on its top and fretboard:

http://www.guitars.com/features/newell/newell.html

He played this Gibson (among other outrageous instruments) on the 'Nashville Now" TV show, on which he was staff guitarist.

This 370/12 was not "returned to RIC". In fact, its current whereabouts are unknown.

Yes, it was made for Fred Newell.

Yes, it was returned to Rickenbacker, as after it hung in my shop for several months John Hall asked me to return it to him. He told me that it was getting too much attention, and they were getting calls from the public asking for custom instruments.

I personally brought the guitar back to John the next time I visited the factory. (I was an authorized dealer, and engaged to their receptionist at the time, so in addition to my visits to pick up instruments I was there often for personal reasons…)

[longhouse]

(I was engaged to their receptionist at the time, so in addition to my visits to pick up instruments I was there often for personal reasons…)

A Rickenbacker story with strings attached. Love it. Thanks for sharing, Scott.

[12stringbassist]

Like another poster on here, the White Falcon was my dream guitar for a very long time too... If I had come across that white Ric at the same time it would have been a close call!!!