Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi everyone...I mostly ghost this forum, as I don't have anywhere near the experience/background most of you do, but I've been a Ric fan since I got my first, a 350V63. So after owning the 350 for a year or so, I decided to go for the original--the 325.

I originally ordered a Mapleglo, but wavered a month or so later and said I'd take whichever came in first--Maple or Jetglo.

Most everyone here is probably light years ahead of me as far as what this guitar is all about--but for any other folks like me a while ago who might be researching, here goes:

According to "Beatles Gear", the 325 was a model that almost surely would have died out if not for one young Liverpool lad who wanted any Ric he could find because one of his heroes played a Ric.

First let me point out the obvious--this is a SMALL guitar. For example, Fender fans consider the Jaguar a shortscale guitar at 24"...the 325 comes in at 20 3/4". The body of the 325 is thicker than the 350's (the 350 is 24 3/4"). Net result is the 325 is a full 3" shorter in overall length than the 350. This 325 is feather light--my wife bought me the repro Vox Python strap (yes, I know, I'm a lucky guy!) for Christmas since she knew I had the 325 coming this year--I think that strap weighs almost as much as the guitar! She's tiny!

The 325 has the same vintage repro pickups as the 350, but as everyone here probably knows comes with the vintage Vibrola trem unit--which I like to point out JL played with for some time in Hamburg prior to installing the famed Bigsby. Although it's visibly kind of intuitive even to someone as thick as I tend to be (you can see the springs on either side of the tailpiece) it's not plainly obvious--this trem system works side-to-side as opposed to up and down. I'm guessing this is in no doubt the cause of countless unintentional gouges to new Ric 325 bodies--I would've probably done the same thing if not for my research here--thanks guys! I also bought the Bigsby B-5 and aluminum bridge to finish the "Lennon-izing" of the guitar, but to be honest, I may wait a while to do it--it's just the natural hesitance to have someone punch holes in my new baby! I did "disarm" the Vibrola though to avoid accidentally marring the finish. It's a simple thumb screw/set screw combo that holds the arm in, and it's easy to remove.

Unlike the 350, the 325's fretboard is not varnished--the natural, lighter rosewood looks incredible against the black body. Also unlike the 350, the 325 comes with the one-piece pick guard, and just four control knobs--no mini tone knob ala the 350. The tuners are repro "Sta Tites", open-back style. They are in fact very tight and easy to tune--even if not as visibly appealing as later model sealed tuners.

So what?!! Well, the guitar sounds great! Though I don't have a genuine Vox amp, I have a Cyber Deluxe and set it to the "Jangle British" setting, fooled with the volume and tone knobs, and was suddenly making very believable vintage Beatles noise...at least to my ear! . I switched over to my HRDvle 410 to hear her through tubes, and she is simply wonderful.

Bottom line, I'm extremely pleased with my decision to switch from the 350 to the 325--I don't mean to take anything away from the 350; to be honest, it's a more refined instrument. I may yet own another 350 for that very reason. But this is one great instrument!! Having said that, I don't think the 325 would be right for everyone, especially, I'd think, anyone with very large hands. She's all Ric though, as you'd expect--quality fit, finish, details and sound--what more could you ask??

So just a word about Voxshowroom and Northcoast Music, where I got this guitar from--and of course, no connection in any way! Gary Hahlbeck is a class act. I originally contacted him after researching Ric dealers here and on other forums. This is a fairly small operation (I think) and the relationship shows that--I sent and received a number of emails over the months from initial order to delivery. Gary only required a $25 non-refundable deposit to take my order. All of our correspondence was personal in tone; it wasn't like I had to reintroduce myself after a few months had gone by, etc. I'd STRONGLY recommend Gary to anyone looking for a Ric or Vox product--I expect I'll be back...already thinking about that AC 30 to go with my 325!!!

Photos to be added shortly!

Well, that's a really nice recap of the 325C58. It's a fun guitar, I enjoy them very much and owned one until recently, when I just kind of decided that it wasn't versatile enough to be my only 6-string electric. For Beatles/classic Britpop, though, it's unbeatable.

The only slight correction I could make to your missive is that although the pickups look very similar to the 350V63s, their output is probably much lower. They are wound to late '50s specs- about 3.5-4K - instead of the 7.4K of the standard RIC vintage pickups or the even hotter 12K or so of the pre-1998 RIC vintage pickup.

Have fun with it- I know I will always miss mine when I play a Beatles/Kinks etc...tune.

Bob--thanks! I thought they seemed a bit less hot, but chalked it up to still learning the guitar--

Bill

Bill Yantz and I had the discussion about the C58's pickups over a late-night cuppa coffee in Reno. I am fairly new to the Rickenbacker game, so I was under the impression that the C58 used the 7.4K scatterwounds. Bill insisted that the pickups were different, although he didn't know where he'd read it.

Glad to know the facts, Bob.

Bill, you were right!!!

Congrats on the new guitar Bill and dittos regarding Gary

Trying a pic here...She's in the shop now having the B5 and bridge installed...should be back home in about a week.

Thanks for the nice words guys...

That's a beauty....

Congratulations, and welcome, Bill!

Is that new? Why couldn't you get the B5 tailpiece already on it? It's missing the second tier pickguard.

Thanks Melissa! Chris, yes, she's new. I wasn't aware one could order the c58 with a Bigsby on it(?). I did purchase the Bigsby from Northcoast though.

I've also not seen any '58s with the two-tier PG--believe that came later? I know the c64s come with a two-tier PG.

Bill

The 325 C '58 was made to original specs, which included the Kaufman vibrato and the single tier guard. So, if you want a Bigsby on it, you'd have to do like Lennon. Add it yourself.

...and you can add a "bow tie" bridge and either Burns (with black switch tip) or Hofner knobs, depending on which period you are into! Have fun.....

Thanks gang--this forum is a treasure troth of knowledge...very much appreciated.

I went back and forth on the bridge question, finally decided to put the alum. bridge in. I think the Ric bridge is probably a better bridge for fine-tuning, but from my experience with Jags and JMs, these kinds of bridges can get pretty noisy.

Am I in the minority concerning the original "TV" knobs? I know they're not "JL-correct" (nor is my python strap for that matter), but I think they look good on the guitar.

Bill

Bill, I think that a treasure trove is preferable...

There is nothing in the Rick bridge's construction (save the stamped bridge itself) that is common to the Jag and JMs.

The only Rick bridges than consistently buzz are the roller bridges; this is true of a lot of roller bridges. You most certainly don't need a roller bridge with a Rick vibrato, anyway.

The Jag/JM buzzing is from all the tiny parts in the string saddles, which have a tendency to work themselves loose.

A properly-set-up Rick bridge, with a touch of Loctite on the four elevation screws, is generally a non-buzzer.

Keep the TVs. They have character. Anything you will replace them with will look weak and too new.

Paul's right about the knobs, Bill. I put the Burns on mine, but it took away from the look. I put the TV knobs back on and have the Burns stored away.

Paul, you're correct of course...that old adage "write as you speak" doesn't work if one "talks funny" . I should've been clearer as well in my comment re the bridges--I was making a comparison because I'd read, I'd thought, that the 325 bridges tended to buzz. I have cheated on the Jag bridge and just dropped a Mustang unit in .

I think you guys are right, I'm keeping the TVs!

Thanks again--

Bill