1964 Rickenbacker 12-string registry / info thread

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Sat May 12, 2007 5:22 am

There are a couple of us who wish to start a registry for Rickenbacker 12-strings produced in 1964 only, and as the thread grows it is the hope that we'll learn more about who ended up with them, where they went and how many were made and/or still survive.

1964 was of course the first 'real' year for the Rickenbacker 12-string guitar getting attention on a mass scale, thanks to George Harrison (and on a smaller scale, Suzi Arden too!).

The goal I suppose other that what I have stated is to get a clearer picture of what was made, when, and how it fit into the time line of the music of the day. I know of at least 3 of us here on the Forum who own 1964 model 12-strings, and if any of you who only lurk and own one, feel free to e-mail me off of the Forum and we will maintain your privacy while helping to complete the database.

In time, maybe this will evolve into a sepearate link here on the Forum but for now we'll talk about it all here. Off we go---

j_gary · Post by **j_gary** » Sat May 12, 2007 6:23 am

Cool idea John. This should be interesting.

Any idea how many the factory produced in 1964, and what it would take to buy one today?

Good luck!

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Sat May 12, 2007 6:43 am

Thanks J. Gary. As with most of the stuff on the Forum, it's my hope that this area is equally as interesting.

As far as how many, we hope to get close to knowing....there are figures we can quote from books, but maybe we can do better, maybe we can't...thus the fun of discovery.

How Much? Hmmm....from quite expensive to name your price to priceless. LOL....indeed a case-by-case situation with these I'd think.

glen_l · Post by **glen_l** » Sun May 13, 2007 12:45 am

I have 19 on file for '64, including celebrity owned instruments

8mileshigh · Post by **8mileshigh** » Sun May 13, 2007 1:15 am

Do we post serial numbers here John?

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Sun May 13, 2007 1:17 am

Hi Glen, thanks for commenting. Does your count include RM1993 models? Bjorn has 15 of those with '64 serial numbers on his site, and I can think of 11 more non-1993 models beyond this, and some of these are known '64s but no serial number is known (yet)...

8mileshigh · Post by **8mileshigh** » Sun May 13, 2007 1:20 am

There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know................that about sums it all up

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Sun May 13, 2007 1:24 am

Graham, hold off on that until we think about the plan a little bit, or if you wish you can e-mail me the numbers and I can start a private file so that only model and serial numbers will be revealed once we get a page up and running, thanks....I'm thinking it should resemble the current registry elsewhere on the RRF, the original registry.... we can break it down by model, sn#, finish type, location...maybe even a photo gallery at some point...

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Sun May 13, 2007 12:26 pm

Ooo-wee.

glen_l · Post by **glen_l** » Sun May 13, 2007 1:35 pm

John, I believe Bjorn has 13 definite '64 Rose Morris 1993's on his inventory page. I have all these, but seem to have picked up 3 more 1993's in my database. The earlist shipment dates from July '64 at this stage. I only have 7 non Rose Morris 12's though. So you're ahead of me in that regard. After recounting that makes 23 total in my database (not 19 as I previously mentioned)

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Sun May 13, 2007 1:46 pm

Not enough fingers and toes, LOL

That's great, Glen. We'll compare notes soon.

The one I just picked up is DL 793, and just came out of the woodwork so to speak. It was purchased from the original owner so it hasn't been floating around in collections. So this one is one we can add for sure.

glen_l · Post by **glen_l** » Sun May 13, 2007 2:37 pm

Thanks John, Did we get a serial number for the '64 360/12OS with f hole that Greg F picked up on eBay a few years back?

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Sun May 13, 2007 3:01 pm

No, the jackplate had been replaced on that guitar, and I haven't heard from Greg in a long while; I hope all is well with him. I need to drop him a line. He intended to properly restore that guitar....

glen_l · Post by **glen_l** » Sun May 13, 2007 4:07 pm

I haven't heard from Greg in a long time either. I hope all is well with him, and I wonder how he's going with that restoration. It'd be cool to see it back in original configuration.

Who was it ended up with the odd prototype 12 string having the long headstock with the 6 tuners straight per side? Is there a serial number for that one?

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Sun May 13, 2007 5:28 pm

JWilli I believe.