Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've always been curious about these models.
I know they were made in the UK until 1969, and these were the available models:

1993 - similar to the 360/12 or the 330/12
1995 - similar to the 615 or the 625
1996 - similar to the 325
1997 - similar to the 330 or the 335
1998 - similar to the 340 or the 345
1999 - similar to the 4001 or the 4001S

A couple questions:
Was there a model 1994?
What about the 360/12 "exports" I've seen? And Pete Townshend's 360/12OS with f-hole? What was the story behind that guitar?
What was the story behind the 1993 being reissued in 1986?
Anyone own any of these models?

I know they are highly collectable models these days, and I was just wanting to know the history behind them, who (besides Pete Townshend, John Entwistle, John Lennon, Brian Jones, Chris Squire and Carl Wilson) was/were famous for using them.

Thanks to anyone who can help ease my curious mind!

If there was a 1994, it wasn't a Rick.

There was also a Rose Morris 4005, with an F hole. It was called the 3261 IIRC.

TomPettyandHeartbreakersFan wrote:... I know they were made in the UK ...

That should be "... they were made for the UK market ...", as they were manufactured in the U.S.A. (as has been every Rickenbacker).

[edit] JB's right, here's a pic of the RM 3261:
which is indeed a 4005 with f-hole. And yes, that one's mine!

Rose Morris was also the Rickenbacker distributor for Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in the 1960s. I've been fortunate enough to find two of the more collectible models, both originally sold in music stores in Sydney, NSW.

My 1965 RM 1998 was the third Rickenbacker I acquired and my first vintage model. I purchased it about four years ago on Aussie eBay. It has the original music store decal on the rear of the headstock still and came complete with the export model case. These cases can be distinguished by the pressed-metal Rickenbacker name-plate. This guitar is the same model and same year of manufacture as the guitar used by Pete Townsend from The Who to record "My Generation"
The RM 1999 bass is rumoured to have been one of the first two Rickenbacker basses imported into Australia. I purchased it from the original owner earlier this year. It also came with the original case and remains in great condition for it's age:-

I would love to see these RM guitars reissued

But i guess that's never going to happen

I'd love to get a good pic of Pete's 360/12 OS with the F hole
because it looks very much like the one in Richard's book on page 191

Can't be sure of course, but i know there wasn't many of these made,well if your to believe Richards book,
Rickenbacker shipped only one 360S/12 with F hole in mid 1964!
That can't be right ,can it?

jch wrote:I would love to see these RM guitars reissued

But i guess that's never going to happen

I'd love to get a good pic of Pete's 360/12 OS with the F hole
because it looks very much like the one in Richard's book on page 191

Can't be sure of course, but i know there wasn't many of these made,well if your to believe Richards book,
Rickenbacker shipped only one 360S/12 with F hole in mid 1964!
That can't be right ,can it?

The 360/S12 that Pete ended up with was probably the sample deluxe 12-string sent to Rose-Morris which apparently they turned down as another offering in the catalog, believing that the 1993 was fine enough. Pete subsequently smashed the 360S/12 for it ended up on the famous 'wall of smashed Ricks' picture.

As to how many were made, definitely more than one, and I will speculate on about a half-dozen in that configuration. Including Pete's I can account for around four units....one is the cool 360S/12 with 6 Banjo tuners and 6 Kluson tuners.

Darren, what is the Serial on the rm1999?
emac.

Thanks John

I knew there had to be a few of these .not many i'll grant you, but a few
Everytime i see Pete in any clips slamming it into the Marshall ,i shudder!

Hate to think what these are worth today!
i've never seen one for sale this side of the pond
or the any of the small batch of reissues that where done

They really are cool looking 360's though,another dream........

Here are some good pics of the 360/12S OS for you guys. Thanks for all the info, everyone!





And some with his 1997s and 1998s:






Playing a 1993:


Pete with his Rickenbacker collection:

My RM 1999 is DH153.

Cheers Jake great pics !

After having another look,
i don't think Pete's is the same guitar in Richards book.

It was the TRC that was convincing me before ,but on closer inspection, his is a bit longer
The one on pgae 191 of Richards book has a very short TRC, stopping just after the last R

Some Rose Morris style "reissues" including a 1999 360/12v64 with f hole, 1998 1997 VB, and a 1996 325V63 with f hole:

That's a great shot Kevin

Anyone know what these 360/12V64 f hole models are worth on today's market?

I'd guess around $4k - $5k.

rick_ovic wrote:My RM 1999 is DH153.

Mine is DK564 I think mine came into the country with a second batch of them as there is another one around somwhere with a serial near mine. I know there is at least 4 of them in Australia...
emac.