Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Does any one know where John lennons Two rickenbackers are? If so post some Pics!!



Thanks!!!

John's 1958 325 is in the Lennon museum in Japan. His 1964 325 is in Yoko's possession. His 325/12 is in the Rock 'n'Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

This was a "loaner" when John broke the headstock on his '64. Ringo's got it now.

I really wish someone would change the pickguard on the '58 already. Not sure how anyone ever thought that that looked good.

... or how they chose that color for the refinish. It's not quite mapleglo, is it? More like nakedglo ...

did he bend that handle even more than the bent ones they sell now?

Here's his 325/12. I've seen a picture of John Hall holding this guitar before they (he?) handed it to John.


Here's a replica of John's '58 as it looked after he had it refinished the first time.

kiramdear wrote:This was a "loaner" when John broke the headstock on his '64. Ringo's got it now.

Ringo owns that guitar today I believe. John gave it to him. I thought the Miami guitar was at the museum in Japan as well?

Bill

1965 wrote:I really wish someone would change the pickguard on the '58 already. Not sure how anyone ever thought that that looked good.

I hope they leave just as it is actually, bad repairs and all.

This might not be the guitar of the british invasion, but it is the guitar as it was the last time Lennon saw and played it, and that's worth something in itself.

Geez, the replicas look better than the original.

tennis_nick wrote:

1965 wrote:I really wish someone would change the pickguard on the '58 already. Not sure how anyone ever thought that that looked good.

I hope they leave just as it is actually, bad repairs and all.

This might not be the guitar of the british invasion, but it is the guitar as it was the last time Lennon saw and played it, and that's worth something in itself.

+1...leave it as Lennon wanted it.

The '64 325 is indeed in the Lennon Museum in Japan ( ). I saw it at the RRHOF in 2000, but I was too young to know what it really was!

The 1996 was last used by Mark Hudson on Ringo's "Choose Love" album, for the rhythm part (I've never heard that song, but I did read an interview with Hudson about playing it).

This leads to a good discussion: Did Lennon swap cases with the '64 325/6 and the RM1996? Pics I've seen of Lennon's '64 325/6 shows the case sporting a badge, which US Rics did not sport, I thought?

Someone also claimed that Ringo has George's 63 Country Gentleman.

The interview:

http://www.thecanteen.com/hudson.html

A detailed picture of the '58 325 (reportedly) as it appears today:

http://www.thecanteen.com/hamburg.html

To be fair, the Hamburg 325 was "restored" at a time when "original condition" meant something in the antique car biz, but hadn't quite gelled as desirable when John's guitar was completed. There is a honey-colored stain on the maple, and that white guard (which was added sometime after John got the guitar back) takes it beyond any concept of original appearance. It just doesn't look right, and it fairly cries for a sensitive re-doing...it has been thirty years since it was done last.

It really should have been left coach-painted in black, chipped and nasty--no patina beats real historic knocking-about--but once done, it should be done well, for all time, and to a realistic "museum display" standard, with colors, textures and glosses as it was the day it first rested in John's eager hands.