Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

It is very interesting to see the placement of the f-hole on this 1958 model 345. It almost touches the middle pickup.

An employee getting used to his/her new bifocals maybe.

Nice dark burst!

Noel

Well, this is an interesting piece....probably made by Roger Rossmeisl himself.

It shares more lineage I would think with a model 381 due to it's carved top. This is the reason why the f-hole is positioned where it is. It could very well be a one-of-a-kind Rickenbacker.

That appears to be the James Burton 381- I think it's technically a 392, but I start to get confused when they get above 381- they don't really follow the normal numbering plan. I'll look it up in a price-list. Not sure if James Burton actually owned it, or just posed with it.

I've had my eye out for this particular guitar for ages.

Along the thought of "probably made by Roger Rossmeisl himself"... I would think that in 1958 as the new hollowbodies were coming out, he probably had his hands on a great deal of guitars.

He was the chief designer- but that couldn't take up too much time. I assume he took part in Lennon's first 325, and my '58 335 & 345- but unfortunately there's no way to tell. I used to open up my 50's Ricks looking for a signature, but they didn't write much in there in those days.

In that era, he would have participated in the manufacture of every instrument. The designer duties were rather on the side of his main job as the head of the wood and finish shops- essentially himself and a small number of assistants.

Wow, Peter, where did that photo come from? And what color is that? What a cool guitar!

I was off on the proposed number- it's a 384: Thick body, three pickups, & vibrato. A 392 would have been like a 365F with carved top & back (I'm sure they made TONS of those).

Also, in comparing the above guitar to the one James Burton is pictured with- it appears to be the same, but when James has it there's a standard tailpiece, one chrome knob (one fell off), and only two pickups- but there appear to be screw holes for the missing middle one. I'd say the above photo is later- which would indicate that James Burton was only posing with it. ...so where is it now?

If you look closely, the bridge is sitting on a base plate that looks as if it made of wood. Cool. Also, you can see thru the f-hole that the back has nice flame. I wonder where this guitar is NOW?!

So Roger might have had his hands on my 1957 Combo 800? Cool!