Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Will Rickenbacker ever make a replica of the Lennon 58 model ?

Ask the factory at http://www.rickenbacker .com

I do not pretend to know what John hall is doing nor am I privy to inside info with that company.

At one time I could make a phone call and get info from the plant manager that was not public knowledge ,but those days are gone.

Poshbot, Just my theory on this, but with all of the 'legal issues' that other companies have had to deal with when 'replecating' a Lennon guitar, I wouln't hold my breath. If John's picture, likeness or name is attached to an item, then the Lennon estate has all the control in the world over that item, plus Yoko would stand to make a profit from it. Gibson released the J160-E and then the Epiphone 'Cassino', and each time these had to 'meet' certain criteria.(Not to mention a higher price tag!)
The only way a 're-issue' of John's 58 could happen is if they just built it 'exactly' like it was with all the bells & whistles (tuners, bridge, knobs etc.) and release it as a 'historical time piece' would they get by with this. Lennon's name or reference to the Beatles more than likely couldn't be any where.
Maybe they could refer to it as 'The British Invasion' model!?

Or The Ed Sullivan Model??????

Gary: Perhaps the biggest drawing card ever for an instrument is the name "John Lennon". Not withstanding your comments, I would think that it would be well worth RIC's effort to pursue a new John Lennon model that replicates the original refinished instrument as precisely as possible as a number of Rickenbacker owners have already done.