Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

While I was looking at my Model 350 next to a favourite Beatle photo this evening I was reminded yet again of the almost magical connection between The Beatles and Rickenbackers. There can be no doubt that this was a relationship in which both parties benifited to a great degree. I have posted below the photograph that I took after playing a number of the Fab Fours' "Please Please Me" compositions.

Very cool photo Peter. I like your choice of the blonde 325 with gold nameplate, similar to Lennon's original '58. To me that will always be 'the' 325 as it was fate when John found that one in a Hamburg shop. Nobody gave him that guitar because he was in The Beatles and knew it would be good for business. They were just starting out at the time and no one, not even The Beatles, could foresee how big they would become. Some people prefer the Miami 325. The '64 325 would not have existed if not for the
'58. I prefer Paul's Cavern bass to the second one for the same reason. He made the choice to buy a Hofner violin bass because it looked good. And it was a cool bass when he returned to Liverpool as the violin basses were not yet available in England(through Selmer). Can you imagine what the local groups must have thought when Lennon returned the first time from Germany with his '58 325? Then after the second trip Paul returns with a violin shaped bass? Everything they did was unique. Even before they
were world famous they were shaking things up in Liverpool. What a group!

Larry: The blonde 325 will always hold a special place in my heart. It has become as legend along side of the Beatles. As my fingers, and mostly my pocketbook, will not allow a 325 in my collection, I have dressed up my 350 (note the dot fret marker on the third fret) in affordable stages. The toaster pickups really chime. The Miami is a cool guitar, however, my preference lies in the original 1958 325. I am unsure, however, about what tailpiece most typifies the Lennon 1958 Rickenbacker. Alas have decided on the trapeze tailpiece, something Lennon did not use, for a generic early look.