Baby's In Black:

Refinishing The Most Famous Rickenbacker

by Peter McCormack

Part 6: Oh How Long Will It Take?

The Need For Future Research

There is still much to learn regarding the motivation for and the circumstances surrounding the refinishing of Lennon's 1958 325 Rickenbacker. The ending to this story will, no doubt, continue to be modified and rewritten as additional information continues to surface over time. It has become evident that many of the facts surrounding the refinishing are known by a small number of individuals, some of whom have passed on. It is hoped that the facts associated with Lennon's 1958 Model 325 will be known and documented before this history is lost forever.

It is knowledged that there is speculation throughout this article, however, it is hoped that this fact finding mission will become the impetus necessary to have other enthusiasts come forward with new data.To this end, ruthless critiques of this historical account are welcomed. It is only through a forum of openness and sharing that valid conclusions can be realized. I am indebted to all those Beatle historians who have provided the research that enabled the writing of this article and to those who have taken the time to critique this ongoing research, particularly Larry Wassgren, Tim Fletcher, Chris Huston and Chris Wharton. This work is in its infancy and much collaboration is required to sort fact from fiction. Please share your knowledge.

Mr. Derek Adams, where are you? Please let us know if you sprayed this instrument black in September 1963.

References

Andrews, Leslie - Personal Communication, October 2001.

Babiuk, Andy - Beatles Gear: All The Fab Four's Instruments
From Stage To Studio. London: Outline Press Ltd. 2001

Beatles, The - The Beatles Anthology. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2000.

Bacon, Tony and Day, Paul - The Rickenbacker Book San Francisco: Miller Freeman Books, 1994.

Best, Pete - Personal Communication on September 12, 2000.

Coleman, R. - John Winston Lennon Volume 1. 1940-1966
London: Sidgwick & Jackson, 1984.

Crowley, John F. - Lennon's Guitars. 1999

Day, Paul - Personal Communication, August 21, 1999
and October 2001.

Dugdill, Tim - The Georgians Mersey Beat A-Z 2003.

Gibson, Barry - Personal Communication, October 3, 2000.

Gruhn, George and Carter, Walter - Gruhn's Guide To Vintage Guitars 2nd Ed. San Francisco: Miller Freeman Books, 1999

Hersey, Tuck - Personal Communication, October 5, 2000.

Houlder, Norman - Personal Communication, October 2001.

Huston, Chris - Personal Communication, March 25, 2001.

Kinsley, Billy - Personal Communication, February 3, 2002.

Lambert, Glen - Lennon's 1958 Rickenbacker 325.
Rickenbacker Registration Page, 1999.

Lewisohn, Mark - The Complete Beatles Chronicle London: Hamlyn, 2000. Miles, Barry - The Beatles: A Diary. London: Omnibus Press, 1998.

McCormack, Peter - The Liverpool Factor. The Liverpool Project, 1999.

McCormack, Peter - The Rickenbacker Forum. The Beatles' Forum 2000 - 2003.

McCormack, Peter - You Won't See Me. No Reply 1998 - 2003.

Pawlowski, Gareth - How They Became The Beatles: A Definitive History of the Early Years 1960-1964. New York: E.P. Dutton, 1989

Pearson, Robert - Personal Communication, October 2001.

RIC325v59 - John Lennon's Rickenbacker, Sometime In NYC 1974. Rickenbacker Registration Page 1999.

Smith, Richard - The History of Rickenbacker Guitars Fullerton: Centerstream Publishing, 1987.

Wharton, Chris - Personal Communication, April 18, 2003.

Submitted on November 17, 1999 - Revised April 29, 2003

Rickenbacker Resource