"Beatlemania" Rickenbacker Experiences


by Les Fradkin

Rickenbacker Forum

When I auditioned for the show, I owned a model 360/12 FG with high gain pickups which I had bought new in 1974 to replace my worn out 1969 366/12 MG which was very Beatleish looking anyway. I played thru a Vox Buckingham amp at that time. When the show was in rehersal for Broadway, the producers made a large endorsement deal with FC Hall for guitars and basses. The company originally made my group a 360/12WB FG, a 320 JG, and a 4001 FG (RH) and a 4001 MG (LH). They also made me a custom wired 370 in azureglo which I had converted to Byrd wiring for more stage flexability. This blue guitar got to be quite well known and it appears in the inside cover of the Arista Beatlemania album. I used this 370 quite a bit in Act II. It was later stolen.

Rickenbacker Forum

Beatlemania and Sgt. Pepper Set
Wintergarden Theater in New York City (June 1977)
Click on the photo for more about Beatlemania

In the above photo Les Fradkin is playing the 370 Azureglo. This guitar received custom Byrd re-wiring which gave it a little more zing with stage sound. I also used it in the "Making of Beatlemania" film. Mitch is playing a 1977 Model 4001S with one hi-gain pickup and one horseshoe pickup custom made by Rickenbacker for him. At the time, all production basses by Rick were bound with stereo outs. This one is unbound with mono out only like McCartney's. Joe's guitar on the stand is a 1967 Rick 320 with 3 toaster top pickups and a real f-hole!

When we went west to play LA at the Century City Schubert in Jan 1978, I took my guitars with me and added to the arsenal during the obligatory visit to the Santa Ana Factory. I met and befriended both FC and John Hall and there began a long friendship which remains to this day. FC took us to lunch and shared all his Beatle stories: the Plaza hotel, Tony Sachs and the signed guitar, the fact that he had Toots Thielemans with him to help show guitars. (BTW, for many years, Toots and I were next door neighbors in NYC).

Rickenbacker Forum

Mitch Weissman with 4001S Fireglo
Wintergarden Theater (June 1977)

Came time to do the ABC TV special and I wanted something unique. I asked for the green sunburst 365 on the museum wall but Ron Halpern said NOOOO! So instead, they built me the 1st all white Rickenbacker guitar: a gorgeous 370/12 with white binding and white pickguard. I used this guitar in the film "The Making Of Beatlemania" and on some sessions. Later, they decided to add the white finish to their regular production line. I later traded it to Henry Gross (of "Shannon" fame) for his one-of-a-kind 366/12 JG with ebony fingerboard. I also used my 341 Lightshow guitar with 3 high-gain pickups for the psychedelic section (Lucy In The Sky). I liked it but the show's director thought it was too gaudy. It did see television use on a Christmas appearance on New York Cable hosted by Laureen Bacall.

Rickenbacker Forum

Promo gig at John Laing Home Builder Co., Orange County, Ca. (Jan 1998)
L to R: Don Linares (bass), Les Fradkin (Ld. Gtr. with 360/12V64),
Mike Sarafian (drums) and Joe Gallo (Rhythm Gtr)


Mitch Weissman and I also participated as guests of Rickenbacker at the NAMM summer show of 1978 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. I demonstrated 12 strings (including my white one). That was a very enjoyable experience. I got to meet Chet Atkins!

If you saw the Beatlemania footage on ABC, you might have noticed that we were using Rickenbacker Transonic amps. John Hall gave these to the show for rehersals and I naturally wanted one. Don't know where these are today!

Rickenbacker Forum

Soundcheck from the John Laing Show (Jan 1998)
Joe Gallo (right) playing a 325V63JL Limited Edition
Modifications include a flat tailpiece and plain pickguard.


Through the ensuing years, I acquired, used and later sold a ever growing number of Ricks including a 362/12 JG, 370/12Byrd (I think this is the guitar that Andrew Gold now owns), 4005/6 FG (which I used on many hit records)and several 360/12V64's. I also once owned a white 325 guitar with black pickguard but didn't care for it and sold it.

You may notice that I always prefer to own deluxe instruments. This is because the dots "disappear" under red stage lights and the triangle inlay is still visible under all conditions. In 1988, I purchased a 370/12RME1 in fireglo (#44 in the series) and in 1994 I purchased a 381/12MG and a 5002V58 Mandolin in Mapleglo. I'd love to find a Bantar (Model 6000). Real hard to get......

Roger McGuinn once came to see Beatlemania and liked it quite a lot. Even asked me for MY autograph. My favorite story of McGuinn and me: While at college (Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio) I was social committee chairman so of course, I booked the Byrds for Spring Break 1972. They arrived on time but their instruments were all flown to the wrong city. So I, having the only Rick 12 within 100 miles, offered to "lend" my guitar to Roger. He played great that night although before sound check, I recall him complaining about my guitar's setup. I told him he could whistle his parts if he preferred. Naturally, my guitar felt much better at that point!

Nowadays, I play a very customized one of-a-kind 360/12V64 in fireglo with the following modifications- The guitar has a Boss CS-3 compressor built into the pickguard resulting in the following wiring scheme: Pickup selector switch (3 position for the two pickups) Master Volume (The old rhythm tone knob) Master Tone (The old lead tone knob) Compressor On/Off Switch (The old blend knob) Compressor Level (The old Rhythm Volume knob-concentric) Compressor Tone (The old Rhythm Volume knob-concentric) Compressor Attack (The old Lead Volume knob-concentric) Compressor Sustain (The old Lead Volume knob-concentric) Compressor LED (glows red when engaged)

The four rotary knobs from the Boss are built into the pickguard and the battery clips on the inside just like the McGuinn model. The out- put jack functions as a battery on-off switch. The work was done my Music Works here in Redondo Beach, California. It's quite something to see and hear! These days I use a Line 6 Flextone HD with a 2x12 Line 6 cabinet. Gets a great sound with Ricks. I recommend it highly.

I hope this has been as informative as you wanted. If you need more, let me know. And beep me when it appears on the site.

Best regards,

Les Fradkin


Rickenbacker Forum Article Submitted on July 9, 1999

© 1999 Les Fradkin. All rights reserved.


All photos Copywritten and shown by permission of Beatlemania

Editing and Html Design by Peter McCormack




Rickenbacker Forum

Rickenbacker Resource