Rickenbackers

Rickenbacker Basses. Particuarly of the left handed variety, particuarly of the 4001 Fireglo/Mapleglo left handed variety. They are Rarer than spotting a T-Rex taking a crap in Hyde Park.

Paul with the new paintjob during the Hello Goodbye Video.

Myself with a Customized Rickenbacker 4001 left handed. It belongs to Ardy Sarraf of California based Beatles Tribute The Fab Four. I had the honour of assisting them when they came to Liverpool for Beatle Week in 2008. A wonderful tribute show to The Beatles. If you can catch one of their shows, you will not be disappointed.

The official line is that Rickenbacker are currently not producing any left handed basses so they can catch up with their backlog of orders.

"Ok, Ok, So what is the big deal about these guitars!?" as my girlfriend would ask.

Put simply, The Beatles played them. That should be enough for anyone to want to own one (or several).

John Lennon got his 1958 Rickenbacker 325 in Hamburg in 1960. It was a maple colour originally and in late 1962 he had it painted black and the knobs replaced before retiring it in 1964 when The Beatles had got America's attention and Rickenbacker were throwing instruments at the band. On their first trip to New York, FC Hall, Rickenbackers President arranged a meeting with the boys after hearing that John and George were using his guitars (George was using a 1962 Rickenbacker 425 on gigs that he'd picked up from his visit to Illinois in late 1963) and Hall brought along a 12 string Rickenbacker 360 (which George readily accepted) and a prototype 4001 bass for Paul, Paul liked it but it was a right handed model and he had to wait until August 1965 for a left handed model which was handed over just before their Hollywood Bowl show at Burt Lancaster's house (Where else?!). John's new 325 wasn't ready and was shipped to him at the Deauville Hotel in Miami just before their second appearance on Ed Sullivan Show. George put his 360/12 string to good use (most notably in their film A Hard Day's Night) but during a press conference in Minneapolis in 1965, WDGY, The local Radio station presented George with an updated version of the 360/12. (Here's a video of George receiving the Guitar.) and consequently his first 360/12 was retired until he dusted it off 22 years later for work on his solo album Cloud Nine. His second 360/12 he used on The Beatles final world tour in 1966 and then it too was retired and was stolen in 1969 from Abbey Road along with his Gretsch Tennessean and Paul's first Hofner Bass. (Note: To whoever has these instruments, you may as well return them to Paul and The George Harrison Estate. It's not like they stole anything from you.)

John, on the other hand, used his 325 up until 1966 when he and George followed Paul and got an Epiphone Casino each (Paul of course never played his live during the Beatles tours but it can be heard on tracks like 'Taxman', 'Ticket To Ride' and 'Another Girl') and is still, to my knowledge, in Yoko's possession. His earlier 325 was worked on in the 70's by New York luthier Ron DeMarino who apparently did all of Lennon's guitars. Read all about it here: "You tell your Rock & Roll Star to come out!" 

Paul used his Rickenbacker 4001 during the Rubber Soul and Revolver sessions and it was on the final tours as a back up bass but it got painted in 167 and was used on Sgt. Pepper and Magical Mystery Tour until he got bored with the paint job and sent it off to be stripped back like John and George had done to their Casinos. it didn't see action again until his debut solo album McCartney and then all during his career with Wings until 1979 when Yamaha gave him a free bass. According to a report from Rickenbacker lead finishing man Mark Arnquist "It needed some help" when Paul sent it in to Rickenbacker before Wings' world tour in 1976. Macca still has this bass but who knows if he'll ever play it live again?

Come on Paul, let's hear it live one more time!

The Beatles Rehearse for Ready Steady Go in 1963, Note George with his 425.

John with his new 325 in 1964 on Thank Your Lucky Stars.

Paul with his 4001 during sessions for Revolver, 1966

George with his first 360/12 in 1964.

It's so cool John has to have a go!

But really, it's George's guitar, does he need a light?

George with his second 360, the stolen one.

Bring it back to the stage, Paul!