Rickenbacker Model 365 Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1963)
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Item # 10622
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Rickenbacker Model 365 Model Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1963), made in Los Angeles, serial # CM-174, mapleglo natural lacquer finish, maple body, laminated maple and walnut neck with paduak fingerboard, original silver Tolex hard shell case.
Vintage Rickenbacker guitars just don't come much cooler -- or cleaner -- than this one. This is a very rare Model 365 from the last days of 1963, the pivotal moment in the company's history when their association with the Beatles (and entire British invasion that followed) catapulted the small California company to the front ranks of the guitar universe. Even now almost 60 years on most players associate Rickenbacker guitars with that period, or with later bands that draw inspiration from it. The 360-12 that went on to worldwide acclaim in the hands of George Harrison has a serial number just 67 units before this one, and both were part of a burst of activity at Rickenbacker during the last month of 1963, which included making the first samples for Rose-Morris to distribute in England.
This guitar is a distinctly transitional instrument, with a rare combination of features specific to this moment in Rickenbacker history. Many would classify this as a "365-OS" as after mid-1964 the flat-topped, double bound body would be referred to as "Old Style" at Rickenbacker. In December 1963 this was how the Models 360-375 were made, but the newer rounded-top Deluxe design replaced them in spring 1964 making this style a highly sought after rarity. It apparently never occurred to anyone at Rickenbacker that after getting massive exposure in the hands of the biggest band in the world, maybe completely changing the way the guitar looked and felt was not the greatest idea!
At any rate this model 365 was built when that famous head-scratcher was still months ahead. The semi-hollow Rickenbackers from this era are very rare; a couple of years later they would be a very popular instrument, but in 1963 this was an obscure and quite expensive guitar made in very limited numbers at best. This one has a lot of transitional features with some of the salient details of the "New Capri" era Rick, which began when the body design was thinned and altered in mid-1961. These include a square neck heel, padauk fingerboard and wider body shape, but this also has he slightly smaller headstock and crushed pearl inlays more typical of a '64 model. That headstock mounts Van Ghent tuners with pearloid buttons instead of the standard Klusons; these were usually only used on high-end special production models in 62-64.
The model 365 designation means the guitar is fitted with two pickups and an accent vibrato. These "toaster" pickups are wired in Stereo, with the "Rick-O-Sound" dual jackplate offering Stereo or mono output. Internally the pots are coded 137-6325 and 6348; this last would have been wired into the guitar almost as soon as they arrived! There is a pencil mark "Nat" in the control cavity, an instruction to the finisher. The maple used for the body has some interesting figure, not the "flame" tiger-striped style, but some swirling grain that is unusual for a Rickenbacker.
Although it is natural Mapleglo (and has only 6 strings!) this is as close a cousin to the 360-12 presented to George Harrison in February 1964 (also made in December 1963) as we have ever encountered. The physical features are a close match, even down to the slightly swirly pattern in the maple top. Harrison's did have the older pearl fingerboard inlay; this one must have been one of the VERY first to get the new "crushed pearl" style. Beyond that connection is a very rare guitar, and a spectacular one at that ! It plays and sounds exactly as one would wish, a Rickenbacker fan's dream and a spectacular vintage find here well into the 21st century.
Overall length is 40 3/16 in. (102.1 cm.), 15 1/4 in. (38.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 11 9/16 in. (294 mm.).
This is a superbly clean guitar in completely unaltered original condition, simply one of the nicest Rickenbackers from this period we have ever seen. Is shows only very minor wear and one inconsequential repair but the idiosyncratic issues older Ricks often exhibit are entirely absent. The all-original Mapleglo finish has some minor scuffs, dings and dents but the only wear through is a few spots on the lacquered fingerboard. The upper pickguard has some light pick scuffing.
The neck angle is fine (often a real sore point on these) and the action can easily be easily adjusted quite low without problems, with more than sufficient angle off the vibrato tailpiece. The dual truss rods work fine and the fingerboard has never suffered any separations at the nut from them being improperly adjusted, a condition which is often seen on older Rckenbackers. The original roller bridge is complete and as functional as it ever was; even the small saddle cover is intact.
The only repair is to one almost invisible crack off the back edge of the soundhole, running about 2 1/2" diagonally down towards the tailpiece. This is solidly sealed and no overspray was applied, indeed the finish appears entirely free of any additions. The hardware is likewise all original and in excellent shape, with only some very minor wear and tarnish. All internal electronics are untouched. The frets are just slightly crowned, but have minimal wear and this is an exceptionally fine player, a true gem of Rickenbacker history and an amazing find nearly 60 years on from the California company's most fertile period. The original Silver Tolex case is included, fairly clean overall with some corrosion to the metalwork; it was likely stored in a damp environment at some point. Excellent Condition.
Vintage Rickenbacker guitars just don't come much cooler -- or cleaner -- than this one. This is a very rare Model 365 from the last days of 1963, the pivotal moment in the company's history when their association with the Beatles (and entire British invasion that followed) catapulted the small California company to the front ranks of the guitar universe. Even now almost 60 years on most players associate Rickenbacker guitars with that period, or with later bands that draw inspiration from it. The 360-12 that went on to worldwide acclaim in the hands of George Harrison has a serial number just 67 units before this one, and both were part of a burst of activity at Rickenbacker during the last month of 1963, which included making the first samples for Rose-Morris to distribute in England.
This guitar is a distinctly transitional instrument, with a rare combination of features specific to this moment in Rickenbacker history. Many would classify this as a "365-OS" as after mid-1964 the flat-topped, double bound body would be referred to as "Old Style" at Rickenbacker. In December 1963 this was how the Models 360-375 were made, but the newer rounded-top Deluxe design replaced them in spring 1964 making this style a highly sought after rarity. It apparently never occurred to anyone at Rickenbacker that after getting massive exposure in the hands of the biggest band in the world, maybe completely changing the way the guitar looked and felt was not the greatest idea!
At any rate this model 365 was built when that famous head-scratcher was still months ahead. The semi-hollow Rickenbackers from this era are very rare; a couple of years later they would be a very popular instrument, but in 1963 this was an obscure and quite expensive guitar made in very limited numbers at best. This one has a lot of transitional features with some of the salient details of the "New Capri" era Rick, which began when the body design was thinned and altered in mid-1961. These include a square neck heel, padauk fingerboard and wider body shape, but this also has he slightly smaller headstock and crushed pearl inlays more typical of a '64 model. That headstock mounts Van Ghent tuners with pearloid buttons instead of the standard Klusons; these were usually only used on high-end special production models in 62-64.
The model 365 designation means the guitar is fitted with two pickups and an accent vibrato. These "toaster" pickups are wired in Stereo, with the "Rick-O-Sound" dual jackplate offering Stereo or mono output. Internally the pots are coded 137-6325 and 6348; this last would have been wired into the guitar almost as soon as they arrived! There is a pencil mark "Nat" in the control cavity, an instruction to the finisher. The maple used for the body has some interesting figure, not the "flame" tiger-striped style, but some swirling grain that is unusual for a Rickenbacker.
Although it is natural Mapleglo (and has only 6 strings!) this is as close a cousin to the 360-12 presented to George Harrison in February 1964 (also made in December 1963) as we have ever encountered. The physical features are a close match, even down to the slightly swirly pattern in the maple top. Harrison's did have the older pearl fingerboard inlay; this one must have been one of the VERY first to get the new "crushed pearl" style. Beyond that connection is a very rare guitar, and a spectacular one at that ! It plays and sounds exactly as one would wish, a Rickenbacker fan's dream and a spectacular vintage find here well into the 21st century.
Overall length is 40 3/16 in. (102.1 cm.), 15 1/4 in. (38.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 11 9/16 in. (294 mm.).
This is a superbly clean guitar in completely unaltered original condition, simply one of the nicest Rickenbackers from this period we have ever seen. Is shows only very minor wear and one inconsequential repair but the idiosyncratic issues older Ricks often exhibit are entirely absent. The all-original Mapleglo finish has some minor scuffs, dings and dents but the only wear through is a few spots on the lacquered fingerboard. The upper pickguard has some light pick scuffing.
The neck angle is fine (often a real sore point on these) and the action can easily be easily adjusted quite low without problems, with more than sufficient angle off the vibrato tailpiece. The dual truss rods work fine and the fingerboard has never suffered any separations at the nut from them being improperly adjusted, a condition which is often seen on older Rckenbackers. The original roller bridge is complete and as functional as it ever was; even the small saddle cover is intact.
The only repair is to one almost invisible crack off the back edge of the soundhole, running about 2 1/2" diagonally down towards the tailpiece. This is solidly sealed and no overspray was applied, indeed the finish appears entirely free of any additions. The hardware is likewise all original and in excellent shape, with only some very minor wear and tarnish. All internal electronics are untouched. The frets are just slightly crowned, but have minimal wear and this is an exceptionally fine player, a true gem of Rickenbacker history and an amazing find nearly 60 years on from the California company's most fertile period. The original Silver Tolex case is included, fairly clean overall with some corrosion to the metalwork; it was likely stored in a damp environment at some point. Excellent Condition.