Rickenbacker Model 365 Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1966)
LOADING IMAGES
Rickenbacker Model 365 Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1966), made in Santa Ana, CA, serial # FF-2256, Fireglo red sunburst finish, maple body and neck, padouk fingerboard, original silver tolex hard shell case.
One of the most recognizable classic 1960s guitars, the Rickenbacker "300" series of thin hollow-body guitars has returned to favor again and again as new generations discover its bright, well-defined sound and utterly distinctive look and feel. This is a fine player's example of the iconic "Fireglo" (red sunburst) Model 365 from Rickenbacker's peak year of 1966. This sleek California hot rod was the mainstay of Rickenbacker's line from the late 1950s to the present, and was one of the most popular guitars of this period. The round-edge (post-1964) Model 360 is virtually an icon of the 1960s, and is synonymous with the music and sounds of that era as well as more recent styles. They remain one of the sharpest-looking and most distinctive-sounding vintage designs.
This is a lovely original guitar, very clean overall with a well-done refret and just the back of the neck refinished, for no really obvious reason. The Model 365 has Rickenbacker's "Deluxe" features combined with two pickups and vibrato; the 360 is identical with no vibrato, and the 370 and 375 have three pickups. The round topped, checkerboard-back bound body has a vibrant red Fireglow finish with a single stylized sound hole. The laminated maple neck has a lacquered padouk fingerboard ornamented with crushed pearl "slash" inlay. The headstock is fitted with Kluson Deluxe tuners and the trademark white Rickenbacker logo headplate.
The two "toaster top" pickups are mated to a 5-knob wiring rig allowing maximum blending flexibility, and the guitar is wired with the "Rick-O-Sound" stereo output almost nobody has ever used. Fortunately a convenient mono jack is provided as well...something Gibson missed! The "Accent" vibrato unit is simple but effective, using a bent piece of metal as the spring and a bent sharp-tipped metal arm many players have removed or at least swung backwards.
This guitar was shipped in June 1966, when the popularity of Rickenbackers was at a peak. The most famous examples were John Lennon's 1964 Model 325 and George Harrison's 360-12, both used during the Beatles' peak touring years 1964-5. Following the Beatles' lead, many other musicians chose thinline Rickenbacker guitars, making them an enduring 6-string symbol of the period. The models 335 and 345 are firmly associated with the early Who; the group's first records are a showpiece for the unique Rickenbacker sound. Despite sometimes being tagged as a "1960s cliche", the Rickenbacker 365 is a more versatile guitar than many realize, a great-sounding and very classy instrument for both retro and modern sounds!
Overall length is 40 in. (101.6 cm.), 15 1/4 in. (38.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) deep. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 9/16 in. (40 mm.).
Overall this is a beautiful example, showing very little wear but as noted the entire back of the neck up through the headstock has been refinished, a pro job looking good overall but with some darker shading at the heel and lower sides of the headstock. It's a mystery as to why this would have even been done as the guitar shows very little wear anywhere; it looks and feels good and appears to have been re-shot some time ago. There is a very small typical fingerboard split repair on the treble side but no other structural repairs evident. The fingerboard has been neatly refretted but NOT overfinished, which seems counterintuitive but that's the way it is.
Overall the finish shows hardly any play wear; the vibrant red Fireglo is clean and deep with virtually no fade, only small scuffing and scratching mostly on the back. There just a few dings, most notably to the top edge of the headstock. The hardware is original and complete except for an excellent repro arm on the Accent tremolo (thanks Winfield), even the often lost original bridge cover is intact.
The fingerboard has some minor wear in the lower positions; the frets are slightly taller than the originals but not out of character with the guitar. Internally the original wiring rig is untouched with pots dated to the 8th week of 1966. Playing-wise this is one of the nicest '60s Rickenbackers we have had with an excellent neck angle making a very low action possible while still retaining excellent break off the vibrato tailpiece (a neat trick for a Rick). This guitar's history is a bit of a mystery but it plays and sounds fantastic, and is still resting in the original silver HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.
One of the most recognizable classic 1960s guitars, the Rickenbacker "300" series of thin hollow-body guitars has returned to favor again and again as new generations discover its bright, well-defined sound and utterly distinctive look and feel. This is a fine player's example of the iconic "Fireglo" (red sunburst) Model 365 from Rickenbacker's peak year of 1966. This sleek California hot rod was the mainstay of Rickenbacker's line from the late 1950s to the present, and was one of the most popular guitars of this period. The round-edge (post-1964) Model 360 is virtually an icon of the 1960s, and is synonymous with the music and sounds of that era as well as more recent styles. They remain one of the sharpest-looking and most distinctive-sounding vintage designs.
This is a lovely original guitar, very clean overall with a well-done refret and just the back of the neck refinished, for no really obvious reason. The Model 365 has Rickenbacker's "Deluxe" features combined with two pickups and vibrato; the 360 is identical with no vibrato, and the 370 and 375 have three pickups. The round topped, checkerboard-back bound body has a vibrant red Fireglow finish with a single stylized sound hole. The laminated maple neck has a lacquered padouk fingerboard ornamented with crushed pearl "slash" inlay. The headstock is fitted with Kluson Deluxe tuners and the trademark white Rickenbacker logo headplate.
The two "toaster top" pickups are mated to a 5-knob wiring rig allowing maximum blending flexibility, and the guitar is wired with the "Rick-O-Sound" stereo output almost nobody has ever used. Fortunately a convenient mono jack is provided as well...something Gibson missed! The "Accent" vibrato unit is simple but effective, using a bent piece of metal as the spring and a bent sharp-tipped metal arm many players have removed or at least swung backwards.
This guitar was shipped in June 1966, when the popularity of Rickenbackers was at a peak. The most famous examples were John Lennon's 1964 Model 325 and George Harrison's 360-12, both used during the Beatles' peak touring years 1964-5. Following the Beatles' lead, many other musicians chose thinline Rickenbacker guitars, making them an enduring 6-string symbol of the period. The models 335 and 345 are firmly associated with the early Who; the group's first records are a showpiece for the unique Rickenbacker sound. Despite sometimes being tagged as a "1960s cliche", the Rickenbacker 365 is a more versatile guitar than many realize, a great-sounding and very classy instrument for both retro and modern sounds!
Overall length is 40 in. (101.6 cm.), 15 1/4 in. (38.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) deep. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 9/16 in. (40 mm.).
Overall this is a beautiful example, showing very little wear but as noted the entire back of the neck up through the headstock has been refinished, a pro job looking good overall but with some darker shading at the heel and lower sides of the headstock. It's a mystery as to why this would have even been done as the guitar shows very little wear anywhere; it looks and feels good and appears to have been re-shot some time ago. There is a very small typical fingerboard split repair on the treble side but no other structural repairs evident. The fingerboard has been neatly refretted but NOT overfinished, which seems counterintuitive but that's the way it is.
Overall the finish shows hardly any play wear; the vibrant red Fireglo is clean and deep with virtually no fade, only small scuffing and scratching mostly on the back. There just a few dings, most notably to the top edge of the headstock. The hardware is original and complete except for an excellent repro arm on the Accent tremolo (thanks Winfield), even the often lost original bridge cover is intact.
The fingerboard has some minor wear in the lower positions; the frets are slightly taller than the originals but not out of character with the guitar. Internally the original wiring rig is untouched with pots dated to the 8th week of 1966. Playing-wise this is one of the nicest '60s Rickenbackers we have had with an excellent neck angle making a very low action possible while still retaining excellent break off the vibrato tailpiece (a neat trick for a Rick). This guitar's history is a bit of a mystery but it plays and sounds fantastic, and is still resting in the original silver HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.