Rickenbacker Model 375 Capri Owned and Used by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1960)
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Rickenbacker Model 375 Capri Owned and Used by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco Model Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1960), made in Los Angeles, California, serial # 2R084, Mapleglo natural re- finish, maple body, laminated maple neck with padouk fingerboard, Silver Tolex hard shell case.
This is a striking early Rickenbacker Model 375 Capri has been professionally refinished in a very fine evocation of the 1960s "Mapleglo" natural finish. The guitar started life 65 years ago as a Fireglo instrument but somewhere along the way it changed lanes. We don't know when or why this was done but the result remains a beautiful instrument in excellent playing condition. It was lately a denizen of the Wilco Loft in Chicago but has now made its way into the outside world again.
This very rare Capri Model 375 is an original first-generation version of the classic Rickenbacker thinline hollowbody design with features specific to these early models. Starting out in 1958-9 the Rickenbacker Model 300 thinline hollowbodies (initially called the "Capri" series, supposedly after the Hall family cat) became the company's mainstays in the 1960s, but only really prospered after a number of design changes between 1961 and '63.
Early Rickenbacker serial numbers are not strictly date-encoded as they are from 1961 onward but this guitar carries pots dated to the 37th and 39th weeks of 1960 and a serial number indicating it was stamped by October that year. It has features typical for this exact period most dramatically the deeper body with a high waist. The top and back of the carved out maple body are single bound, the "slash" soundhole is unbound. Hardware includes triple "toaster-top" chrome pickups, "oven" style control knobs, double elevated gold-backed Lucite pickguard and matching gold nameplate on the headstock. The guitar is fitted with the somewhat antiquated Kauffman Vibrola tailpiece, which the company finally abandoned in early 1961.
The neck is the standard Rickenbacker laminated maple/walnut construction with a single truss rod, not the double-rod system adopted not long after. This guitar has a fairly slim neck that is slightly thicker than typical mid-60s models with the earlier squared heel. The fingerboard is bound and inlaid with the early style "slash" inlay that is another Rickenbacker trademark. The headstock has the classic Rickenbacker shape and is fitted with individual metal-button Kluson deluxe tuners.
While the serial number on the jackplate beginning in "2R" and a pencil marking in the control cavity ("365") would suggest this was planned as a 2-pickup guitar, residual Fireglo finish in the center pickup cavity confirms it was indeed finished out originally as a 3-pickup model. All of the pickups are perfectly matched originals in any case. Even as a restored instrument this 375 is one of the classiest early Rickenbackers we have had, a real showpiece. It also plays better than many 1950s examples and sounds just as it should, with the classic early Rickenbacker look and feel.
Overall length is 39 3/4 in. (101 cm.), 15 in. (38.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 1/16 in. (5.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This beautiful Rickenbacker is, as noted not fully original but has had an extremely well done restoration to the correct specs. The clear natural lacquer is slightly thicker than the typical 1960 Rickenbacker factory finish, but has a nice lightly ambered patina; it does not look like a "new" finish but a gently naturally aged one. No artificial "relicing" was applied, there is one actual dinged-through spot on the back of the neck behind the second fret but otherwise the guitar shows very little wear. The body shows an old seam separation repair on the top running up from by the tailpiece to the bridge under the high E string. This is not unusual on early 300 models with 3-piece tops and is completely solid.
The hardware appears largely original as noted the pickups, routs and wiring are original and consistent with this being a factory 3-pickup instrument. There are some splices to the pickup leads as needed for disassembly related to the refinish but the rig appears otherwise original. The gold-backed Lucite pickguards appear to be perfectly done reproductions; the brown Royalite "Oven" knobs are the correct style with the "Rogan" markings on the underside, but may be of more recent vintage than the guitar as these are still available NOS. The Kauffman Rib-Rola and adjustable roller bridge are original, the bridge cover is missing and the arm is an exact repro from Winfield Vintage.
The fingerboard has been neatly refretted with wire somewhat larger than the very thin 1960 Rickenbacker standard and the guitar plays very well, now more comfortable to most modern players than with the original low, thin frets. This guitar is currently set up with flatwound strings as the Wilco Loft had it, making it a real trip back to the early '60s sonically with the expected classic Rickenbacker sound as heard on countless British invasion era records from both the UK and US. This 375 resides in a period (possibly original, although more expected in 1962-3) first generation Silver Tolex case with the early style lidded pocket. The Loft label is still on the bottom edge, reading "JT 1960 Rickenbacker 375 Capri Mapleglo Serian # 2R084". Overall Restored to Excellent Condition.
This is a striking early Rickenbacker Model 375 Capri has been professionally refinished in a very fine evocation of the 1960s "Mapleglo" natural finish. The guitar started life 65 years ago as a Fireglo instrument but somewhere along the way it changed lanes. We don't know when or why this was done but the result remains a beautiful instrument in excellent playing condition. It was lately a denizen of the Wilco Loft in Chicago but has now made its way into the outside world again.
This very rare Capri Model 375 is an original first-generation version of the classic Rickenbacker thinline hollowbody design with features specific to these early models. Starting out in 1958-9 the Rickenbacker Model 300 thinline hollowbodies (initially called the "Capri" series, supposedly after the Hall family cat) became the company's mainstays in the 1960s, but only really prospered after a number of design changes between 1961 and '63.
Early Rickenbacker serial numbers are not strictly date-encoded as they are from 1961 onward but this guitar carries pots dated to the 37th and 39th weeks of 1960 and a serial number indicating it was stamped by October that year. It has features typical for this exact period most dramatically the deeper body with a high waist. The top and back of the carved out maple body are single bound, the "slash" soundhole is unbound. Hardware includes triple "toaster-top" chrome pickups, "oven" style control knobs, double elevated gold-backed Lucite pickguard and matching gold nameplate on the headstock. The guitar is fitted with the somewhat antiquated Kauffman Vibrola tailpiece, which the company finally abandoned in early 1961.
The neck is the standard Rickenbacker laminated maple/walnut construction with a single truss rod, not the double-rod system adopted not long after. This guitar has a fairly slim neck that is slightly thicker than typical mid-60s models with the earlier squared heel. The fingerboard is bound and inlaid with the early style "slash" inlay that is another Rickenbacker trademark. The headstock has the classic Rickenbacker shape and is fitted with individual metal-button Kluson deluxe tuners.
While the serial number on the jackplate beginning in "2R" and a pencil marking in the control cavity ("365") would suggest this was planned as a 2-pickup guitar, residual Fireglo finish in the center pickup cavity confirms it was indeed finished out originally as a 3-pickup model. All of the pickups are perfectly matched originals in any case. Even as a restored instrument this 375 is one of the classiest early Rickenbackers we have had, a real showpiece. It also plays better than many 1950s examples and sounds just as it should, with the classic early Rickenbacker look and feel.
Overall length is 39 3/4 in. (101 cm.), 15 in. (38.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 2 1/16 in. (5.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This beautiful Rickenbacker is, as noted not fully original but has had an extremely well done restoration to the correct specs. The clear natural lacquer is slightly thicker than the typical 1960 Rickenbacker factory finish, but has a nice lightly ambered patina; it does not look like a "new" finish but a gently naturally aged one. No artificial "relicing" was applied, there is one actual dinged-through spot on the back of the neck behind the second fret but otherwise the guitar shows very little wear. The body shows an old seam separation repair on the top running up from by the tailpiece to the bridge under the high E string. This is not unusual on early 300 models with 3-piece tops and is completely solid.
The hardware appears largely original as noted the pickups, routs and wiring are original and consistent with this being a factory 3-pickup instrument. There are some splices to the pickup leads as needed for disassembly related to the refinish but the rig appears otherwise original. The gold-backed Lucite pickguards appear to be perfectly done reproductions; the brown Royalite "Oven" knobs are the correct style with the "Rogan" markings on the underside, but may be of more recent vintage than the guitar as these are still available NOS. The Kauffman Rib-Rola and adjustable roller bridge are original, the bridge cover is missing and the arm is an exact repro from Winfield Vintage.
The fingerboard has been neatly refretted with wire somewhat larger than the very thin 1960 Rickenbacker standard and the guitar plays very well, now more comfortable to most modern players than with the original low, thin frets. This guitar is currently set up with flatwound strings as the Wilco Loft had it, making it a real trip back to the early '60s sonically with the expected classic Rickenbacker sound as heard on countless British invasion era records from both the UK and US. This 375 resides in a period (possibly original, although more expected in 1962-3) first generation Silver Tolex case with the early style lidded pocket. The Loft label is still on the bottom edge, reading "JT 1960 Rickenbacker 375 Capri Mapleglo Serian # 2R084". Overall Restored to Excellent Condition.