Rickenbacker Model 335 Capri Model Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1958), made in Los Angeles, California, serial # 2V182, mapleglo natural lacquer finish, maple body, laminated maple neck with padouk fingerboard, original grey hard shell case.
Overall length is 39 1/2 in. (100.3 cm.), 15 in. (38.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.). This is a fantastic example of a very early Rickenbacker Capri in exceptionally fine original condition overall. There is some very light playwear and some light checking and mottling to the clear finish but the guitar shows no alterations or repairs. The center of the fingerboard shows some light divoting down the center from the first position up to about the 10th fret; the fingerboard on this early guitar is not lacquered as heavily as later examples. The frets are completely original and show only very light wear. There is very little finish wear; just some tiny dings and chips and some light checking and flaking mostly to the back. The early Rickenbacker finishes were somewhat imperfect (some have flaked severely) but this particular guitar has aged better than many. The rubber grommets under the pickups and pickguard have caused some discoloration of the finish underneath them, other than that is just nicely ambered over time. There is one small crack in the pickguard from the pot shaft to the edge, solid and not moving. This is a good playing guitar, lighter than many Ricks but with a slightly deeper neck than 1960's Rickenbackers. It also retains a better neck angle than many early Capris-the original roller-saddle bridge is low but not bottomed out. Many players today would prefer to substitute a solid-saddle bridge for better sound and playability-this is a completely non-intrusive change. All the hardware and electronics are original and extremely clean (some of it has a very handmade look) except for the Kauffman vibrato arm, which is a near-perfect replacement. The original wiring still retains the "bleed" cap on the lead pickup, which thins that unit's sound somewhat. Today some players routinely prefer to remove this but we have elected to not make any alterations to this beautifully original instrument. This guitar is a fine player as it stands; as noted we would be happy to set up to modern tastes if requested. As it stands this is absolutely one of the finest and best preserved early Rickenbackers we have ever seen-it includes the original greenish/grey case also in extremely fine condition. Excellent + Condition.
