The Beatle Invasion

John Lennon’s Guitars Part Nine: 1964 Rickenbacker 325 Fireglo 1996 John Lennon Electric

by gisrael on April 10th, 2008

John Lennon loved his Rickenbacker guitars. Read about his fourth Rickenbacker 325 below, or see earlier entries in this series on John Lennon’s guitars:

• Part One: Gallotone Champion Acoustic John Lennon Guitar.
• Part Two: Hofner Club 40 Electric John Lennon Guitar.
• Part Three: 1958 Rickenbacker 325 Capri John Lennon Guitar.
• Part Four: 1962 Gibson J-160E John Lennon acoustic/electric.
• Part Five: 1964 Gibson J-160E John Lennon acoustic/electric.
• Part Six: 1964 Rickenbacker 325 Jetglo John Lennon Electric.
• Part Seven: 1964 Rickenbacker 325-12 Jetglo John Lennon Electric 12-string.
• Part Eight: 1964 Jose Ramirez A-1 John Lennon Classical Guitar.

When John’s second Rickenbacker was dropped during a 1964 Beatles Christmas show, he needed a replacement quickly. Rickenbacker’s exclusive British importer Rose-Morris Ltd. jumped at the opportunity to give John a new one. This fourth 325 (counting the 12-string) had a Fireglo (sunburst) finish and an f-hole. John used it for the rest of the 1964-1965 Christmas shows while his Jetglo was repaired.

Shortly thereafter Rose-Morris Ltd. began marketing this “1996″ model of the 325 as the Beatle Backer.

Images and history taken with permission from thecanteen.com

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