Rickenbacker Guitars

The Rickenbacker International Corporation was founded in 1931 by Adolph Rickenbacker and George D. Beauchamp. It wasn’t until the 1960’s that the Rickenbacker guitar became as popular as is still is today. One of the biggest music movements of the twentieth century forever popularised the Rickenbacker guitar. The Beatles from Liverpool, United Kingdom. The Beatles used many different models of the Rickenbacker in their early years of performing. John Lennon owned more than one of these Rickenbacker guitars in fact it is said that he owned at least four of them.

John Lennon’s love for the Rickenbacker guitar began when he purchased his first in Germany in 1960 which was a natural-blonde model 325 with a Kaufmann vibrato. John Lennon used this guitar and played it at all concerts and on all recordings that the Beatles did up until 1964. Eventually in 1964 the company supplied John Lennon with a new updated model of the version of Rickenbacker guitar he had played for the last four years.

The third Rickenbacker guitar that was given to John Lennon was closely manufactured along the same lines as models that were being distributed in England. There was in the 1960’s a company that distributed the Rickenbacker guitar but only five models and they differed in the way that generally they had F-holes instead of cat’s eyes slashes or solid tops. The fourth model that was made especially for John Lennon was to be a unique model 325 with 12 strings.

During the 1970’s The Rickenbacker guitar company created guitars with detachable necks and double coil pick-ups. Also on some of the models as standard but on others an optional extra was slanted frets that were much better for the player to handle as the angle is better placed for the player. Today the manufacturing of Rickenbacker guitars still goes on with new designs and models. The company also now makes re-issues of all the classic 1960’s Rickenbacker guitars that made the company famous and the guitars so popular. George Harrison is reputed to have answered when asked during an interview if he like the guitar he was doodling on with ‘Of course it’s a Rickenbacker’ and surely many musicians if asked the same question now would reply with the same answer.

The Guitar Grotto is the best place to find Rickenbacker Guitars at discount prices. The Guitar Grotto are now offering a sale on the full range of Gretsch Guitars. They only deal in first line instruments so you can be assured of the highest quality.