Brand: Rickenbacker
Instrument Categories: Electric, Guitars, SOLD, Thinline
The Rickenbacker 1997SPC reproduces the three-pickup 1997 model built 1964 to 1967 for export to the United Kingdom, largely sold by Rose Morris and featuring a ‘traditional’ F hole rather than the Rickenbacker slash.
Based on the model 330 designed by expatriate German luthier Roger Rossmeisl and introduced in 1958 and similar to the 340, the original 1997 differed largely in having the narrow violin type F shaped soundhole and a third pickup. A vibrola tailpiece was sometimes installed, but these export models often had a plated, two piece steel tailpiece rather than the cast R-logo tailpiece most modern Rics use.
While the Rickenbacker 1997SPC has the five-control wiring – a schematic can be seen here – featuring a pickup selector, individual volume and tone controls plus a blend control, there is a single mono output. The ‘Stereo’ Ric-O-Sound jack is not installed. Hardware includes Kluson Deluxe style tuners, the vintage style two-section tailpiece – the section on the top hooks into the body mount and ‘floats’ above the top – three AlNiCo 5 ‘Toaster Top‘ pickups and the distinctive Ric two-level pickguard.
This Rickenbacker 1997SPC dates to November of 2000; as a reissue, it was in production from 1993 to 2002. It sports the ‘FireGlo’ or red sunburst finish, which is in overall good condition with a few small bumps and dents. The guitar is complete and original, and while it’s not shown in the photos, the bridge cover is in the original, new-style black Rickenbacker molded case.
This guitar plays well and cleanly. Being a thin, hollow body design, it is light, comfortable and well balanced.
- Model: 1997SPC
- Year: 2000
- Finish FireGlo
- Class: Used
- Serial Number: 00 48608 Built November 2000 at Santa Ana CA
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Good
- Date Posted: 08/04/2021
- This instrument has been sold
- Consignment Item
- Including original Hard case
- Instrument Weight: 7.26lbs 3.3kg
- Scale Length: 24.75in 628.6mm
- Nut Width: 1.650in 41.93mm
