❌SOLD❌ Rickenbacker 325v59 Short Scale Thinline MapleGlo, 1997

The Rickenbacker 325v59 reissue was built for some years, and reproduces the second, 1959 version of the 325 as used by John Lennon in the early days of the Beatles. This second year has several significant differences compared to the first 1958 model, including a thinner body and the v59’s use of Maple rather than Alder for both the body and neck. For both the 325c58 and 325v59 models, the thinline hollow body is sealed, though there are a few original examples with F or Slash sound holes.

These thinline electric Rickenbacker designs were the work of Roger Rossmeisl, and the 325 was based on the model 340, but scaled down to about 4/5ths. These models were most famously used by John Lennon for many early Beatles performances and recordings; the short scale and narrow neck allowed a number of unusual chord voicings.

A short scale guitar at 21 inches, the Rickenbacker 325v59’s fully hollow thinline body carries three Vintage Single Coil Toaster Top pickups, a Bigsby B5 with aftermarket roller bridge, and closed body. The output is mono only, on an aftermarket extended jack plate that provides a more authentic vintage look. The original short jack plate is in the case, and carries the serial number. The original bridge with cover is also in the case. The tuners are Waverly open gear models.

The finish is MapleGlo – a clear gloss finish on the natural Maple – and is in excellent condition with only minor wear. The multi-layer plexiglas pickguards and truss rod cover are gold-screened with black Rickenbacker logos.

The Rickenbacker 325v59 was in production from 1984 to 2001. This example dates to February of 1997 and was built, like all Rickenbackers, in Santa Ana California. It’s in pristine condition with virtually no wear and appears to have been hardly played.

The original rectangular silver-tolex case is included.