Rickenbacker Guitars -  A brief history and popular models

Rickenbacker guitars, affectionately knows as "Ricks" are one of our favorite guitars. They are still reasonably priced and readily available.   Adolph Rickenbacker founded Rickenbacker with two partners in 1932.  The company was originally named Ro-Pat-In then in 1934, renamed to the more logical Electro String instrument corporation.  The name "Rickenbacker " was also added to the head stock this year.  Electro String sold a series of frying pan, lap steels and Electro Spanish guitars.  In 1953 Rickenbacker sold the company to Francis Cary Hall.  In 1957 Rickenbacker introduced the Combo 650 and the Combo 850 which utilized a sweeping crescent shape. In 1958 Rickenbacker introduced the thin hollow body designs completing the design elements we recognize today.  One of the interesting things about Rickenbacker guitars is that the deluxe models (starting in 1960) featured and extra jack with "Rick-O-Sound" which divided the signal from the neck and bridge pickups allowing each signal to be fed to a different amp.  In 1964 Rickenbacker added 12 string models to their line, John Lennin and Geroge Harrison of the Beatles were early customers.  By 1965 the distribution company was finally renamed "Rickenbacker Inc.  Now on to photos examples of our favorite models that may be of interest to players and collectors.  Note that any Rickenbacker model that ends in a "5" has a vibrato option so for example a 335 is a 330 with the vibrato installed.

The Rickenbacker model 360

The Rickenbacker 360 was the "deluxe" model.  The deluxe models included triangle shaped fingerboard inlays often called "shark tooth" inlays and a deluxe binding.  There were 4 deluxe model variations.  The 360 (two pickups), the 365 (vibrato was added), the 370 (3 pickups were added) and the 375 (360 with vibrato added). 

The Rickenbacker 330-12.

The Rickenbacker 12 string models had a unique head stock modification which left the existing six tuners in place and added parallel tuners 90 degrees from the original tuners.  The result was a legendary depth to the 12 string Rickenbacker.

Rickenbacker 340

Here's a Rickenbacker 340, essentially a 330 with a 3rd pickup.  This is a very cool guitar.

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The Rickenbacker model 325

was a short scale model made famous by John Lennon.  Short scale Rick models included the 310 (2 pickups), the 315 (a 310 with Vibrato), the 320 (3 pickups) and the 325 (a 320 with vibrato)

The Rickenbacker model 365

The Rickenbacker 365 was part of the Rickenbacker "deluxe" model lineup. This is essentially a Rick 360 with the tremolo option added.  There were "OS" and "NS" options.  Old style featured sharp crescent edges and "NS" featured the more rounded edges.  The photo depicts the Old Style design.

Rickenbacker 450

This is a Rickenbacker Solid body guitar, we don't see too many of these.