Hi. I’m looking to buy a 4001S SPL (limited series) from 2014. It’s hard to find any information about it. I’m looking for a «McCartney» replicate, especially the tone from the toaster pickup. How does this model compare to 4001V63 and 4001C64?
You should have photographed my March 1996 325v63. Best looking and more accurate headstock shape of the series. Also has a gorgeous fretboard, too. I noticed in your example of the 1997 325v63 image that the headstock looks like a paddle. I thought they stopped that in the early 90s and went to period correct shapes.
I know my 325v63 doesn't have that dorky looking paddle headstock. It looks pretty damn close to Lennon's Miami 325, which is most favorite Ric.
My guitar was sold in 2014. First to Greg Woods who modded the wiring and ditched the blend function. He then sold it to Bob Belloff. Bob has a c64 at the time he acquired my former 325. He ended up selling the c64 because he heard no difference between the pickups.
I was able to buy my old 325 back from Bob 3 years ago. I did this while Larry Davis had my 320 in for repairs (new neck pickup, rebuilt harness, reshaped nut). I brought the 325 to him, too, just to go over it and have the wiring put back to standard configuration.
Fun fact, which I confirmed with Larry:
Both guitars have differing scale lengths
320 is exactly 21" from nut to bridge. Why? Whoever did the hardware mounted the bridge too far from the bridge pickup. Seems to be a quirk with most from this period
The 325 is exactly 20.75" from nut to bridge. Small wonder why I had intonation issues with my moody 320.😄
Your website and your information about Rickenbacker instruments are truly fantastic – thank you so much!
The reason for my message is this: In 1988, I bought a new 360/12V64 (manufactured in August 1988). However, the guitar only has a mono output and not, as is usual for this model, a stereo output. Since I wasn't aware of this detail (after all, all my other guitars were also mono), I simply played the guitar as is for decades. Then, about 20 years ago, a sound engineer in the studio wanted to record the guitar in stereo, which, of course, wasn't possible since there's only one output. He was confused, as he only knew this instrument with a stereo output... and I was worried I may had bought a counterfeit, so I contacted Rickenbacker.
After I sent photos of the instrument, the jackplate (and also of the markings/labels in the body under the pickguard), I was informed that it is indeed a genuine 360/12V64 and that Rickenbacker is aware of a very few cases where, by mistake, only a mono output was installed at the factory and that mine is one of these very, very rare examples out there.
I don't know if this information/details about that model are relevant or potentially of interest to you. If so, please let me know what further information I can provide.
Hi. I’m looking to buy a 4001S SPL (limited series) from 2014. It’s hard to find any information about it. I’m looking for a «McCartney» replicate, especially the tone from the toaster pickup. How does this model compare to 4001V63 and 4001C64?
You should have photographed my March 1996 325v63. Best looking and more accurate headstock shape of the series. Also has a gorgeous fretboard, too. I noticed in your example of the 1997 325v63 image that the headstock looks like a paddle. I thought they stopped that in the early 90s and went to period correct shapes.
I know my 325v63 doesn't have that dorky looking paddle headstock. It looks pretty damn close to Lennon's Miami 325, which is most favorite Ric.
My guitar was sold in 2014. First to Greg Woods who modded the wiring and ditched the blend function. He then sold it to Bob Belloff. Bob has a c64 at the time he acquired my former 325. He ended up selling the c64 because he heard no difference between the pickups.
I was able to buy my old 325 back from Bob 3 years ago. I did this while Larry Davis had my 320 in for repairs (new neck pickup, rebuilt harness, reshaped nut). I brought the 325 to him, too, just to go over it and have the wiring put back to standard configuration.
Fun fact, which I confirmed with Larry:
Both guitars have differing scale lengths
320 is exactly 21" from nut to bridge. Why? Whoever did the hardware mounted the bridge too far from the bridge pickup. Seems to be a quirk with most from this period
The 325 is exactly 20.75" from nut to bridge. Small wonder why I had intonation issues with my moody 320.😄
Hi Andy,
I'm writing from Germany.
Your website and your information about Rickenbacker instruments are truly fantastic – thank you so much!
The reason for my message is this: In 1988, I bought a new 360/12V64 (manufactured in August 1988). However, the guitar only has a mono output and not, as is usual for this model, a stereo output. Since I wasn't aware of this detail (after all, all my other guitars were also mono), I simply played the guitar as is for decades. Then, about 20 years ago, a sound engineer in the studio wanted to record the guitar in stereo, which, of course, wasn't possible since there's only one output. He was confused, as he only knew this instrument with a stereo output... and I was worried I may had bought a counterfeit, so I contacted Rickenbacker.
After I sent photos of the instrument, the jackplate (and also of the markings/labels in the body under the pickguard), I was informed that it is indeed a genuine 360/12V64 and that Rickenbacker is aware of a very few cases where, by mistake, only a mono output was installed at the factory and that mine is one of these very, very rare examples out there.
I don't know if this information/details about that model are relevant or potentially of interest to you. If so, please let me know what further information I can provide.
Sincerely, Peter
Great article Andy, interesting and informative. I’d love to see a breakdown of where those original serial numbers are now, if known!