Short Takes: The Mike Campbell “350V89”

During the development process with Tom Petty of what would become the 660/12TP, Rickenbacker asked Mike Campbell if he would like a special guitar as well. Not a Signature Limited Edition, but something special for his own use. Who’s gonna say no to an offer like that? And thus was born the so called “350V89”.

Campbell with his original “350V89” in 1991

Now this is not an official factory designation—it’s a name we Rickenbacker nerds have given it. 350 because the “donor” guitar is a 350, and V89 cause…it was built in 1989. And Campbell managed to come up with a what is a more creatively specced guitar than it might at first appear. Let’s run through it.

Keith Urban’s 2022 replica

At heart, it is an era-appropriate Jetglo 24 fret 350. But there are a handful of differences. Cosmetically, it got gold plastics and Rogan knobs. Electronically it got a toaster at the neck and an HB-1 at the bridge. And then there’s the neck. Per John Hall:

“The neck is quite unique…it was shaped and sanded by hand to come to this final shape, at his request…it’s not like anything else we make. Both Mike and Tom really like the profile”.

It’s not just a standard neck with a unique profile, though. Remember, this guitar was developed at the same time as the 660/12TP, so it has the wider neck that would go onto the TP. Making it the first 6 string guitar to feature the wide neck.

2013 “350MC” prototypes

Mike played the guitar extensively on stage for the next several years, and at his and Tom’s requests in 2013 the factory made two more—another one in Jetglo and a flamed maple Fireglo. Two more just like them got built at the same time and shown at the 2013 NAMM show as “350MC Prototypes”. Obviously it never went into production, but they are in the factory museum today. Keith Urban played one of these guitars during a factory visit and asked for one to be built for him… which he promptly took out on tour upon receiving it in 2022.

Keith Urban onstage with his 350V89 in 2022

There must be something about that HB-1 on a small bodied semi-hollowbody—Susanna Hoffs had her Signature Limited Edition model thusly equipped as well. All told, there are 6 350V89s we are aware of…but it’s not likely you’ll ever get to see one up close and in person!