hi,
i just got a 325v59 - jetglo, bigsby, large tv tuner knobs & 2 piece gold pickguards etc.

i would like to replace the knobs with the metal ones & also have a single pickguard - like lennon's

questions: a) does anyone know where i can get the metal knobs?

b) can i just remove the second (upper)pickguard leaving the larger one beneath or do i need another pickguard?

cheers

The so-called "Burns Knobs" you mention seem to be hard to find, although such knobs appear on ebay from time to time.
The upper pickguard can easily be removed. You only need some shorter screws to fix the lower pickguard. And be very careful not to tigthen the screws too much. These pickguards break very easily.

_________________



"Writing about music is like dancing about architecture." (Elvis Costello)

doctorno - many thanks for your reply - i just sourced reissue burns knobs but the guy is asking $80 + shipping for the set of 4.

also do you know if those lennon "proper full spec" 325's are just modified 325v59's or are they a particular rickenbacker issue? - cheers

You can get Burns knobs here:

http://www.the-music-connection.com/ricpart.htm#strings

As for screws that are shorter. Either wait until the boutique opens or get then here:

http://www.pickofthericks.com/store_pot ... 85180.html

I have bought from bought places and they are both great to deal with.

I do not know what you mean with "proper full spec 325s." There have been a few different versions of the 310/315/320/325 design available in the recent 50 years. The current model 326C64 is an exact replica of the model, that John Lennon got in 1964 while the recently discontinued (but still available) 325C58 is an exact copy of the 1958 model, that John Lennon bought in Hamburg in 1960 and that he modified with the Burns knobs, Selmer (Bigsby) vibrato etc.

The V-series RICs were a 1980s/90s compromise between modern construction and vintage looks. In my opinion the 325V59 is the best version of all the 320s/325s I have seen. I have modified my own one quite a bit, but if I got one new nowadays, I would play it for a while before thinking about modifications. The most useful modification is to change the wiring to a standard Les Paul configuration for the neck and bridge pickups, adding a fifth control for the volume of the middle pickup independently.

_________________



"Writing about music is like dancing about architecture." (Elvis Costello)

If your meaning of "lennon proper full spec 325's" is the configuration that includes the "Burns knobs" then it is a 325 guitar that has been modified after it left the RIC factory. Rickenbacker has not issued a line of 325's with "Burns knobs."

Many 325V59 and 325C58 models have the "after factory" modifications that give the guitar the appearance of John Lennon's modified 1958 325 including the Bigsby vibrato, "bowtie" bridge, and the Burns knobs. The 325V59 was the only 325 model issued from the factory with a Bigsby vibrato.

thanks for you replies - i think my problem is that i'm (mistakingly?) associating my 1996 issue 325c59 to lennon's as it was in 1959 (assuming that's what the c59 refers to).

in 1959 his still had no bigsby or paint job etc & was therefore effectively IMHO still a 325c58 - apparently the aforementioned mods were made 1960 - 1963.

also, last night a friend told me that rickenbacker issued a 325c59 in 2002 that had all the final (1963)lennon spec - can't understand why is wasn't called a 325c63 to save confusion - to me anyway.

i sourced some "burns like" metal knobs - the black pointer needs lightly sanded off so they might just do as the dimensions are ok except for the little bit of machining around the top - pls let me know what you think.

http://www.banzaimusic.com/Silver-Alumi ... -17mm.html

You seem to be a little confused concerning the Rickenbacker 325 models. It is important to distinguish the V-series from the C-series.

The V-series 325s were introduced in the 1980s and built till 2002 or 2003 if I remember correctly. These guitars had a vintage look but more or less the standard modern Rickenbacker construction and materials:

325V59: Bigsby vibrato, oven knobs, standard Rickenbacker bridge, 12k toaster top pickups, maple body
325V63: thinner maple body, RIC Accent vibrato & standard Rickenbacker bridge, 12k toaster top pickups

The C-series guitars were intended to be exact copies of the models Rickenbacker produced in 1958 and 1964. The C-series 325s replaced the V-series 325s in 2003 I think.

325C58: low output pickups, Kaufmann Vibrato, alder body
325C64: 7.4k toaster top pickups, RIC Accent and roller bridge

As RICandVOX has said the "Lennon mods" were never made by the factory.

_________________



"Writing about music is like dancing about architecture." (Elvis Costello)

doctorno - thanks for clearing up the C & V issue - now i get the picture.

Here's a little Vintage Series and C Series timeline:

December 2000-Last call for the 325V59, 325V63, 360/12V64 and the 4001V63 models.

January 2001-The C Series is introduced and available for orders from RIC dealers.

Late Summer 2002-The first C Series models, the 325C58 guitars, arrive at dealers.