Pricing and availability
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Price
Average Price: $3,808
High-end/Boutique
$500
$1201+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 3 merchants for "Rickenbacker 325 Electric Guitar". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Step back in time with the Rickenbacker 325 Electric Guitar - a beautifully crafted homage to the iconic sounds of the 1960s. This semi-hollowbody guitar captures the spirit of the British Invasion with its trio of vintage-style Toaster Top single-coil pickups that deliver a clear, jangly tone reminiscent of the era's greatest hits. Its compact 21" scale length offers a unique playing experience, while the reshaped body and headstock provide both comfort and style.
Constructed entirely from high-grade maple with a thick, bound rosewood fingerboard, this instrument is as visually stunning as it is sonically impressive. The maple's inherent brightness contributes to the guitar's signature shimmer, while the rosewood adds warmth and depth to your sound. The Rickenbacker 325 also features a vintage-correct Accent Vibrato with a roller bridge, allowing for smooth pitch bends and a playful vibrato effect.
Whether you're a seasoned musician or an enthusiastic collector, the Rickenbacker 325 is a must-have for anyone looking to recreate classic sounds with modern reliability. Its rich heritage combined with exceptional craftsmanship makes this guitar not just an instrument, but a piece of musical history.
Key Features:
- Re-creation of a popular Rickenbacker model from the British Invasion
- Semi-hollowbody maple construction
- Compact 21" scale length for a unique feel
- Thick, bound rosewood fingerboard
- Vintage-style Toaster Top single-coil pickups
- 3-way pickup selector with dual volume and tone controls
- 5th blend knob for added tonal variety
- Vintage-correct Accent Vibrato with roller bridge
- Includes hardshell case for protection and storage
Product specs
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Left-/Right-handed | Right-handed |
| Body Type | Semi-hollowbody |
| Body Shape | 325 |
| Body Material | Maple |
| Top Material | Maple |
| Body Finish | High Gloss Poly |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Neck Joint | Set Neck |
| Radius | 7.25" |
| Fingerboard Material | Rosewood |
| Fingerboard Inlay | Dots |
| Number of Frets | 21 |
| Scale Length | 21" |
| Nut Width | 1.629" |
| Nut Material | Bakelite |
| Bridge/Tailpiece | Roller Bridge with Accent Vibrato Tailpiece |
| Tuners | Deluxe Vintage Repro |
| Neck Pickup | Vintage Toaster Top Single-coil |
| Middle Pickup | Vintage Toaster Top Single-coil |
| Bridge Pickup | Vintage Toaster Top Single-coil |
| Controls | 2 x volume, 2 x tone, 1 x mix control |
| Switching | 3-way toggle pickup switch |
| Strings | Rickenbacker Nickel Round Wound, .012, .016, .020, .032, .042, .054 |
| Case/Gig Bag | Hardshell Case |
FAQs
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What type of music is the Rickenbacker 325 Electric Guitar best suited for?
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The Rickenbacker 325 is renowned for its bright jangle and chime, making it ideal for folk rock and British Invasion styles. Its unique sound has been favored by bands like The Beatles and The Who.
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What is the neck profile like on the Rickenbacker 325?
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The Rickenbacker 325 features a set maple neck with a 7.25" radius, providing a comfortable and vintage feel that is well-suited for rhythm playing and chord work.
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How does the Accent Vibrato tailpiece on the Rickenbacker 325 function?
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The Accent Vibrato tailpiece allows for subtle pitch modulation, adding expressive vibrato effects to your playing without significantly detuning the guitar.
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Are the pickups on the Rickenbacker 325 suitable for high-gain music styles?
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The Rickenbacker 325 is equipped with vintage toaster top single-coil pickups, which are best suited for clean and moderately overdriven tones, rather than high-gain music styles.
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Is the Rickenbacker 325 Electric Guitar suitable for beginners?
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While the Rickenbacker 325 offers a unique sound and iconic design, its short scale length and specific tonal characteristics may be more appreciated by experienced players familiar with its style.
Videos
Normans Rare Guitars
1989 Rickenbacker 325 Black | Guitar of the Day
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Rickenbacker 325 Electric Guitar.
Comparisons
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The Rickenbacker 325 is noted to be 34.5 inches long, about 5 inches shorter than a regular Fender Stratocaster, providing a unique and compact feel.
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The 325 is described as having a body one inch shorter than a G&L Strat, emphasizing its compact nature.
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Compared to Gretsch guitars, the Rickenbacker 325 is considered harder to play, but offers unmatched vibes and iconic looks.
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User experience
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Owners find the Rickenbacker 325 challenging for playing leads but excellent for rhythm, attributing its size to enhanced control and comfort.
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Even with smaller hands, users find adjusting to the 20.75-inch short scale guitar challenging, highlighting the transition from standard scales like Fender's 25.5 inches.
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The Rickenbacker 325's tone is described as unmistakably unique, being scratchy, jangly, and warm, distinctly different from other guitars.
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Use cases and applications
Other
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The 325 was originally purchased in Mapleglo finish and painted black, later restored to natural maple, showing its journey through modifications and restorations.
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Setup and maintenance
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The Accent vibrato's string break angle is suboptimal, leading owners to use Winfield Vintage aftermarket springs for better action.
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Owners find the action difficult to set correctly, often resulting in high action due to the string break angle issues.
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Strings are recommended to be 12s or 13s for tuning stability, with flatwounds suggested to avoid pitch variations.
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Mods and upgrades
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Modern V-series bridge with notched saddles is preferred to reduce buzz compared to vintage-style roller saddle bridges.
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Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 21 Ratings
Artist usage
Add artist
Kevin was seen using the Rickenbacker 325 recently, NME did a review about this performance. End Of The Road – Larmer Tree Gardens, Dorset, September 4-6 Read more at http://www.nme.com/reviews/various-artists/16243#rZQhRCp7PK0hTHVx.99
John Lennon played 325s and their assorted variants during the 1960s (Including a 12-string made to match his second 325). These instruments gained prominence due to John Lennon's use of a 325 during the early years of The Beatles. John Lennon's 1958 model was among the very first batch made and has the pre-production feature of a solid top, i.e., no sound hole.
This guitar was modified with Bigsby vibrato and nonstandard control knobs. Lennon used this guitar during their first public appearance of the Ed Sullivan Show.
Albert mentions that during the early days of the Strokes he used a Rickenbacker 325 similar to the one John Lennon played in Hamburg. This article also lists a Rickenbacker 3 pickup in his gear list.
In this 1985 live video of Don't Come Around Here No More, Tom Petty plays a jetglo Rickenbacker 325.
In this source video Mike Campbell is playing a Rickenbacker 325 Capri in black. He tunes the guitar down a whole step, and has been using it on the Hypnotic Eye tour for "American Girl".
Peter Buck used the Rickenbacker 325 Electric Guitar in Capri Black during a live performance in the spring of 1985, as shown in a user-uploaded photo on Inthestudio.
In my opinion, this looks like a full-scale Rickenbacker 350 JG, also because it appears to have higain pickups and an R tailpiece.
"A photo for #FitzyFriday taken a long time ago in a magical musical place while sitting at our family piano, playing my favorite @rickenbackerofficial guitar, at my parent’s home in #Winnipeg. Excited that our hundred year old piano is about to make its’ way to Las Vegas to the home of my sister @brenda.fitz, and since we both live in Vegas, the guitar and piano will soon reunite harmoniously!"
In this instagram post https://www.instagram.com/p/CWbZRcnIg36/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link you can see his Rickenbacker 325 which he uses in many of his Beatles guitar lessons!
Album Usage
The Rickenbacker 325 Electric Guitar has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Rickenbacker 325 Electric Guitar, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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