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Description

The Rickenbacker 325V59 is a standout in the world of solid body electric guitars, renowned for its iconic sound and historic significance. Originally popularized by John Lennon in the early 1960s, this reissue pays homage to the vintage model that helped define a generation of music. Crafted with a short scale length, the 325V59 offers a unique playability that both rhythm and lead guitarists appreciate. Its semi-hollow body construction contributes to the guitar's distinctive jangly tone, which has been a hallmark of Rickenbacker guitars for decades.

Equipped with three vintage-style single-coil pickups, the 325V59 delivers a bright and articulate sound that can cut through any mix. The guitar features a classic "R" tailpiece and a unique roller bridge, ensuring stable tuning even during intense performances. The neck is made from high-quality maple with a rosewood fingerboard, providing a smooth playing experience. Offering both aesthetic appeal and sonic versatility, this guitar is a perfect choice for musicians looking to capture the sound of rock history.

Key Features:

  • Short scale length for comfortable playability
  • Semi-hollow body construction for a distinctive tone
  • Three vintage-style single-coil pickups
  • Classic "R" tailpiece and roller bridge for stable tuning
  • Maple neck with rosewood fingerboard
  • Historical significance, famously used by John Lennon

Product specs

Brand Rickenbacker
Model 325V59
Finish Jetglo, Mapleglo, Natural
Year 1985 - 1995
Made In United States
Categories Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars
Body Material Maple
Body Shape Double Cutaway
Body Type Semi-Hollow Body
Bridge/Tailpiece Type Tremolo Tailpiece
Color Family Black, Natural, Tan
Finish Features Matching Headstock
Finish Style Gloss
Fretboard Material Rosewood
Model Family Rickenbacker 325
Model Sub-Family Rickenbacker 325V59
Neck Construction Set-Neck
Neck Material Maple
Number of Frets 21
Number of Strings 6-String
Offset Body Non-Offset Body
Pickup Configuration SSS
Right / Left Handed Right Handed
Series Rickenbacker 300 Series

FAQs

What kind of music genres is the Rickenbacker 325V59 best suited for?

The Rickenbacker 325V59 is ideal for rock, pop, and jangle pop genres, thanks to its bright, chiming tone and semi-hollow body design. Its unique sound has been favored by iconic artists like John Lennon.

How does the semi-hollow body design of the Rickenbacker 325V59 affect its sound?

The semi-hollow body design of the Rickenbacker 325V59 provides a warm, resonant tone with a bit of natural reverb, making it perfect for achieving vintage and classic rock sounds.

What is the neck profile like on the Rickenbacker 325V59?

The Rickenbacker 325V59 features a set-neck construction with a slim profile, offering comfortable playability for fast chord changes and melodic runs.

Can the Rickenbacker 325V59 handle modern high-gain distortion?

While the Rickenbacker 325V59 excels in clean and slightly overdriven tones, it may not be the best choice for high-gain distortion due to its single-coil pickups and vintage design.

What is the pickup configuration on the Rickenbacker 325V59, and how does it influence the tone?

The Rickenbacker 325V59 features a single-coil pickup configuration (SSS), which delivers a bright, clear, and articulate tone, perfect for clean and jangly sounds.

TONE

TONE

Rickenbacker 325 V59 - 2001

Video thumbnail for Rickenbacker 325 V59 - 2001 by TONE

Rickenbacker 325 V59 - 2001

TONE

TONE

Video thumbnail for Rickenbacker 325V59 String & Harness Demo #rickenbacker #johnlennon #beatlesguitar #rickenbacker325 by Guitar Gear Connection

Rickenbacker 325V59 String & Harness Demo #rickenbacker #johnlennon #beatlesguitar #rickenbacker325

Guitar Gear Connection

Guitar Gear Connection

Video thumbnail for 1997 Rickenbacker 325v59 Mapleglo by Guitar Chimp

1997 Rickenbacker 325v59 Mapleglo

Guitar Chimp

Guitar Chimp

Video thumbnail for Rickenbacker 325V59 Demo + That Mean A Lot by Nowhereman Nowhereboy

Rickenbacker 325V59 Demo + That Mean A Lot

Nowhereman Nowhereboy

Nowhereman Nowhereboy

Video thumbnail for 1989 Rickenbacker 325 V59 Capri Jetglo | Guitar Demo by Ten Guitars TV

1989 Rickenbacker 325 V59 Capri Jetglo | Guitar Demo

Ten Guitars TV

Ten Guitars TV

Video thumbnail for Rickenbacker 325v59 Jetglo by Bart Dietvorst

Rickenbacker 325v59 Jetglo

Bart Dietvorst

Bart Dietvorst

Video thumbnail for 1990 Rickenbacker 325V59 in Mapleglo by Jeff Hamilton

1990 Rickenbacker 325V59 in Mapleglo

Jeff Hamilton

Jeff Hamilton

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Rickenbacker 325V59.

Setup and maintenance

  • Using a Boss GE-7 EQ pedal can significantly reduce bass frequencies, especially with short-scale Rickenbackers, to combat muddiness.

    Source
  • Individual saddles on a bridge might not significantly increase sustain on short-scale guitars, but can help with intonation adjustments.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • Aclam Dr Robert pedal is recommended to clean up signals and provide additional bite, functioning as a Vox UL730 in pedal form.

    Source
  • Glen's Loom mod provides all pickup combinations except all three engaged, enhancing flexibility without needing a blender knob on a Rickenbacker 325v59.

    Source
  • Creamery pickup replacements, wound to 1960s specs, are considered by some owners to better match the desired vintage tone.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The guitar's muddiness might be exacerbated by complex signal chains; plugging directly into an amp like a Vox AC 30 may yield a brighter, jangly tone.

    Source
  • Owners note that heavier gauge strings, such as 13s, improve performance on short-scale Rickenbackers, enhancing the guitar's overall feel and sound.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The Tech 21 Liverpool pedal emulating AC-30 with Alnico Blues can influence the tonal outcome and may need adjustments to suit personal preferences.

    Source
  • Mastery bridges offer improved stability and string height adjustment but don't perfectly match Rickenbacker's chrome finish and may alter tone slightly.

    Source

User experience

  • One owner, having used a 325v59 for over 20 years, suggests that the muddiness could be linked to the setup or the combination of pedals used.

    Source
  • Hot toasters from the 90s models, with 11k output, are better for harder styles but may lack the chime of lower output scatterwounds.

    Source

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Artist usage

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See how Jimmy Vivino uses Rickenbacker 325V59

Jimmy Vivino

Guitarist

Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Band

...
Verified via ThroBak

Used with Fab Faux, as mentioned on Vivino's ThroBak artist page.

Q: What kind of Beatles gear are you using to recreate the songs live?

JV: The Fab Faux are forensic musicologists. We're archeologists, anthropologists, everything (laughs). I've got a historic copy of George Harrison's '57 Les Paul nick-named "Lucy", made famous by Eric Clapton using it on the solo of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", a Black '57 Gretsch Duo-Jet, a Gibson J-160E strung with flatwounds and played through an amp for the absolute sound of "I Fell Fine", a '90s Rickenbacker 325 V-59 with a Bigsby like John's, a copy of George's famous "Rocky" Fender Strat, an Epiphone Casino with newly installed SB-Special Soap Bar pickups strung with 10-49 flat wounds, plus a whole bunch more electrics and acoustics.

See how Richie Castellano uses Rickenbacker 325V59

Richie Castellano

Guitarist, Bassist

Blue Öyster Cult

...
Verified via Richiecastellano

"For guitars I used a custom Ernie Ball Music Man Axis, an Ernie Ball Music Man Silhouette Special, a Rickenbacker 325V59 and an Ibanez AE-30 acoustic."

See how Eric Dangerfield uses Rickenbacker 325V59

Eric Dangerfield

Singer, Guitarist

The Paradox

...
Verified via Instagram
Color/Finish: Wood Rose

Eric Dangerfield is confirmed to use a Rickenbacker 325V59, as evidenced by its presence in the background of a home recording shared on his Instagram account, where he is seen jamming with @xelantherockstar and @official_pc3.

Genre Usage

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Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Rickenbacker 325V59, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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    Gear IQ 120766