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Average Price: $2,999
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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
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What kind of music genres is the Rickenbacker 325V59 best suited for?
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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.
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How does the semi-hollow body design of the Rickenbacker 325V59 affect its sound?
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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.
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What is the neck profile like on the Rickenbacker 325V59?
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The Rickenbacker 325V59 features a set-neck construction with a slim profile, offering comfortable playability for fast chord changes and melodic runs.
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Can the Rickenbacker 325V59 handle modern high-gain distortion?
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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.
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What is the pickup configuration on the Rickenbacker 325V59, and how does it influence the tone?
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The Rickenbacker 325V59 features a single-coil pickup configuration (SSS), which delivers a bright, clear, and articulate tone, perfect for clean and jangly sounds.
Videos
TONE
Rickenbacker 325 V59 - 2001
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
Mods and upgrades
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Aclam Dr Robert pedal is recommended to clean up signals and provide additional bite, functioning as a Vox UL730 in pedal form.
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Glen's Loom mod provides all pickup combinations except all three engaged, enhancing flexibility without needing a blender knob on a Rickenbacker 325v59.
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Creamery pickup replacements, wound to 1960s specs, are considered by some owners to better match the desired vintage tone.
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Use cases and applications
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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.
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Owners note that heavier gauge strings, such as 13s, improve performance on short-scale Rickenbackers, enhancing the guitar's overall feel and sound.
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Features and functionality
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The Tech 21 Liverpool pedal emulating AC-30 with Alnico Blues can influence the tonal outcome and may need adjustments to suit personal preferences.
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Mastery bridges offer improved stability and string height adjustment but don't perfectly match Rickenbacker's chrome finish and may alter tone slightly.
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User experience
Based on 0 Reviews and 0 Ratings
Artist usage
Add artist
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.
"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."
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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