Rickenbacker / 345 (three Pickups With Vibrato) / 1966 / Jetglo (Black) / Guitar For Sale
Asymmetrical double cutaway thinline semi-hollow body. This 14 3/4-inch-wide full-sized thin-body (1 1/2 inches deep) guitar weighs just 7.10 lbs. and has a nut width of just under 1 5/8 inches and a scale length of 24 3/4 inches. This guitar features offset cutaways, with pointed horns providing a "sweeping crescent" profile across both. Maple body, with a single "cat's-eye" or slash soundhole, three-piece maple/walnut/maple neck with a medium to thin profile, and rosewood fretboard with 21 frets and white dot position markers. Headstock with white opaque plastic logo plate with black lettering. Serial number "FJ 3476" (October 1966) stamped onto the jack plate. Individual dual-line Kluson Deluxe tuners with oval metal buttons. Three Rickenbacker chrome bar "toaster" pickups with outputs of 3.54k, 3.54k and 13.06k (that's how the Ricky three-pickup models measure). Two-piece split-level white plastic pickguard with four screws. Five controls (two volume, two tone, and one blend control) plus three-way pickup selector switch, all on lower level of pickguard. Seven-sided black plastic knobs with metal tops with black lettering. The potentiometers are stamped "137 6633" (CTS August 1966). Inside the control cavity the body is marked in black paint "345 Q." Rickenbacker six-saddle bridge with the original chrome cover and separate Rickenbacker vibrato tailpiece. This guitar is in exceptionally fine (9.00) condition, with the bare minimum of belt buckle scarring on the back, a few tiny wear marks on the edges, and a small amount of wear to the fretboard by the first two frets. Housed in its original Rickenbacker silver hardshell case with blue plush lining (8.75).
"Models 330-345 -- This set consisted of full size guitars with an extreme cutaway to the last fret…Model 345 [had three pickups and a vibrato]…The full sized Thin Hollow Body Standard Models 330-345, along with the Deluxe Models 360-375, were the quintessential Rickenbacker Capris" (Richard R. Smith, The History of Rickenbacker Guitars, p. 167).
According to by Richard R. Smith (p. 234), there were a total of two hundred and eighty-nine 345s shipped between 1958 and 1968 (one hundred and twenty-eight of these in 1966).
One of John Lennon's main guitars was a 1964 Rickenbacker 325 in Jetglo (very similar to the 345 but with a shorter scale length of 21.25 inches as compared to the standard 24.75 inches and a body width of 12.75 inches as compared to 16.00 inches.
Fretted Americana , USA 
We specialize in acquiring and offering the finest specimens of American vintage electric guitars with particular attention to those in their complete, original state. We are the only dealer to embrace a written code of ethics (in Terms & Conditions). We encourage you to read it.
HOW WE WORK
We want to inspire and win your trust and confidence. You don't want to have any negative surprises upon receipt of an instrument that you've invested yourself as well as your money into. Nor do you want any untoward surprises should you decide to sell it in the future.
To that end, every guitar that we offer is catalogued to a degree and depth of detail that is fast becoming the standard in the trade. When we declare an instrument to be completely original, it is. If it is not, we tell you exactly in what manner it has been altered.
We photograph each guitar at many angles to provide you with the broadest, clearest sense of its appearance. We will, upon request, provide you with images of all electronic components, inside and out.
Each guitar we acquire is skillfully and painstakingly dissected by David Brass, who is a trained luthier as well as a dealer and collector. All parts, no matter how small, are meticulously examined. We have an enviable reference library of wide breadth and scope that we refer to when necessary for crucial facts. The instrument is put under a black-light: original finish or refin? Even the most skillfully masked ding is uncovered. David then fastidiously reassembles the instrument. It is then cleaned with the finest products available for wood and metal.
An inspection certificate of authenticity signed by David is provided with every guitar you purchase.
We keep our inventory relatively small and highly select. We choose our guitars with extreme care so we can offer you the finest examples of the finest rare guitars in the world.
We are client focused to an extraordinary degree. If you expect or would like to be surprised by courteous, professional client service, we will pleased to accommodate that desire.
It is our fervent wish to establish a long-term relationship with you.
CODE OF ETHICS
We wish to establish an ongoing relationship with you based upon your trust in our knowledge and judgment.
To that end:
We meticulously inspect in detail every guitar that we offer. We check the finish, all of the electrical components, serial numbers, etc. With over thirty years of experience collecting and handling vintage guitars and our enormous reference library, we bring to bear all that is known about guitar manufacturers, models, and annual production.
We provide full, detailed descriptions and specs to each guitar.
We openly disclose any and all flaws we discover in writing. If the instrument is not completely “straight,” we will tell you so and why.
We endeavor to conduct ourselves to the highest standard of professional behavior.
We will deal fairly and ethically; no surprises, flim-flam, dubious business practices or shenanigans.
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We allow a full 48 hour honeymoon period when you buy a guitar from us. If you are not 100% satisfied with it we will refund the purchase price in full, less shipping, upon return of the guitar in the same condition as sold. Please call us before returning the instrument.
Please inspect your new guitar immediately upon receiving it. If any guitar we offer is found to be not as described, we will happily refund the full purchase price, less shipping, upon return of the guitar in the same condition as sold. Please call us before returning the instrument.
