RICKENBACKER INCORPORATED, SANTA ANA, 1973

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RICKENBACKERFounded in Los Angeles as the Rickenbacker Manufacturing Company in 1925, Adolph Rickenbacher’s only experience with guitar making was supplying the metal guitar bodies to the National String Instrument Corporation. In 1931, he teamed up with inventor George Beauchamp to produce Beauchamp’s design for electric guitars with the company name of Electro String Instruments Corporation. These instruments were sold under the brand name Rickenbacker, though the instruments were often labeled with Adolph’s original German spelling of Rickenbacher.The primary production prior to World War II was in Hawaiian lap steels, but also included electric mandolins, string bass, violin and cellos, all employing Beauchamp’s patented horseshoe magnet pickup. In 1953 Adolph Rickenbacher sold the company to F.C. Hall of Radio-Tel who were the exclusive wholesale distributer for Fender. Hall changed direction by concentrating on the manufacturing of electric guitars and in 1962 renamed Radio-Tel as Rickenbacker Incorporated. The brand Rickenbacker was given a considerable lift in the 1960s with The Beatles’ high profile use of Rickenbacker guitars, followed by the Byrds’ Roger McGuinn and his exclusive use of Rickenbacker electric 12-string guitars. From 1964 through to 1969 Rickenbacker produced specific models for export to Rose Morris and Company Limited in the UK. This international distribution widened Rickenbacker’s market appeal with British and European guitarists, helping to establish its name as a global brand.

RICKENBACKER INCORPORATED, SANTA ANA, 1973

A SEMI-HOLLOW-BODY ELECTRIC 12-STRING GUITAR, 360-12

Details

RICKENBACKER INCORPORATED, SANTA ANA, 1973
A SEMI-HOLLOW-BODY ELECTRIC 12-STRING GUITAR, 360-12
Applied with the logo Rickenbacker to the headstock, bearing the serial number ME / 1898 on the jack plate cover, with original hardshell case bearing a label inscribed RICKENBACKER 360/12 1970'S F.G. SUNBURST #ME1898 and SERIAL NO. DG1103; accompanied by a candid color snapshot of David Gilmour playing this guitar in 2001
Body length 17 ¾ in. (45 cm.)

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Lot Essay

David Gilmour acquired this guitar in the early 1970s and kept it for studio use. Gilmour’s longtime guitar technician Phil Taylor recalls that it was present in the recording studio for a number of albums, including during sessions at London’s Abbey Road Studios for the 1975 Pink Floyd album Wish You Were Here.

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