My mother made John Lennon’s, 1964 Rickenbacker Guitar. My mother... Dorothy J. Tandle was working at (RIC) Electro Strings Rickenbacker Guitars back in February 1964 in Santa Ana California Francis C. Hall had the idea to meet with the Beatles when they came to do the Ed Sullivan Show and give them some new guitars. Mr. Hall gave Harrison a new twelve string guitar when he met them. When Francis C. Hall got back from N.Y., after talking to John, Paul and Ringo he had a new guitar made for John. F.C. Hall presented Lennon with a new 325 to replace his road weary 1958 one during the groups first trip to New York City. John used the new guitar on The Beatles second Sullivan appearance and on the groups subsequent tours and albums. My mother was asked to follow Lennon’s Custom guitar from start to finish. This was the Black & White semi-hollow bodied “Miami” model (serial number db122, d=1964, b=Feb.). She sanded the body, then worked on the neck & fret board, then she assembled the guitar after the finish was applied. She did all the work herself. She did the same for many custom orders at that time. She was trained in all areas except the wood shop and finishes. She did all the sanding, fret board assembly, electronics soldering and put all the other pieces on John Lennon’s Custom 325. After finishing the guitar, she gave it to the tuner/inspector. He asked my mother “Since you built it, what song would you like to hear?” My mother said…“Peanut Butter And Jelly”. That was a song she wrote and the tuner knew the cords. My mother sang the song as it was being played. SO… The very first song ever played on John Lennon’s famous 325 was a song my mother wrote about the messes I made as a child. There is a “GREEN” check mark inside the guitar. My mom made most of special order famous Ric guitars of that era. Harrison & McGuinns 12 strings. Bass guitars for Paul McCartney, John Entwistle, Chris Squire, Roger Waters, Getty Lee and many others. Mom is 85 years old and lives in So California.
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 05:26:41 +0000
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