Rickenbacker 360/12

The 360/12 that George Harrison received in 1964 is one of the first prototypes of the 12-string electric guitar produced by Rickenbacker. It's the second one ever made, dated 1963 with serial #CM107. Specifically,George's guitar is also the first one ever made with the “inverted” double strings, as opposed to traditional 12-string models, with the lower string above the higher string. This solution provides a better attack and the signature “jingle jangle” sound that beacame a hallmark of the brand.

To present the guitar to George, the president of Rickenbacker arranges a meeting at the Savoy Hotel in New York during the Beatles' first visit to America. However, George is stuck in his room with the flu, and the entire entourage is forced to move to the Plaza Hotel to meet him. Within just a few months, the 360/12 becomes an iconic instrument thank to the album and film A Hard Day's Night earning a special place in music history.

A year later, during the Beatles' second U.S. tour, George receives another 360/12, a 1965 “New Style” model, with a contoured top and binding only on the back, also in “Fireglo” finish. This new guitar is used during the Rubber Soul sessions particularly on If I Needed Someone, a song also performed live during the 1966 Final Tour. The last known appearance of the 1965 Rickenbacker was in March 1969 at Abbey Road's EMI Studios, where it is believed to have been stolen.

Considered by many to be "the Beatles' secret weapon", the Rickenbacker 360/12 defined an era, leaving an indelible mark on the Beatles' sound and the overall 1960s music scene.

The guitar in our photo is a Rickenbacker 360/12 V64 Fireglo, virtually identical to the model George Harrison received in 1964. Here it is in our very first video-cover of Paperback Writer.