Jammin' with Ellyn

Ellyn and Brad on guitars. Brad's is a Rickenbacker 330/12 (12-string).

Here's a picture of Brad's small collection of electric guitars. From left to right, they are:

• A 1965 vintage Fender Precision Bass (1962 design, in Olympic White). Purchased new in 1966 September from B Sharp Music in Minneapolis.
• A Fender California Fat Telecaster (in three-color sunburst), Purchased new in 1999 May from Sam Ash in Columbus.
• A Rickenbacker 330/12 (12-string, in classic Fireglo finish). Purchased new in 1998 June from Sam Ash in Columbus.

The Rickenbacker 330/12 is nearly identical to the guitar played by George Harrison on numerous early Beatles tracks and in the movie A Hard Day's Night, which provided Jim (later Roger) McGuinn with the inspiration that led to the unique sound of one of my favorite 60's bands, The Byrds. The picture below shows Roger McGuinn and George Harrison with the guitar used in the movie, which is a model 360/12 (1964 version: the modern version of the 360/12 has a more contoured body. The 360/12 shown in this picture has the same body as the 330/12, and the other differences are fairly subtle: note the triangular fret markers, and the white binding around the edge of the 360/12, for example).

Updated: 24 March 2003