F.C. Hall purchased the Electro String
Company from Adolf Rickenbacker in
late 1953. This company had been known
mostly for its electric steel guitars, but Hall
revamped the business and focused on
electric standard guitars (which continued
to increase in popularity as the 1950s progressed). In early 1954, German guitar maker
Roger Rossmeisl was hired, and his unique
“old world” designs gave Rickenbacker guitars the distinctive look that continues today.
Rickenbacker developed a new series of
guitars in 1958 that eventually evolved into
some of the company’s most famous models.
This was a line of thin semi-acoustic guitars
known as the Capri series. These instruments
started as a solid blocks of wood, which were
then hollowed out to some extent from the
back. A separate back was later attached.
This method devised by Rossmeisl was very
unusual compared to traditional techniques
used by other companies.
The early 330 Rickenbacker featured this
month has certain features that distinguish
it from later incarnations. Prior to designing
their own distinctive tailpieces, Rickenbacker
used standard trapeze versions available in
parts catalogs of the day. The single gold
pickguard was soon replaced by a double
level guard, which by 1964 was made of
white Plexiglas. The TV knobs and open-back
Grovers are other early features. The most
unusual thing about this guitar is the rare
“reverse” Fireglo finish.
More information on Rickenbacker guitars
can be found in The Complete History of
Rickenbacker Guitars by Richard R. Smith,
and The Rickenbacker Book by Tony Bacon
and Paul Day.
PREMIER GUITAR AUGUST 2009 69
Dave's Guitar Shop
Daves Rogers’ Collection is tended to by
Laun Braithwaite & Tim Mullally
Photos and words by Tim Mullally
Dave’s Collection is on display at:
Dave's Guitar Shop
1227 Third Street South
La Crosse, WI 54601
608-785-7704
davesguitar.com
