This is me, in 2003, with George Harrison's Fender Rosewood Telecaster, prior to it going to auction.

George used this guitar most prominently on the film and LP 'Let It Be,' including The Beatles final live performance on the roof of their Apple offices and studio in London. He also used it on 'Abbey Road,' and the Cream hit 'Badge,' before giving it to Delaney Bramlett while playing on tour with Delaney & Bonnie.

I have been involved in the recovery or sale of several of the instruments the Beatles used to play and record their music. Being able to play the parts to these great songs (even upside down and backwards!) on an actual instrument used to record them is a staggering experience. Of course I gave my best "I'm not worthy!" first, but did it anyway.

The guitar was auctioned in late 2003. It was purchased by Ed Begley, Jr. on behalf of the George Harrison Estate. It is back with George's family, where it belongs.

Fender currently offers a replica of this instrument through the Fender Custom Shop, based on measurements taken when Delaney, and later I, took it to their Custom Shop facility.

Tags: Rosewood, Telecaster, Beatles

This late 1980's Rickenbacker 370/12 is a one-of-a-kind. Built to order for a Nashville session player who didn't take delivery, it was offered to us to sell.

The white finish, gold binding, gold plated parts, and uncarved 381 body depth would remind any guitar savvy individual of a Gretsch White Falcon. This resemblance seemed lost on the folks at Rickenbacker until it was pointed out to them after we presented it for sale.

Photo: ©1991 Scott Jennings/Route 66 Guitars

We had the guitar for a couple of months before RIC CEO John Hall requested the guitar back. To my knowledge it is still hanging in his office with the remaining instruments in the company's collection.

This studio shot was taken during the same session as my lefty 1959 Les Paul Special that appears in The Les Paul Book, and a one-off Gibson that will be featured here soon. Jeffrey did not take this image. I am quite certain he wants that known, as he was less than complementary about the way it turned out. Regardless, it is an image of a truly one-of-a-kind Ricky 12.

Tags: Rickenbacker , 12 String

I opened Guitar Gallery in Old Pasadena, 20 years ago today.

While I enjoyed the previous six years I spent
at Voltage Guitars, this was my baby, for better or worse...



I believe this image was taken (by me) the day the carpet was installed,
which was two days after we opened for business.

The guitar/amp combo was used in the artwork that appeared on our
first t-shirt designs. (1953 lefty Les Paul and Gibson amp.)

I miss that shop, our great customers, and that guitar, to this day.

Tags: Anniversary, Gibson, Les Paul, Lefty, Gold Top

We stumbled across this image today in our archives, and thought it was worth sharing.

This is a lefty 1960 Gretsch Chet Atkins Hollowbody Model 6120, with its original white leather 'cowboy' case. We've seen a total of three lefty 6120s, and this is the finest example. It should be noted that the blank pickguard on this instrument is original. All pickguards on left handed Gretsch guitars built prior to the mid-1970s were blank, as these were essentially one-off instruments.

This particular guitar was one of Scott's prized possessions, although he didn't have it for very long. He acquired it in 1984 from Voltage Guitars, where he worked at the time, and kept it until 1987.

He sold this guitar, along with a lefty 1964 Stratocaster (his first vintage instrument,) and a couple of other instruments, in an attempt to raise the funds to purchase a 1960 Les Paul Standard that ended up in the working collection of Paul McCartney. Five years later he did acquire another lefty 1960 Les Paul Standard for a client, but at five times the cost...

We're working on a full article on all four known left handed Les Paul Standards built between 1959 and 1960, including never before published images. (There are no known Sunburst finish 1958s.) Look for that article to appear on our site in the coming month.

Tags: 1960, Gretsch, 6120, Lefty

As we're on the guitar show theme, I'm posting images from other shows. Oh, those were the days of real vintage guitar shows, not new Gibsons and PRS guitars in vintage dealer's booths...

I'll re-post with a better/larger scan when I track down the original negative...

Instruments on table (left to right):

1. (Partially cropped) 1964 Rickenbacker 366/12 - Reported to be a prototype for the 6/12 Convertable models, it is a 1964 360-12 retrofitted with the converter comb assembly. Left the factory in the early 1980's.

2. 1963 Rickenbacker 360/12 - The first twelve string built by Rickenbacker.

3. 1957 Rickenbacker Combo 800 - Original or ancient refinish in sparkle blue. Double coil "horseshoe" pickup.

4. 1957 Gibson Les Paul Standard - Gold Top. Earliest and cleanest example of a lefty with humbucking pickups.

5. 1969 Rickenbacker 381 - MapleGlow.

6. 1968 Rickenbacker 381/12 - FireGlow. Only known 3 pickup version. Thinner body, thinner German carve than on standard 381's.

7. 1957 Rickenbacker 330 Capri Prototype - Dark sunburst (Autumnglow).

8. 1970 341/12SF - Roger McGuinns slant fret light show 12 string. Now residing in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum.

9. 1986 Rickenbacker Model 325/12. Short scale 12 string.

10. Mark Lacey Premier Archtop - Blonde. Mark still makes some of the best instruments you would ever hope to play.

11. Mark Lacey Empire Archtop - Sunburst.

12. 1967 Epiphone Riviera - Cherry Red.

13. 1968 Gibson ES-335 - Cherry Red.

14. Dobro... unknown (memory failure)

15. 1965 Fender Jazzmaster - Seafoam Green with matching head. Mint condition with deluxe "rifle" case.


16. 1932 National Style "O" - Etched palm trees...


Instruments on floor (left to right):

1. 1965 Rickenbacker Model 330 - Fireglow.

2. 1963 Rickenbacker Model 625 - Fireglow.

3. New Rickenbacker Model 370/12RME1 - FireGlo. Roger McGuinn Limited Edition model.

4. 1963 Rickenbacker Model 460 - Fireglow. Rare model. "Full Face" pickguard, deluxe inlay, body and neck binding.

5. 1970 Rickenbacker Model 360 - Fireglow. Unusual bound headstock model.

6. 1964 Rickenbacker Model 615 - Black.

7. 1954 Gibson ES-140. 3/4 scale, deep body.

8. 1950's plastic Macaferri. Unsold stock.

9. 1965 Vox Phantom XII - Black. Early English made version.

10. New Custom Schecter "Strat-style" - See-thru White. (Yes, yes, "Strat" is a registered trademark of Fender something or another...)

11. 1968 Gibson SG Standard - Cherry Red.

12. 1961 Danelectro Longhorn Model 6 String Bass - Copperburst.

URL Links: Lacey Guitars • Rock and Roll Hall of Fame + Museum

Tags: Fender, Gibson, Rickenbacker , Epiphone, Lacey, Danelectro, Roger McGuinn