The other three were shipped to the Framus Werke in West Germany (which became Framus Guitars and is now makes Warwick basses). Walter Höfner purchased one at a trade show in 1959. Hall stated that four 325’s were shipped to Hamburg. The guitar also had a single gold Lucite pickguard that housed the instruments two “stove top” volume, and two tone controls, along with a pickup selector switch. The guitar originally had a naturally finished body, three Rickenbacker toaster pickups, and a Rickenbacker/Kauffman vibrato tailpiece. John purchased this guitar during his Hamburg days. Although it appears to be a solid body guitar, it was actually hollow.
![rickenbacker 325 c 58 rickenbacker 325 c 58](https://images.guitarguitar.co.uk/cdn/large/105/10021015241614f.jpg)
Lennon’s original 1958 model was one of the first made and had a pre-production solid top. It was designed by Roger Rossmeisl as part of the Rickenbacker Capri series. If you have never played one, you might find his choice odd, since this is a 3/4 short scale guitar. His early days marked his association with the Rickenbacker model 325. However, John was a prolific songwriter, and a decent guitar player. In today’s politically correct world, I doubt those books would make it past an editor. Lennon published a couple of book that featured brief silly stories, poems, and his doodles. Some of his songs, such as “Run for Your Life” and "Getting Better" express his angry nature during his younger days. Based on an interview with his son Julian, John was neither a good husband, nor father. When they first became successful, the Beatles manager played down the fact that John was married and had a son. John was perhaps was the most intellectual, and most complicated member of The Beatles. It was just sixteen and a half years later, on Monday, December 8th of 1980 that John Lennon was brutally murdered. That is when both guitars, and the Beatles caught the attention of millions of guitars players, and want-to-be players throughout the United States.
![rickenbacker 325 c 58 rickenbacker 325 c 58](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59f23c7512abd94fac186e47/1553211894545-QQM2KH9C06TQC82VSZUZ/IMG_2264s.jpg)
Höfner was a complete unknown, until that night. Rickenbacker may have been known to residents of California, but was not a popular instrument throughout most of the United States. Some may have even been aware of Epiphone guitars. Many Americans were familiar with Gibson and Fender guitars. Each member played a distinctively different instrument. On February 9th, 1964 the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, and changed the world of guitars forever.