The Rickenbacker 360 is an electric, semi-acoustic guitar made by Rickenbacker, and part of the Rickenbacker 300 Series. The instrument incorporates many features standard on Rickenbacker guitars, including a three-ply maple/walnut neck, shallow headstock angle, a thick rosewood fretboard finished with clear conversion varnish, and double truss rods. The 360 also features stereo or mono output, a body with Rickenbacker's "crescent moon" cutaway shape and rounded top edge and bound back, and an R-shaped trapeze tailpiece. A twelve-string version of the 360 (Rickenbacker 360/12) is available. A three-pickup version of this model is also available, the 370.

Rickenbacker 360
ManufacturerRickenbacker
Period1958–present
Construction
Body typeSemi-Hollow
Neck jointSet
Woods
BodyMaple Carved, with white plastic binding along the back
NeckThree-ply Maple/dyed maple/maple (not walnut)
FretboardRosewood with pearloid triangle inlays and white plastic binding
Hardware
BridgeAdjustable
Pickup(s)Two Single-coil pickups
Colors available
Mapleglo (natural), Fireglo (sunburst), Jetglo (black), Midnight Blue, Ruby

George Harrison of The Beatles had been extensively using an earlier style 360/12 (closer resembling the 330/12 model), but retired it immediately from stage performances upon receiving the new style 360/12 (having rounded cutaways and top edge) in August 1965. The first recording by The Beatles of this new model 360/12 can be heard on the song "If I Needed Someone". Roger McGuinn, of The Byrds, played a 12-string Rickenbacker 370. The six-string Rickenbacker 360 model is favoured by artists including R.E.M.'s Peter Buck[1] and Against Me!'s Laura Jane Grace.[2] The 360 was once produced with slanted frets for "a natural finger angle," but negative response led Rickenbacker to switch back to perpendicular frets.

References

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  1. ^ Scapelliti, Christopher (15 June 2023). "How the Smiths and R.E.M. Gave Rickenbacker Guitars Renewed Appeal in the Early '80s". Guitar Player. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  2. ^ Angle, Brad (27 July 2017). "Against Me!'s Laura Jane Grace Discusses Her Love of Rickenbackers, Her Musical Awakening". Guitar World. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
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