The 12-string guitar that defined the ‘60s: in praise of the Rickenbacker Capri

As far as 12-string electric guitars go, it’s hard to beat a Rickenbacker Capri model. The Fender Electric XII is perhaps the greatest competitor in terms of playability and sound, and the Gibson EDS-1275 doubleneck also deserves an honourable mention. 

But with The Beatles’ George Harrison and The Byrds’ Roger McGuinn chiming away on Rickenbackers, while topping the charts on both sides of the Atlantic during the mid‑’60s, it’s difficult to argue that a more era-defining 12-string exists. 

Comprising six- and 12-string instruments, the ‘300 series’ semi-hollowbody Capri line is to Rickenbacker what the Les Paul is to Gibson, or the Stratocaster is to Fender.

An icon of the guitar world, this timeless design continues to define the company’s identity and, along with the popular Rickenbacker bass family, is its greatest success. The Capri blueprint was originally developed by legendary guitar designer Roger Rossmeisl. 

German expat Rossmeisl had honed his craft in Europe building jazz guitars under the Roger brand before emigrating to America in 1953. The master luthier was briefly employed at Gibson before being recruited by Rickenbacker in ’54, then by Fender in ’62, where he also developed numerous models, including the Telecaster Thinline and Coronado.

Prototyped in late ’57 and entering production early the following year, the inaugural Capris comprised four short-scale models (listed in ’58 as the 310, 315, 320 and 325). These were swiftly followed by the full-scale standard (330, 335, 340 and 345) and deluxe (360, 365, 370 and 375) models. (The ascending model numbers correspond to spec as follows: two pickups/no vibrato; two pickups/vibrato; three pickups/no vibrato; and three pickups/vibrato.) 

The vast majority of the first batch consisted of 325s à la John Lennon, and, by a freaky twist of fate, the young Beatle bought the very first Capri made (serial V81) in 1960 in Hamburg after it was shipped to its maker Rossmeisl’s homeland! Lennon then brought it back to the US, displaying the guitar on national television during the band’s record-breaking The Ed Sullivan Show appearance in February ’64 when 73 million Americans tuned in to watch.

During the same trip, Rickenbacker boss FC Hall presented Harrison with a prototype Rickenbacker 360/12. The guitarist quickly put the new 12-string to good use on stage and in the studio, creating unprecedented global demand. 

Harrison’s 360/12 was developed in ’63, based on the six-string 360 deluxe model, by renowned guitar builder Dick Burke at FC Hall’s behest. It features a double-bound body with a flat/non-contoured top and slash soundhole. 

It was the second 360/12 prototype (the first was given to country artist Suzi Arden) and sported Burke’s intuitive tuner arrangement that allowed all 12 machineheads to be fitted on a regular size headstock.

It also debuted Rickenbacker’s now standard practice of placing the octave string on the treble side, thus allowing for punchier attack on the downstroke. In ’64, the 360/12 was put into regular production alongside the 370/12. These rounded-top/bound-back guitars were followed by the non-contoured, unbound 330/12 in ’65.

Within a few short years, the electric 12-string bubble had burst and demand dropped considerably. Nevertheless, those yearning for that classic mid-60s jangle needn’t look any further than a Rickenbacker 12-string Capri.