The guitar John played on stage in Hamburg was his blonde Ricky (the Rickenbacker 325 model). Exploiting the Ricky's unique tone, he played a very famous rhythm guitar riff in "All My Loving."  
"I play a pretty mean guitar in back." John Lennon on "All My Loving" 

 
THE SOUND:  
Rickenbacker Capri 325, a small solid body with three pickups, a 3/4 sized neck and body, and a Bigsby vibrato unit. John Lennon bought his first in Hamburg, Germany, in the early 1960's. Originally in a light natural wood finish, he 
painted it black later. It became a signature Lennon Beatle instrument through 1965; played on all the early records, TV performances and tours. It was seen and heard by millions on the first Ed Sullivan appearance that ignited Beatlemania in the U.S. John plugged the 325 into a Vox AC-30 amp. One of the classic early Beatle tones!  

Listen to the left side of this stereo mix of "All My Loving" to hear the classic Rickenbacker 325-Vox AC-30 tone. 

From The Beatles Hits, guitar signature licks. 

"All My Loving" 

THE TECHNIQUE: 
In "All My Loving," John played the main rhythm guitar part in the verses and choruses. This was an aggressively strummed triplet rhythm figure, somewhat like an updated banjo strum, using simple four-note chords moved around the fingerboard in a manner almost like a chord solo. The scale length and feel of the Rickenbacker's shorter neck makes the fast-moving part much easier to play than on a standard guitar, and lends a brighter, tighter unique sound to the chords. 

Click here for more Beatle guitar tone clips... 
 

QUESTIONS? 

wolf@wolfmarshall.com. 

 
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