This 1964 Rose-Morris Rickenbacker, model 1996, nick-named “The Beatle Backer” is exactly like the one owned by John Lennon and later gifted to Ringo Starr. The guitar is semi-hollow bodied with an F-hole, in Fireglo finish, serial number DG881 from July 1964. That guitar was originally given to John Lennon by Rose-Morris, the official UK importer of Rickenbacker, when his 1964 Rickenbacker 325 was damaged during a Christmas performance. As stated by Andy Babiuk in his comprehensive book Beatles Gear: All the Fab Four’s Instruments from Stage to Studio: “Lennon’s misfortune became Rose-Morris’s great fortune. The Beatles had so far only dealt with Rickenbacker in the USA, but now the British distributor was able to act directly and to cash in. By giving Lennon a new fireglo-finish 1996 model – the British equivalent of the 325 – Rose-Morris felt justified in using the Beatles and Lennon in its own advertising campaign. New ads appeared, with one prominently bearing the slogan: “Rickenbacker the Beatle backer.” It featured a picture of Lennon and the 1996 guitar, adding: ‘This is the famous Rickenbacker guitar model 1996 as used by Beatle John Lennon. For a long time now, John and his Rickenbacker have been inseparable, so why don’t you try one at your local music shop ?’” Lennon played this guitar for the remaining 1964 Christmas shows. This guitar can also be seen in photographs, taken in 1967. In 1968 Lennon gifted the guitar to Starr. This RM model 1996 is all original in all respects. Its got the RM 2 o’clock F-Holes. Its Kluson tuners & its ac’cent vibrato w/its crooked trem arm. Its pot codes date to the 25th week of 1964. Other than its pickgards having a chip broken off, its exceptionally clean. She comes in her rare as hell Silver Tolex hard case.