Super Rare 1968 Double-Bound Rickenbacker 360 "O.S."

1968 Rickenbacker 360 "OS" (two pickups)

This full-size, double-bound 'Fireglo' 360 "O.S." weighs just 7.40 lbs. Double-bound 15 inch wide, 1 /2 inch deep, thinline hollow maple body with a "cat's-eye" or slash sound-hole. Three-piece maple/walnut/maple neck with a nut width of 1 5/8 inches, a scale length of 24 3/4 inches and a wonderful medium-to thick profile. Bound rosewood fretboard with 21 original medium (0.07") frets and triangular pearl position markers with small black dot side-markers. Five-piece maple over walnut  headstock with white opaque plastic logo plate with black lettering, secured by three screws. Individual 'double-line' Kluson Deluxe tuners with oval metal buttons (all stamped "D-169400 / Patent No." on the underside). Two Rickenbacker "toaster" pickups with chrome covers and outputs of 9.95k and 7.85k. Two-piece split-level white lucite pickguard secured by four screws. Five controls (two volume, two tone, and one blend control) plus three-way selector switch, all on lower level of pickguard. Rickenbacker seven-sided black plastic knobs with white line and dot markers. The potentiometers are stamped "137 6808" (CTS February 1968). Rickenbacker bridge with six adjustable metal saddles (complete with bridge cover) and Rickenbacker 'Flat' tailpiece. The serial number "HC 510" (March 1968) is stamped onto the 'Rick-O-Sound' and 'Standard' twin-input jack plate. Inside the control cavity in black marker is "365-OS X". This exceptionally rare and beautiful, fifty-six year old guitar has just some very light belt-buckle rash on the back - nothing through the finish, otherwise in near mint (9.25++) condition. Housed in its original Rickenbacker rectangular silver hardshell case with black leather ends and dark blue plush lining (9.00). Included in the case is the original Rickenbacker brown leather strap, the original Rickenbacker polishing cloth, an unused set of original Mapes Anaconda strings in original box, and a four-page Rickenbacker price list effective February 1, 1969 - not mentioning any "OS" guitars which were only available to special order.

These coveted "Old Style" guitars are rarely seen, this is just one of eleven 'Fireglo' 360 "OS" guitars made in 1968. The "Old Style" Rickenbackers were discontinued in 1964 when Rickenbacker went to the rounded front and single binding, however they were available as a special order through the mid-sixties. Just fifteen 'Fireglo' examples were produced between 1963 and 1968. The last 360 was produced in Fireglo and made in December 1968 and had of course the traditional 21 fret neck. After 1969 the 360s had the rounded edges and a 24 fret neck.

360 "OS" FireGglo shipping totals as per Richard E. Smith.
1965: 4; 1966: 0; 1966: 0; 1967: 0; 1968: 11; A total of 15 guitars shipped between 1965 and 1968