The musicians that are playing rock ‘n’ roll, they know, they know where you’re at -- and you know where your minds are at -- and they’re playing for you, to you.  And like the Beatles and other groups, you know, their music will get to you and reach you.  And the colors will flash.  And the sounds will embrace you.  And it’s beautiful.  It’s . . .

THE BYRDS - "music written in voltage"
“In my opinion, the Byrds’ sound would have been impossible without the
 invention of the Rickenbacker twelve string electric guitar.”   -- McGuinn

“While George Harrison brought attention to the Rickenbacker twelve string,
 James Roger McGuinn put it on the map.”  -- Rickenbacker, Smith, page 84

   “As usual, The Byrds played far too loud, but this was seen as evidence of
 empowerment or, as one critic called it, ‘loud music dancing on electric cable,
 music written in voltage.’”  -- Timeless Flight Revisited [1998], Rogan, page 188





1966 RICKENBACKER 370/12BYRD
McGUINN’S MAIN GUITAR IN THE BYRDS 1966-1971
Serial number:  FF 1849



Onstage with The Byrds at the historic Monterey International Pop Festival - Saturday, June 17, 1967
Onstage with The Byrds at the Magic Mountain Music Festival - June 3, 1967
The Byrds - Fifth Dimension
The Byrds - Younger Than Yesterday
"Don't Make Waves" - Motion Picture Soundtrack
Monterey International Pop Festival
The Byrds - Greatest Hits
Gold Record - The Byrds Greatest Hits
The Byrds - The Notorious Byrd Brothers
The Byrds - Sweetheart Of The Rodeo
"Candy" - Motion Picture Soundtrack
The Byrds - Dr. Byrds and Mr. Hyde
The Byrds - Live At The Fillmore: February 1969
"Easy Rider" - Motion Picture Soundtrack
The Byrds - Ballad Of Easy Rider
The Byrds - (Untitled)/(Unissued)
The Byrds - Byrdmaniax
The Best Of The Byrds - Greatest Hits Volume II
Earl Scruggs, His Family And Friends - TV Soundtrack
Click albums above for mp3 sound bytes.
Onstage with The Byrds - 1967
 
Roger McGuinn of THE BYRDS

 
“King of the 12-String Electric”
Guitar World, February 1996, p. 58
 
“King of the Rickenbacker 12-String Guitar”
BAM, January 9-10, 1997
 
“Captain Rickenbacker”
Guitar Player, May 1997, p. 42
 
“12-String King”
Guitar Player, May 1997, p. 47
 
“Captain Rick”
Guitar Player, December 1997, p. 79
 
“King of the 12-String Guitar”
The Florida Times-Union, April 2000
 
“One of only a handful of guitar players in the world who
  have had two* signature guitars named after them”  
GuitarSam eZine, February 9, 1999
 
“The Most Famous 12-String Guitarist of All Time”
GuitarSam eZine, February 9, 1999

 

* Not including Roger McGuinn’s new Martin 7-string limited edition acoustic
 
The Byrds and The Beatles Byrds Concert Dates 1966-1971
 
   BYRDS RICKENBACKER 12-STRING TIMELINE

|-------------------THE BYRDS-------------------->| 2---------------------------------------> 1--------X 3----------> __________________________________________________________ | | | | | | | | | | 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973



       #1 Experience Music Project Guitar
#2 1966 Rickenbacker 370/12Byrd
#3 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Guitar
#4 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Guitar

Novelty stage guitar (used occasionally) ---THE BYRDS-->| 4------------> _________________ | | | 1971 1972 1973

1966 Rickenbacker 370/12Byrd
PHOTO GALLERY
Gallery Page  1 | Gallery Page  7 | Gallery Page 13 | Gallery Page 19
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Gallery Page  3 | Gallery Page  9 | Gallery Page 15 | Gallery Page 21
Gallery Page  4 | Gallery Page 10 | Gallery Page 16 | MPEG Video
Gallery Page  5 | Gallery Page 11 | Gallery Page 17 | Video / DVD
Gallery Page  6 | Gallery Page 12 | Gallery Page 18 | Guitar: Front | Back
Just get an electric guitar...
The 1966 Rickenbacker 370/12Byrd as it appears today
Byrds Rickenbacker - Electric 12-String Holy GrailByrds Rickenbacker - Electric 12-String Holy Grail
Guitar
Front
Guitar
Back
Headstock
Front
Headstock
Back
Checkered
Binding
Jackplate /
Serial #FF1849
Guitar
Case
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