The third page of the 1968 Shaftesbury catalogue features two thinline Rickenbacker-styled instruments, the six string 3261 and the four string 3263 bass. Whilst model 3264, shown on the previous page, was a very detailed copy of the Gibson Barney Kessel Custom, only the Rickenbacker-styled guitars (six string 3261, twelve string 3262) related to a production Rickenbacker - the early/mid 1960s Rickenbacker 360. This was, of course, the guitar made famous by Pete Townsend of the Who (with George Harrison playing the 12-string 360/12 version in early 1964). But this body shape had changed in mid-1964, with much more curved cutaways. Rose Morris were having huge problems getting stock from Rickenbacker anyway, and with the iconic 360 shape now unavailable...
The 3263 bass, like the two guitar versions, was also based around the Rickenbacker 360 guitar. Of course there was no Rickenbacker bass with this shape. Rickenbacker's semi-acoustic 4005 bass had a very different silhouette, and besides, was next to impossible to find in the UK at the time.
The six string guitar and four string bass guitar illustrated alongside together with the 12 string guitar featured overleaf form a superb matching trio. All three instruments have a similarly styled semi-solid body, but each is individually tailored to give the best results and value within it its class. A special tone aperture is incorporated within the body of each model to ensure the best possible combination of acoustic resonance and electronic clarity.
At the time of this brochure, the 3261 and 3263 were listed at (with plush lined cases) at £59 15s 0d and £60 18s 0d respectively.
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