Short Takes: 2003 Henry McGuinn 350/12 One-Off

Here’s a 350/12 unlike any other, custom ordered by Henry McGuinn, the son of Roger McGuinn and a one-time Rickenbacker employee.

So what sets it apart? There are several very unique features: two of which that are pretty significant, and some that are just weird. Let’s talk about the weird ones first.

So in terms of least weird to most weird, first we have a factory 12-saddle bridge—not THAT weird, but not stock on the 350.

Next we have Schaller M6 tuners—again, not that weird, but also not standard on the 350. Then there’s the one that really is weird:

Nope. Your eyes are not deceiving you. All 5 knobs are small “blend” knobs. And per John Hall, all of this is exactly as it was ordered.

Now for the more significant options. One you’ve already noticed: the 2 o’clock f-hole.

F-holes—or any type of soundhole—have never been standard on the 350 despite it being a semi-hollowbody. There was likely a special run for Japan in 2013 that had a 1 o’clock f-hole, and there are a couple other guitars that MAY have factory f-holes, but this is a rare thing indeed. But that’s not the rarest thing about this guitar.

Does that body look a little thick to you? It should, because it’s a 325C58 body.

So we have a 350/12V63 neck on 325C58 body with a 2 o’clock f-hole and a bunch of mismatched parts slapped on it. Are we sure this guitar is from 2003 and not 1973? It feels more appropriate to that era! Regardless, I promise you won’t find another one like it!

Click here to learn all about “normal” 350s.