Spacing

[whd1952]

Hello! Can anyone tell me what the spacing between pick ups is on a Rickenbacker 325 model? My kit is at the stage of mounting the pick ups and I need to know the correct spacing.

[rcnewcomb]

You might ask on https://www.rickresource.com/forum/

From ChatGPT, so it could be a lie:
The Rickenbacker 325 is the short-scale (20¾″ / 52.7 cm) 3-pickup model famously used by John Lennon. Because of its smaller scale and body size, the pickup spacing is tighter than on full-scale Rickenbacker models.

Here’s the general layout:
Neck pickup – mounted close to the end of the fretboard (just under the 24th fret position).
Middle pickup – located roughly halfway between the neck and bridge pickups, but shifted slightly closer to the neck pickup.
Bridge pickup – placed very close to the bridge plate, giving it that bright, cutting tone.

In terms of measurements (approximate, since small variations exist across production years):
Neck to middle pickup spacing: about 1.25″–1.5″ (32–38 mm).
Middle to bridge pickup spacing: about 1.5″ (38 mm).
Bridge pickup to bridge saddles: about 0.25″ (6 mm) – very close.

So the pickups are quite tightly grouped, with less total spread than you’d see on, say, a Stratocaster or even a Rickenbacker 360.

[whd1952]

Thanks for the information. Information for a Rickenbacker must be a closely guarded secret!