Model: Rickenbacker 330 (6-string)
Color: White
Year: 1981, January (serial: UA130)1
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Used in...
- 1997-1999
- originally owned by Paul Weller
- featured in the video of Don't Go Away
- featured in the performances of D'You Know What I Mean? (July 1997) and Who Feels Love? (July 2000) at Top of the Pops
- played live in Wonderwall (1997 & USA mini-tour 1999)
- played in the cover of Carnation by The Jam
- used during the recording sessions of the album Standing on the Shoulder of Giants
Details
This Rickenbacker originally belonged to Paul Weller, who had been using it with The Jam in the early 1980s.
He then gave it to Noel for his 30th birthday in May 1997:2
"I also use a Rick that Paul Weller gave me for my 30th. He gave it to me and said it's the one that he wrote Town Called Malice on. He gave it to me, and I'm like 'Oh, thanks man, that's f***ing top of yer.' And then he leaves and I just am like 'F**k yes!'. It's got a pink P in the middle of it, I use it for all of the jangly stuff on the records."
This suggests that the guitar was used during the recording sessions for the 2000 album Standing on the Shoulder of Giants: actually, it can be seen in the background in a photo taken at Wheeler End studios sometime in 1999.
For touring purposes, however, the ex-Weller Rickenbacker - after frequent appearances in 1997 and 1999 - was soon swapped out in favor of a less valuable model: a Mapleglo 330.
Weller's white 330 hasn't been seen in Noel's hands since 2000, but it resurfaced in 2016 as part of a Jam exhibition in Liverpool (see photos below). The guitar looked like it had not been played in years - with rough frets and rusty strings.
A few years later - around 2021 - it was photographed for a book dedicated to Rickenbacker guitars.3
Many websites and forums mistakenly claim that this guitar was a gift from Johnny Depp to Noel. In reality, that story might refer to the Blonde Telecaster - though this has never been confirmed.
Stickers
Originally applied by Paul Weller:
- a white "P" on a pink background, between the two pickups;
- the writing "the total look!" in the upper horn, cut and pasted from the fanzine December Child.4
DISCLAIMER
This is a fansite. It is not affiliated with Noel Gallagher, his management or his record label.
For informational and non-commercial use only. Please do NOT publish this content elsewhere.
If you share or use this information, please provide proper credit and link to the website.
I appreciate your respect for the years of dedicated, freely available research!
Visit the “Info & About” page for contact details and more.
Thanks!
- The serial number information comes from a trusted source who prefers to stay anonymous. It matches the one visible in a pic from a 2016 exhibition – shown above. ↩︎
- Taken from P. McCormack’s Rickenbacker fansite (year 2000 – no longer available) ↩︎
- Rickenbacker Guitars: out of the frying pan into the fireglo – Phantom Books, 2021 ↩︎
- https://everpress.com/the-total-look-tee ↩︎
The Chief's Guitars - Noel Gallagher's guitars: a complete guide - Oasis and NGHFB 
The White Weller Rickenbacker must’ve have been loaned back or given back to Paul Weller by Noel for the Jam / Weller Exhibition held at the Cunard Building in 2016 and curated by Weller’s mother and sister. The Rickenbacker was on display, I have photos from the day I to the exhibtion.
Paul Weller visited The Jam exhibition in Liverpool today – Liverpool Echo
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