Rickenbacker 330 (Mapleglo)

Photo: D. Callister
Model: Rickenbacker 330 (6-string)
Color: Mapleglo
Year: 1980

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Used in...

- 2000-2001

- played live during the Standing on the Shoulder of Giants and the Brotherly Love tours

- featured in the live DVD Familiar to Millions
Details

This is one of Noel's two main Rickenbackers: the other, a white model, originally belonged to Paul Weller and was played with The Jam in the 1980s.

After the December 1999 mini USA tour, Noel decided to take a less valuable Rickenbacker on the road: this Mapleglo model.
For reference, Mapleglo is simply Rickenbacker's name for a glossy natural finish.

Noel then extensively played this guitar during the Standing on the Shoulder of Giants and the Brotherly Love1 tours between 2000 and 2001: it was his guitar of choice for Go Let it Out, Who Feels Love and Don't Look Back in Anger.

According to what Noel stated in a MSN Webchat in April 2000, this 330 is a 1980 model:2

"I also have a 1980 Rickenbacker, although I don't know the serial number. I got it from a shop that Gem used to work at and recommend to me."
Starting from April 2000, in various gigs the Pink Paisley Telecaster was used for Go Let It Out and Don't Look Back in Anger instead.

Interestingly, two opposite rumors have been circulating about this guitar.

In 2023, a Black Crowes fan told me that this Mapleglo Rickenbacker actually belonged to Rich Robinson, and that Noel had only borrowed it from him. Then, in 2025, an anonymous reader from USA shared the same story but in reverse — claiming that Noel gave the guitar to Rich Robinson after the Brotherly Love tour.

The second version seems more plausible to me: it fits the timeline and matches Noel's own story about buying the guitar in a shop. It would also explain why the Mapleglo Rickenbacker was never seen again after the Brotherly Love tour.

As always, if anyone has more clues, feel free to leave a comment or email me!
Stickers

At its first appearance (Top of the Pops, February 2000) the guitar had no stickers.

- a green peace sign was added to the upper horn shortly after;

- then, sometime before the Brotherly Love tour, a Black Crowes sticker was applied to the pickguard;

- finally, sometime in 2001, a Proud Mary round sticker was applied just below the f-hole, where the arm usually rests; this one is hard to see but it's definitely there.

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  1. This was a tour of North America featuring Oasis, The Black Crowes, and Spacehog, three rock bands featuring pairs of brothers. ↩︎
  2. http://oasisinterviews.blogspot.com/2000/04/?m=0 ↩︎

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