Collector's Corner: Rickenbacker Lightshow Model 331LS

Guitar Center Los Angeles: The Vintage Room, 1970, Rickenbacker Lightshow


Model 331LS "Lightshow"

The factory first offered the model 331, nicknamed the lightshow guitar, in 1970. It was the psychedelic spinn-off of the model 330. Stephen F. Woodman and Marshall Arm created the initial design for the 331 and then licensed Rickenbacker to develop and manufacture it. Rickenbacker dropped the 331 from the pricesheets in 1975.

The top of the instrument was translucent and the body had lamps built into it. Red lamps lit for the treble notes played, yellow (or green) lamps lit for the middle range notes played and blue for the bass notes played.

Rickenbacker built the 331 with two different light circuits. There was also a model 341LS and a model 4005LS.

Source: The Complete History Of Rickenbacker Guitars by Richard R. Smith