Petty acquired the guitar around 2007 or 2008 through Norman Harris of Norman’s Rare Guitars. He later described it as his favorite 12-string, saying that it sounded “like an organ,” with a deep and rich tone.
Tom Petty’s Rickenbacker was a 1964 Rose Morris Model 1993 12-string in Fireglo. Built for the British export market, the Model 1993 differed from standard Rickenbacker 12-strings by using a traditional F-hole instead of the company’s usual slash-style soundhole.
Petty played the guitar live at the 2008 Super Bowl halftime show, using it on “American Girl” and “I Won’t Back Down.” Aside from that, he also used it on live performances of “The Waiting,” “Rebels,” and “Saving Grace.”
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