There are two different versions of the F series guitars, basically, the ’50’s or 60’s style. They are both characterised by their large “jazz” style body with single cutaway. The first incarnation was designed in 1958. The body width was around 2 1/2” and the controls were mounted on the pickguard. As with the others in the Capri range, these were offered with deluxe or standard appointments and with either two or three pickups, with or without vibrato. They typically had the 5 control layout (toggle switch, plus a volume and tone control pot for each of the two, or three pickups) and were usually fitted with large “cooker” style knobs, gold pickguards and TRC’s. The last known example of the 50’s style F series was manufactured in September 1964, and is featured below. It was almost certainly a “left over” instrument from the late 50’s or early 60’s and finished off to fulfil an order. It is slightly different to the earlier instruments, in that it has white guards and TRC and the 6 control electronics layout (toggle switch, plus a volume and tone control pot for the two pickups and the blend knob). These features were introduced in around 1961-2.

The later 60’s style version, first appeared in 1966. It differed to earlier versions in that he controls were mounted in the body, not on the pickguard. They were also 1/2” or so thinner than the 50’s style instruments. There were only three options available; 360F, 360/12F and the 370F (with three toaster pickups). All were deluxe models, having “crushed pearl” full width fretboard inlays, checkered binding front & back, fitted with an elegant long “R” tailpiece. The fist instrument made was a 12 string model. This would account for the fact that all late style F guitars have a 12 string tailpiece, whether they had 12 strings or not. Never produced in huge numbers, the bulk were manufactured in 1967 & 1968. Although listed as available to order until 1973, the last known example dates to August 1969, featured below. It is an arched top, arched back prototype variation. The last regular production run seems to have been June 1968.

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