Vintage Guitars Info's
Rickenbacker (Rickenbacher)
Vintage Guitar Info.
Morris Guitars Serial Number Search
Contact the Vintage Guitar Info Guy.1963 Rickenbacker 360-12 string
with 'old' (pre-6/64) body style.
- Thin Hollowbody Ricks (models 310 to 375)
- Thin Fullbody Ricks (models 330f to 375f)
- Thick Hollowbody Ricks (models 381 & 385)
- Solidbody Ricks (models 400 to 1000)
Rickenbacker Information:
Introduction.
1956 Trade show:a model with a Model 400, in pink.
- Rickenbacker was the first company to successfully market electric guitars. Pre-WWII lapsteels and pre-WWII spanish models are collectible, but reallymore for historic reasons than for playing. Post-WWII lapsteels areinteresting, but not to the extent of the pre-WWII models.
The most interesting Rickenbackers are the hollowbody models. In particular,the 1958 to pre-June 1964 models with the old style (squared edge) body shape, 'stove' or 'TV' knobs, and gold pickguard are the most interesting to me personally. The marketplace has a different idea though -The newer 1964 and later hollowbody modelswith checked binding and sparkle fingerboard inlays are collectible,because of their association with the Beatles, Byrds, and other1960's super groups (though personally I don't really enjoy thesenewer models). The 'export' models are also collectible.
- For the most part, solidbody Rickenbacker guitars are pretty low on thesocial guitar ladder. They don't really have a 'sound', and haven'tplayed a big part in electric musically history. Therefore their valuesare pretty low.
Here's the inside of a 330/340/360/370 series Rick. The body is a solid pieceof wood routed out from the back. Then a separate back is glued on. This is whya neck set is so expensive on these guitars; you must remove the back to resetthe neck. So if the bridge has no more downward room, the Rick is essentiallytrash (the cost of a neck set is often more than the value of the guitar).
(much like Fender did to their maple fingerboards). Because of this,
they can wear much like a Fender fingerboard. But the wear is much less
noticable because of the dark rosewood. This guitar is a 1960's Rick 330.
General Rickenbacker Specs.
- Pickups
- 1932 to 1943: Horseshoe pickup, 1 1/2' wide, magnet wraps over strings.
- 1946 to 1971: Horseshoe pickup, 1 1/4' wide, magnet wraps over strings.Discontinued on most models in 1957 and replaced by the Toaster pickup.But some lapsteels still used the Horseshoe pickup until 1971.
- 1957 to 1970: 'Toaster' pickup, looks like the top of a bread toaster.The classic Rickenbacker pickup that produces sound most associated with Rickenbackers.
- 1968 to 1990s: Hi-Gain pickups. Hi-Gain pickups were first introducedon the 381 model in 1968, when the 381 was reintroduced (though some early 1968model 381 guitars did have Toaster pickups). Other models phased in these pickups in 1969 and 1970. By 1970 most models had Hi-Gain pickups.
- 1960 to present: 'Rick-O-Sound' stereo (extra jack) on deluxe models (usedToaster or Hi-Gain pickups, depending on the model/year).
- 1956 to 1963: Gold back-painted clear Lucite.
- 1964 to present: Thick white plastic.
- 1958 to present: Split level pickguards on hollowbody models.
- 1956 to 1963: 'TV' or 'Stove' knobs, large diamond gold knobs with raised black thin center section.
- 1964 to present: Black knobs with edge indents.
Pickguards.
Knobs.
Note the 'TV' knobs, gold pickguard, and
squared edge body.
- Trim and Fingerboard Inlays.
- Standard Trim: dot fingerboard inlays, no fingerboard binding.
- 1957 to 1970 Deluxe Trim: Triangle inlay goes completely across fingerboard.
- 1964 to 1970 Deluxe Trim: Sparkle crushed pearl fingerboard inlays.
- 1970 to present Deluxe Trim: Triangle inlay does not extend completelyacross fingerboard, non-sparkle inlay material.
- 1934 to 1949: 'Rickenbacher' is spelled with an 'h', not 'k' in the 'bacher' portion of the name.
- 1950 to present: 'Rickenbacker' spelled with a 'k'.
Logo.
Rickenbacker pre-WW2 Horseshoe pickup.
- 1956 to 1959: Yellow to brown sunburst finish.
- 1960 to present: 'Fireglo' sunburst yellow to red.
- 1960 to 1980: 'Autumnglo' sunburst red to brown.
- 1958 to present: 'Mapleglo' natural finish.
Finishes.
Rickenbacker Serial Numbers (How to Find the Year).
Rickenbacker serial numbers are the easiest way to find the yearfor a particular instrument.- 1932 to 1954 serial numbers
- Number example: #(#)C####
- Number is stamped on the jackplate or bridge.
- Numeral(s) before letter designate model: 4=400 or 425,6=600, 65=650, 8=800.
- Letter (represented by 'C' in above example) is type of instrument:C=combo (guitar), B=bass, M=mandolin, V=3/4 size.
- First numeral after letter is year.
- Last 3 numerals are number series.
- Each model has its own series.
- Example: 65C7123 = 1957 Combo 650, 4C6123 = 1956 Combo 400.
- Exceptions:
- Model 450 have 4C####A configuration.
- 3/4 size models have V###, V#### or ####A thru Oct 1960, first numeral is still last digit of year.
- Basses have B#### configuration.
- Mandolins have M### configuration.
- Some examples have #C## configuration. Dateable by serial number.
- Serial numbers on these early models are unreliable. Some dating can bedone by patent numbers printed on the guitar. This would be the earliestpossible date of the instrument.
Solidbody Serial Numbers, 1954 to September 1959.
Morris Guitar Serial Number 220279
- Solidbody (except 3/4 sizes) Serial Numbers, Sept 1959 to Oct 1960.
- Number configuration: #(#)A###.
- Only 3 numerals after letter. Numbers do not contain date information.
Right: The serial number on a 360. The 'GD' atthe top of the jack means April 1967.
- Hollowbody Serial Numbers, 1958 to October 1960.
- Number configuration: #A## (early 1958), or #A###.
- Numeral before letter is number of pickups (2 or 3).
- Letter (denoted by 'A' in above example) is 'V' for vibrato, or 'T' for standard tailpiece.
- 1958 range of numbers seen: V80 to 3V254.
- Highest Capri series number in 1959: 2T835.
- First Capri series number in 1960: 3V706.
- Series (last 3 numerals) starts over with 001 in January 1960.
- Letter 'R' replaces 'T' or 'V' on deluxe models only: June 1960.
Morris Guitars History
On request, some pics of my small collection of Morris Guitars.
Starting with a 'before' picture of the very first I ever got : my good old Morris ES-175D.
I got this one when I was very young and ignorant around 1977/1978 (second hand!). It was in a bad shape : broken nut, no pickguard, lousy components. One of the first things I had to do was to replace the jack. While doing that I lost the little jackplate which I remember had a serial number stamped into it.
It's been almost fully restored now, but unfortunately, I'm missing the trussrod cover
Marc