Help identifying year, 1978?

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wwh
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Help identifying year, 1978?

Post by wwh »

Hi,

I’m new to the website, thanks for having me and I hope I haven’t posted this in the wrong place.

I have owned a 4003 in the past and just recently purchased this 4001, I was wondering if there is anyway to easily date the year of manufacture, I was told it’s 1978 but I am interested to know what you think.

Thanks,
Will.
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PunchyStrummer
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Re: Help identifying year, 1978?

Post by PunchyStrummer »

Have you checked the jackplate? The serial number, if it's on there, can be decoded at Rickenbacker's website.
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ram
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Re: Help identifying year, 1978?

Post by ram »

The only thing we can perceive are our perceptions - George Berkeley
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sfuentes
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Re: Help identifying year, 1978?

Post by sfuentes »

http://www.the-music-connection.com/ricinfo.htm
This is a particularly useful cheat sheet if you're just starting out.
wwh
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Re: Help identifying year, 1978?

Post by wwh »

Thanks for that, unfortunately the numbers on the jack plate have mostly been lost to time.
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bassduke49
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Re: Help identifying year, 1978?

Post by bassduke49 »

Can you post a photo of the jack plate? The two letter (or numbers or combination) at the "top" of the jackplate are a date code. The "bottom" numbers are a serial. The digits are stamped in, so you should still see them.
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jps
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Re: Help identifying year, 1978?

Post by jps »

wwh wrote:Thanks for that, unfortunately the numbers on the jack plate have mostly been lost to time.
bassduke49 wrote:The digits are stamped in, so you should still see them.
Yeah, the S/N can't be "lost to time" unless the plate is seriously rusted.
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antipodean
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Re: Help identifying year, 1978?

Post by antipodean »

jps wrote:
wwh wrote:Thanks for that, unfortunately the numbers on the jack plate have mostly been lost to time.
bassduke49 wrote:The digits are stamped in, so you should still see them.
Yeah, the S/N can't be "lost to time" unless the plate is seriously rusted.
Or the plate has been replaced....
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cjj
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Re: Help identifying year, 1978?

Post by cjj »

antipodean wrote:
jps wrote:
wwh wrote:Thanks for that, unfortunately the numbers on the jack plate have mostly been lost to time.
bassduke49 wrote:The digits are stamped in, so you should still see them.
Yeah, the S/N can't be "lost to time" unless the plate is seriously rusted.
Or the plate has been replaced....
Or it's not actually a Rickenbacker. The case isn't...
I have NO idea what to do with those skinny stringed things... I'm just a bass player...
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jps
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Re: Help identifying year, 1978?

Post by jps »

The bass looks quite real, to me.
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chrisdski
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Re: Help identifying year, 1978?

Post by chrisdski »

If no plate pull the pick guard off and find the dates of the pots (if they are original). There may be some markings in the routed out area also.
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bassduke49
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Re: Help identifying year, 1978?

Post by bassduke49 »

Certainly the case is not a Rick case, but made to fit one (or may have come with a Rick copy). But the chassis and hardware look genuine to me. I'd still like to see the jack plate.
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sloop_john_b
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Re: Help identifying year, 1978?

Post by sloop_john_b »

That is 100% a real Rickenbacker.
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doctorwho
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Re: Help identifying year, 1978?

Post by doctorwho »

chrisdski wrote:If no plate pull the pick guard off and find the dates of the pots (if they are original). There may be some markings in the routed out area also.
+1

The pots have date codes that will help in establishing an approximate date for it.
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wwh
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Re: Help identifying year, 1978?

Post by wwh »

Thanks for all the info guys. The bass is getting a setup at the moment so I haven’t been able to get a picture of the jack plate but I’ll take one once I get it back.
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