Serial Number

rascal · Post by **rascal** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 12:44 pm

I have a question about my 68 Rick bass. The serial is 2 letters followed by 4 numbers. On the Rick page it states that the first letter is year and next letter is month. However, my first letters are HO - H = 1968 but there is no O since months go from A-L. The most obvious thing must be that O is for October, however I wanted to see if anyone can explain. Thank you in advance.

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 1:31 pm

Rascal: You are correct, there was no HO prefix, for the period 1961-1986. There was an H0 (zero), however, used in the numbering system over the period 1987-1996 which would date this instrument as one made in August 1987.

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 2:27 pm

Pascal, can you post a picture of it? Or send it to Peter so he can post it. That would help.

ricnbacker · Post by **ricnbacker** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 5:33 pm

you know whats funny, all the times i have seen the explaination for the serial numbers i understand it less each time......lol

heres mine , lets see when it was born..

0108685

rascal · Post by **rascal** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 6:32 pm

Thanks for your replies. I will take pics tomorrow and try to figure out how to post them. I appreciate your help. I understand the serial system but mine makes no sense !??

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Wed Nov 13, 2002 12:57 am

May be it's HC or HD. No?

admin · Post by **admin** » Wed Nov 13, 2002 2:21 am

Christopher: 0108685 would be 8th week of 2001, so the last week of February 2001 should be close.

ricnbacker · Post by **ricnbacker** » Wed Nov 13, 2002 11:34 am

thanks peter,

the "01" is the year "08" feb. i get that.

and yes it was made in feb of 01 i ordered it in jan. got it in march of 01.

is685 the 685th bass made that year?

thanks

markthemd · Post by **markthemd** » Wed Nov 13, 2002 2:10 pm

That month ...that is the number of jack plate that was applied to an instrument. These are not applied in numerical order .. at least not prerfectly .

They are just a number applied to an instrument .

The week thing .......I don't know how accurate that really is as it is NOT necessary from the factory stand point . Only to the owner .

rascal · Post by **rascal** » Wed Nov 13, 2002 4:16 pm

The serial definately is H0. I did not know how to u/l pics here so here is the url to them. If anyone can offer any info or explanation, I took lots of pics. Thank you in advance for your time and help.

http://www.geocities.com/rascalbass2002/

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Wed Nov 13, 2002 7:50 pm

Pascal, I am no expert by any means, but that does not look like a '68 to me. The tuners and the neck pickup location aren't right. Also, I don't believe the white finish and the high gain pickups were offered that early. This looks to me like a late '80s 4003, and the serial number does indicate '87.

Can you read the code numbers on the control pot canisters? The fourth and fifth numbers will be the year of manufacture (for example 1378814 means a pot made by CTS in the 14th week of 1988). That would help with the dating.

As always, I could be wrong.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Thu Nov 14, 2002 12:31 am

Pascal, your 4001 definitely was not made in 1968.
I concur with Dave4004: quite simply, it's an August 1987 4003. Do tell us why you thought (or someone made you think) it was a 1968 4001.

rascal · Post by **rascal** » Thu Nov 14, 2002 10:27 am

Well I learned a valuable lesson thanks to you guys. The guy I bought it from told me it was a 68 and I just believed him (duhhh) but I have been dealing with him for years and had no reason to believe otherwise and call it stupidity or naivety I never checked them out before. I can't believe this and I really am embarrassed. I paid $1000 for it and I have to tell you that I do love that bass, the sound is what I have been looking for forever, so it doesn't really matter, however it matters that I was (and still am) lied to. I confronted him and can you believe he still is adament about it being a '68 disputing the serial numbering system, which insults my intelligence even further when I know now it is an 87. Dave, the last 4 #s on pots = 8648, 8649. Thank you all for your responses and thank you so much for educating me. I am just freaking out now because I have bought so many basses from him over the years and wonder what else I will find out about the rest of them.

rickcrazy · Post by **rickcrazy** » Thu Nov 14, 2002 11:38 am

I hope there are no more unpleasant surprises in store for you, Pascal. Back in 1991 I went through the same kind of situation when an acquaintance sold me what I believed was a Steinberger guitar. A couple of months later I realized it was in fact a Hohner. The whole thing had a happy ending for me, though - after confronting the guy I got my money back and apparently he vanished from the face of the Earth. Thank Christ.
Well, I'm glad you love that 4003 - one can't but love Rickenbacker basses. But please don't take any s**t from anybody again.
Incidentally, what other bass guitars do you own?

ricnbacker · Post by **ricnbacker** » Thu Nov 14, 2002 6:31 pm

Pascal,

why dont you get your money back and get yourself a brand new one. i got mine in `01 for $965.

i would have him take it back because he misrepresented the bass and order the new one from another dealer.especially since you have been a long time customer, he should have screwed you