The serial number saga of my 366/12

gibsonlp · Post by **gibsonlp** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 11:29 am

Hi guys.

If you recall, a while ago I purchased a 366/12 from Voltage guitars in LA.

The serial number plate isn't readable, looks like a bad stamping or something like that.

I opened the knobs plate and took some shots for you to look around (and, on the way disconnected a loosened welding of one of the cables, ouch, will weld it tomorrow morning...)

It has a hand-written serial number which says GB 071 (Feb 67')
How can I know if that is the correct number? can anyone tell anything from the knobs/capacitors/etc...? can anyone from Rickenbacker confirm that this serial number was indeed assigned to a 366/12 FG?

Thanks.

Oh, yes, the pics:
http://gil.disatnik.com/rick/img_5850.jpg
http://gil.disatnik.com/rick/img_5851.jpg
http://gil.disatnik.com/rick/img_5852.jpg
http://gil.disatnik.com/rick/img_5853.jpg
http://gil.disatnik.com/rick/img_5854.jpg

dswp · Post by **dswp** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 12:17 pm

For what it is worth,the caps look the same as my 67 4005..

bails · Post by **bails** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 12:47 pm

Gil: Your pots are CTS brand, date coded to 1967. At least one of them dates later than February of that year, but that doesn't mean the "GB" serial would be incorrect, as the serial numbers are only accurate to within a few months.

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 2:51 pm

Gil, could you post a picture of the jackplate? I'm wondering whether extremely oblique lighting might be able to reveal some detail of the stampings.

gibsonlp · Post by **gibsonlp** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 8:59 pm

Thanks guys.

Gary - Sure, I took these for my first post regarding the guitar:
http://gil.disatnik.com/rick/img_4789.jpg
http://gil.disatnik.com/rick/img_4787.jpg (over flashed and upside down...)

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 4:01 am

Gil, how about 'GE' or 'GF' instead of 'GB'? That would put all of the pots in line with a proper date. FWIW, I can't recall a 60s Rickenbacker that actually has the sn# penciled in the cavity, maybe it was done because of the bad plate stamping....at any rate everything looks good in the pics to me as being period correct.

If they have time, RIC could possibly verify whether or not the sn# in pencil is the one that belongs to the guitar.

gibsonlp · Post by **gibsonlp** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 5:52 am

John: The pics do suggest it might also be GE or GF, true, and actually, the half stamping on the plate DOES look like GF...

Any way for me to contact someone from RIC to confirm that serial? I am sure not so many 366/12 FG were made...

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 6:02 am

I would start by contacting RIC customer service in an e-mail...supply a pic of the jackplate and explain your dilema, and if time will permit they might be able to verify something for you...it is certainly worth a try.

gibsonlp · Post by **gibsonlp** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:35 am

I emailed them, thanks.

craviola990 · Post by **craviola990** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:52 am

Wow, mine was also a '67 366/12 made in April (Serial GD 1969)! Christian

xcoyle · Post by **xcoyle** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 7:59 am

I back doored my way into my first 60's 12 string. A 336 missing the comb. This has been on the Bay for a while and I made a deal.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1967-Rickenbacker-336-12-w-Case_W0QQitemZ7406740618QQcategoryZ41439QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Got it today, and it plays great.

Now the Holy Grail search for a comb can start!

xcoyle · Post by **xcoyle** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 8:11 am

Gil, with regard to your serial number, I am GB 888, so if yours 071 wouldn't have to be a GA or GB?

Maybe you are GB 871?

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 8:19 am

David, that is interesting. What you're saying could be a possibility for sure, but bear in mind that the sn#'s were not entirely sequential, according to John Hall....I have some 1967 Ricks that a numbered in the 3 and 4000 ranges, I'll have to see what months they are.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 8:36 am

I almost pulled the trigger on that one, David, but backed out at the last second.

Best of luck with your new baby!

xcoyle · Post by **xcoyle** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:54 am

Thanks Paul.

John, I did a little test from Peter’s data page, and put all guitars from 1967 in a spreadsheet, then sorted. The numbers all go up as the months move along. While this may not be true for all years, especially the early years, it works for 1967. These serial numbers are from all models, guitars and basses.

GA 66
GA 187
GA 478
GA 484
GA 521
GA 537
GB 625
GB 810
GB 919
GB 1011
GB 1014
GC 1178
GC 1314
GC 1338
GC 1382
GC 1413
GC 1534
GC 1591
GC 1594
GD 1646
GD 1648
GD 1660
GD 1807
GD 1868
GD 1968
GD 1989
GD 2034
GE 2249
GE 2393
GE 2449
GE 2643
GE 2656
GF 2726
GF 2737
GF 2848
GF 3033
GF 3131
GF 3141
GG 3304
GG 3362
GG 3391
GG 3440
GH 3567
GH 3582
GH 3586
GH 3628
GH 3635
GH 3700
GI 3817
GI 3843
GI 3882
GI 3995
GJ 4194
GJ 4278
GJ 4300
GJ 4350
GJ 4420
GK 4443
GK 4461
GK 4612
GL 4830
GL 4833