First Vintage RIs: 1982's B-Series

[kiramdear]

I'm guessing the "B" is for Beatles?

I have a 320 in jetglo from this series. Anyone else have one of the models from the B-Series??

I'd be curious to learn more about my 320 with respect to the comment about "more precise re-issues soon followed". It would be nice to learn what are the differences in fact (beside the tailpieces) between mine and the "Miami" version of the 325 which it is to some degree modeled after.

[jps]

The only thing I have from that series is the ad.

[deaconblues]

I'd be curious to learn more about my 320 with respect to the comment about "more precise re-issues soon followed". It would be nice to learn what are the differences in fact (beside the tailpieces) between mine and the "Miami" version of the 325 which it is to some degree modeled after.

Your guitar is not a B-Series instrument - a picture of a standard-line 320 has been superimposed on the photo you posted. At the time, 320s were part of the standard line - like the 330 and 360. The B-Series were a short-lived reissue run with vintage-style parts. The B-Series 320 had gold guards/TRC and some form of toaster-top pickups.

The differences between the standard 320 and the 325v63 and later 325c64 are probably routing of the inside of the body and body shape, along with toaster pickups, Ac'cent vibrato, vintage tuners, headstock volute and roller saddles on the c64.

I'll wager yours is a bit heavier, maybe with a volute at the headstock?

[kiramdear]

Dan, thank you for clearing that up. Mine is definitely not the B-Series version, then, but one of the continuation of the Standard Series which I assume was an unbroken line descending from the original models. I suppose if the ad had been coloured I would have seen that.

Mine weighs quite a bit considering its diminutive profile, I'm guessing seven pounds more or less. And a volute is a ridge behind the nut on the headstock? Mine has none. It has the smaller headstock profile too. Routing? Body shape? Not related to the B Series after all but still of interest to me is to know how my 320 compares with the early sixties ones?

I'd still be interested in learning more about this first line of vintage re-issues.

[deaconblues]

Here's a picture of a volute - yours might not have one, but my '98 325v63 did. Real '60s models do not.

The routing/bracing on yours is most likely different from a '60s or a new reissue in that it is more solid - there was a general trend towards thicker/more solid bodies as time went on. Also interesting is that by the late '70s/early '80s the templates were worn out, so later 320s usually have more rounded horns and are shaped a bit differently - note the horns on the 320B I posted above.

As for the B-Series itself, all I know is that:

- It was released in an interim period after F.C. Hall retired and before John Hall took over.
- The 360/12BWBs apparently used a yellow clearcoat, a sort of prototype AFG.

Color photo:

[kiramdear]

Dan, my 320 does indeed have the more squared-off volute shape as shown in the headstock photo. And heavy and solid-feeling? You bet. And the horns on mine are more "worn looking" or rounded as in the 320B photo.

Thanks for filling me in on that. I've always been curious about how my guitar compared with the old ones.

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

I had the chance to play a B series 320 back in 1984.

It was serial number VH 2134, and it was for sale new at the Music Shoppe in Thornhill, Ontario. Retail for it at the time was $1,100 Cdn, which was 400 bucks more then what I ended up paying for my 1977 320 I bought that same year. I remember that it was the first time I had ever seen a 320 with Toasters...

That particular guitar is not in the register... I wonder who ended up with it, as RICs are not common in Canada.

Brian

[kiramdear]

List price in San Francisco for my 320 in 1982 was $900. I paid about $600 after the selling was finished and never thought about her market value again until a couple of years ago when I noticed that Rickenbackers had appreciated nicely through the years . Mine is in the register

I wonder how many of the B-Series 320s they made? And for how many years years?

[86kubicki]

I used to love going to the old Music Shoppe in Thornhill years ago. I still remember seeing a Rickenbacker doubleneck there and thinking it was the coolest! The old Cosmo on Yonge St. in Richmond Hill was a favourite haunt as well (and where I bought my first 4001).

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

Steve:

I miss the Music Shoppe very much! I bought both of my 620's there, and an Ovation Custom Balladeer. It was the only authorized RIC dealership at the time that would finance me.. Steve's and Long and McQuade wouldn't deal with a 17 year old high school student with no parent to co-sign. I still have a 25 year old rental catalog from them in the archive.

After it closed, there was a music store on Harbourd street that became the place in Toronto to get a RIC. They always had at least 3.

For basses, I would have recommended the Richmond Trading Post on Church Street. I remember dozens of 4001's on the wall all of them around $700-$800 each.

Shame all of these places are gone... You can't just hang out and play what was on the wall... But I do LOVE ebay...

Brian

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

Oh.. and I remember that RIC doubleneck at the Music Shoppe too.. (I used to make a list of every RIC I played, what the price was, and what the serial number was, - If I remembered to write it down)...

It was my own personal version of the registry.

So I can tell you that it was a Mapleglow 1982 362/12.. and the price for it at the time was $1400. Sadly I didn't get the Serial number for it.

Brian

[kiramdear]

(I used to make a list of every RIC I played, what the price was, and what the serial number was, - If I remembered to write it down)...

It was my own personal version of the registry.

Brian

Just one question: Where have you been for the last ten years?

With that kind of dedicated interest, I think it's high time we got you onboard.

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

Kira:

I actually did register in 2002, I just never posted anything or contributed to the discussion.

It is funny but you go through phases in your life.

This past June I managed to replace my 1980 FG 620/12.. So RIC's have become important again in my life...

Musically I am more an acoustic performer, playing Celtic music in alternative tunings like DADGAD... Beatles, Byrds, Tom Petty - the RIC stuff is music I played in my teens and early 20's...

Thanks for the welcome!

Brian

[rick_ovic]

I have a feeling that the first Rickenbacker I owned was a B series 360-12 WB. It cost me $350 from a local pawnbroker in 1993. Unfortunately I sold a few months later. It had toasters, full width inlays, 24 fret neck, binding both sides (not check binding) and a R tailpiece.

Here's one of the only photos I have of my former guitar. The yellow in the Fireglo finish can really been seen:-

[leftybass]

I have a feeling that the first Rickenbacker I owned was a B series 360-12 WB. It cost me $350 from a local pawnbroker in 1993. Unfortunately I sold a few months later. It had toasters, full width inlays, 24 fret neck, binding both sides (not check binding) and a R tailpiece.

Here's one of the only photos I have of my former guitar. The yellow in the Fireglo finish can really been seen:-

Rickenbacker 360-12WB.jpg

Darren, I don't know that I've ever seen a guitar quite like the one you used to own.

Do you remember the serial number? The 360/12 BWB guitars I have held all had the small poured triangle inlays, commonplace for back in the day. The rest of the features were pretty much in line with what your old guitar looks like in the pic....24-fretter, toasters, bound soundhole etc....but the full-width inlays were always a V-Series feature as far as I know.....I wonder if this guitar was a special request for the Asian market or has been in Australia all it's life.....pretty neat, kinda like a missing link...