Dating Rickenbackers Without the Serial Number

[blaine63]

An old thread for sure.

I just bought a midnight blue 325. I was told that it's from about 1984 (based on a visual inspection by a guitar tech at a local music store). The original jack plate was replaced (along with the bridge toaster P/U which was replaced with a high gain and a Bigsby was also installed). Since the serial number is missing I opened it up and checked out the pots: 1378439. September, 1984. Not sure if it's a 325v64 or 325 c64 (or whatever).

Thanks for the helpful road map in determining the (rough) age of my new (to me) 325!

[jingle_jangle]

It's probably a 320. You call it a "325", but does it have an "R" tailpiece or a vibrato? If a vibrato, what type?

These '80s 320s are at the bottom of the 320/325 pecking order, but are still lovely instruments and worth a bit of coin.

How about some pics?

[blaine63]

It has a Bigsby vibrato (obviously added).

[blaine63]

It has the Bigsby vibrato and a Ric Humbucker at the Bridge position.

It also has Grover tuners.

The paint is original (I opened it up to look at the manufacture numbers on the pots).

[jingle_jangle]

Yes, it's probably as I suggested. You've got an '80s MID Blue 320 that's had some modifications. The Bigsby's been added, replacing the "R" tailpiece, two of the original Hi-Gains have been replaced by Toaster pickups, and the rest looks original.

The Grovers are found most often on early-to-mid 1980s 320s, too. So, your pot dating is accurate and would indicate a late 1984 instrument. But it's a 320, not a 325.

[blaine63]

So the 320s came with high gains and not the Ric Humbucker? Because the bridge P/U looks like a humbucker to me (it looks like this: http://www.pickofthericks.com/product_i ... _thumb.jpg and not this: http://www.pickofthericks.com/product_i ... _thumb.jpg). So someone switched all of the P/Us out and put in two toasters and one humbucker? I just want to know exactly what I have?

[clementc3]

There are two precedents for your pickup configuration:

Susanna Hoff's own 350SH Limited Edition came with two toasters in the neck and middle positions and an HB-1 pickup in the bridge position (and I think all 350SHs come with this configuration but I don't know for sure):

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=278

It sounds like she had it modified pretty soon after getting it, though, and to EMGs. I don't know what pickups she has on her Rickenbacker guitar(s) now - does anybody here know?

There was also some thought about a possible Jackson Browne Limited Edition which would have had the two-toasters plus one-humbucker pickup configuration:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=24597

It looks like the Jackson Browne version stopped at the prototype stage. Note also that John Hall says that Jackson Browne asked for the two toasters to be wired together to act like a humbucker, for a very different sound than the 350SH configuration.

[blaine63]

It's all cool stuff. Permutations and variations. When I was a kid (teenaged garage band age) I wanted two 325s. I wanted one with Humbuckers and one custom made for strat P/Us. I don't know why I wanted that...but I did. Strange.

[jingle_jangle]

So the 320s came with high gains and not the Ric Humbucker? Because the bridge P/U looks like a humbucker to me (it looks like this: http://www.pickofthericks.com/product_i ... _thumb.jpg and not this: http://www.pickofthericks.com/product_i ... _thumb.jpg). So someone switched all of the P/Us out and put in two toasters and one humbucker? I just want to know exactly what I have?

That's correct. And I didn't mention the humbucker above because you had already correctly identified it.

[blaine63]

Thanks!

[johnallg]

I'm not prejudiced, I'd take any Rickenbacker out for a night on the town, serial number or not. Seriously, my '75 4001 doesn't have a number....

[blaine63]

My fingers are happy with the 3/4 fret board.

And I love the sound.