Two identical serial numbers

[Kronborg]

I have just become a membre of this forum today, though I have been reading in here for at least a couple of years. I became a Rickenbacker owner in august last year, where I bought a beautiful mapleglo 4001 from 1974. The frets were all worn down making some notes totally unplayable. I had a very talented and experienced luthier do an excellent job refretting the bass. It also missed one of the wavy Grover tuners but I managed to get one off eBay.

While all that is just lovely, I went into the Rickenbacker Register on this to enter my bass today, but did find a 450 in jetglo registeret with my serial number NC1255. I did double check my serial number, just to be sure, and it is correct, my bass IS NC1255. The serial number on my jackplate indicates March 1974 which is also confirmed by the red dots in the neck, and period correct tuners and pickups. Could the guitar in the register with the same serial be a fake, or is it possible that duplicate serial numbers exist?

[badeggs]

It could be a mistake from when the 450 was entered - numbers got reversed, that sort of thing. Send a PM to Peter (he admins the site) and let him know, he'll take the necessary steps.

And welcome to the forum!

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

Interesting question!

Anything is possible... Perhaps the same SN - was accidentally put on two instruments.

Just looking at the 450 in the register NC1255 - it too looks like an original serial number!!

Some times "5" is actually a "6" when looking at the jackplate.... Also N's and M's become confused,,, Could your bass be MC 1255?? Or NC 1256??

Post a picture of your basses jack plate if you are able - I love a mystery!!

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

Solved it i think!!!!

Looking at the large picture I just posted - I think the JG 450 is NG 4255!!!!!

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... 6order%3D6

This one NG 4260 was made the same week - so RIC was clearly making them that week...




I have edited the Register entry for the JG 450.

So Christian you can now add your bass to the register.... (Don't forget to add some pictures!)

[admin]

Thanks for you observation Christian and welcome!

It is only by keeping our eyes open that we notice mistakes such as this.

Thanks too for adding your instrument to the Register.

Peter

[Wiker]

and here is a 4001 JG with the same s/n
http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... lebrity%3D

[Kronborg]

Well, I have now registered the bass in the register. Will be adding pictures when an admin has confirmed the entry. Until that, I will show you these pics.
Some of them are of the bass itself, one is of me and the bass (I'm the dark haired guy) and some are of my friend who holds the bass the day I bought it. I've also included a picture of the jackplate with the serial number.
Here ya go:











Here it is together with my 1973 Traynor YBA-3 amp and two Ampeg SVT 410HLF cabs and of course my 2002 Fender Jazz Bass Factory Special Run in sonic blue.


The Entire stable:

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

and here is a 4001 JG with the same s/n
http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... lebrity%3D

That one is not NC1255... Though it was made the same week!

[johnhall]

and here is a 4001 JG with the same s/n
http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... lebrity%3D

That one is not NC1255... Though it was made the same week!

Looks pretty clearly to me to be NC1225.

[Wiker]

and here is a 4001 JG with the same s/n
http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... lebrity%3D

That one is not NC1255... Though it was made the same week!

Looks pretty clearly to me to be NC1225.

Sorry, I was reading too fast

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

yes...i see NG as well. but looks like 4255. you can see a cross under the string.


so christian is an instrument whore !!!

[Kronborg]

so christian is an instrument whore !!!

Yes! I certainly am! Just as my girlfriend is addicted to shoes, I just love instruments. I have 17 stringed instruments (there are 16 in the picture, the 17th being a lap steel guitar which I had yet to become owner of at the time of the photo shoot). I also own a couple of brass horns and other non-stringed instruments, but I primarily collect stringed instruments, with my main love in the basses. I suspect the 18th instrument in my collection could well be another Rick. I would love an azureglo 4001.

[Ontario_RIC_fan]

yes...i see NG as well. but looks like 4255. you can see a cross under the string.

Agreed. NG 4255. That is what I changed the 450 to.

[collin]

To make things even more confusing, in 1960 they used a mixture of earlier digit serial number types with the new alphanumeric system.

For example, I have a 1960 450 with what is clearly an original "JL" serial number.....flash forward ten years and there is a good possibility they reused that number on an instrument in 1970, after the number/month system was established.