No Normal/Ric-O-Sound lettering?
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
No Normal/Ric-O-Sound lettering?
My recent acquisition (1978 4001) does not have the 'Normal' / 'Ric-o-Sound' lettering on the chrome output socket plate.
I thought all Rics had this lettering, were there any years that this did not appear on the output plate or has the previous owner been a bit too rough with the polishing cloth and rubbed it off?
I thought all Rics had this lettering, were there any years that this did not appear on the output plate or has the previous owner been a bit too rough with the polishing cloth and rubbed it off?
- rickenbrother
- RRF Moderator
- Posts: 13197
- Joined: Sun May 26, 2002 5:00 am
Re: No Normal/Ric-O-Sound lettering?
The Rick-O-Sound/Standard screen print on the output jackplate can wear off over time.
JETGLO should officially be renamed JETGLO ROCKS! 
Re: No Normal/Ric-O-Sound lettering?
Yep, not uncommon at all for one that old.
- cassius987
- Senior Member
- Posts: 4723
- Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:11 pm
Re: No Normal/Ric-O-Sound lettering?
+1... if the serial is there you're fine.
- Hotzenplotz
- Intermediate Member
- Posts: 942
- Joined: Sun Sep 26, 2010 8:51 am
Re: No Normal/Ric-O-Sound lettering?
+1
It disappears quite easily while using. You do not even have to You use abrasive polish for that.
An normally used instrument from '78 with a perfect lettering would be more suspicious.
It disappears quite easily while using. You do not even have to You use abrasive polish for that.
An normally used instrument from '78 with a perfect lettering would be more suspicious.
- Ontario_RIC_fan
- Advanced Member
- Posts: 2797
- Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2008 8:39 pm
Re: No Normal/Ric-O-Sound lettering?
Does it have two Letters and four numbers at least? The first letter beginning with a R?Baker69 wrote:My recent acquisition (1978 4001) does not have the 'Normal' / 'Ric-o-Sound' lettering on the chrome output socket plate.
That is the important question!!
Brian Morton
A Rickenbacker Fan
in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
=========================
67 FG 625
74 JG 4000
76 JG 430
77 JG 620
77 JG 320
79 MG 450
79 JG 4001
80 FG 620/12
81 BG 480
91 JG 610
02 BG 620
78 TR7
83 TR25
A Rickenbacker Fan
in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
=========================
67 FG 625
74 JG 4000
76 JG 430
77 JG 620
77 JG 320
79 MG 450
79 JG 4001
80 FG 620/12
81 BG 480
91 JG 610
02 BG 620
78 TR7
83 TR25
Re: No Normal/Ric-O-Sound lettering?
Ontario_RIC_fan wrote:Does it have two Letters and four numbers at least? The first letter beginning with a R?Baker69 wrote:My recent acquisition (1978 4001) does not have the 'Normal' / 'Ric-o-Sound' lettering on the chrome output socket plate.![]()
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That is the important question!!
Yes it has the stampings on there ok, it has RE on the one end and 2**9 on the other.
It looks like it has just worn off or been polished off then.
Cheers.
Re: No Normal/Ric-O-Sound lettering?
That lettering had already rubbed off my 1975 4001 when I bought it in 1990. There had been plenty of wear and tear on my Rick from previous owners though.
Re: No Normal/Ric-O-Sound lettering?
I don't think any of the 4001's I've owned have had more than a couple of ROS letters left on them. They flow back to the ether 
Re: No Normal/Ric-O-Sound lettering?
Hurry, someone get Brian some more serial numbers to melt in a spoon and inject between his toes! 
- Ontario_RIC_fan
- Advanced Member
- Posts: 2797
- Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2008 8:39 pm
Re: No Normal/Ric-O-Sound lettering?
jdogric12 wrote:Hurry, someone get Brian some more serial numbers to melt in a spoon and inject between his toes!
Ok since this is a JG lefty JG 4001 (as seen on another thread)... I will go with this line of logic
RE 23x9... Since the only other LH 4001 in the register is RE2397 a MG lefty 4001 registered from Illinois in 2008
So that narrows the possibilities to 10
RE 2309
RE 2319
RE 2329
RE 2339
RE 2349
RE 2359
RE 2369
RE 2379
RE 2389
RE 2399
Of these possible choices I will go with RE 2399... As there are JG and LH basses close to it and there seems to be a run of MG in the 2377 and 2378 range.
So did I win??
If so feel free to put your bass and some pictures into the Register!
Brian Morton
A Rickenbacker Fan
in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
=========================
67 FG 625
74 JG 4000
76 JG 430
77 JG 620
77 JG 320
79 MG 450
79 JG 4001
80 FG 620/12
81 BG 480
91 JG 610
02 BG 620
78 TR7
83 TR25
A Rickenbacker Fan
in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
=========================
67 FG 625
74 JG 4000
76 JG 430
77 JG 620
77 JG 320
79 MG 450
79 JG 4001
80 FG 620/12
81 BG 480
91 JG 610
02 BG 620
78 TR7
83 TR25
Re: No Normal/Ric-O-Sound lettering?
I found an interesting jack plate, the S/N on it is NCC 1701. Any idea what it may have come off of?Ontario_RIC_fan wrote:jdogric12 wrote:Hurry, someone get Brian some more serial numbers to melt in a spoon and inject between his toes!
Ok since this is a JG lefty JG 4001 (as seen on another thread)... I will go with this line of logic
RE 23x9... Since the only other LH 4001 in the register is RE2397 a MG lefty 4001 registered from Illinois in 2008
So that narrows the possibilities to 10
RE 2309
RE 2319
RE 2329
RE 2339
RE 2349
RE 2359
RE 2369
RE 2379
RE 2389
RE 2399
Of these possible choices I will go with RE 2399... As there are JG and LH basses close to it and there seems to be a run of MG in the 2377 and 2378 range.
So did I win??
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
If so feel free to put your bass and some pictures into the Register!
Re: No Normal/Ric-O-Sound lettering?
Probably one of there:
Oh, and yeah, I've got one...

I have NO idea what to do with those skinny stringed things... I'm just a bass player...
Re: No Normal/Ric-O-Sound lettering?
One large sausage, mushrooms and onions, please! And a 2-liter Bloodwine, too!
Re: No Normal/Ric-O-Sound lettering?
Slice well and prosper.
It's a Byrd, it's a playin'..........
'73 4001 MG
'09 360/12 FG
'10 360/6 FG
'09 360/12 FG
'10 360/6 FG
