Help identifying year, 1978?
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
Help identifying year, 1978?
Hi,
I’m new to the website, thanks for having me and I hope I haven’t posted this in the wrong place.
I have owned a 4003 in the past and just recently purchased this 4001, I was wondering if there is anyway to easily date the year of manufacture, I was told it’s 1978 but I am interested to know what you think.
Thanks,
Will.
I’m new to the website, thanks for having me and I hope I haven’t posted this in the wrong place.
I have owned a 4003 in the past and just recently purchased this 4001, I was wondering if there is anyway to easily date the year of manufacture, I was told it’s 1978 but I am interested to know what you think.
Thanks,
Will.
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- New member
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Re: Help identifying year, 1978?
Have you checked the jackplate? The serial number, if it's on there, can be decoded at Rickenbacker's website.
Rick-en-back-er. It's just so fun to say, let alone play.
Re: Help identifying year, 1978?
The decoder can be found here:
http://www.rickenbacker.com/service_serials.asp
http://www.rickenbacker.com/service_serials.asp
The only thing we can perceive are our perceptions - George Berkeley
Re: Help identifying year, 1978?
http://www.the-music-connection.com/ricinfo.htm
This is a particularly useful cheat sheet if you're just starting out.
This is a particularly useful cheat sheet if you're just starting out.
Re: Help identifying year, 1978?
Thanks for that, unfortunately the numbers on the jack plate have mostly been lost to time.
- bassduke49
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Re: Help identifying year, 1978?
Can you post a photo of the jack plate? The two letter (or numbers or combination) at the "top" of the jackplate are a date code. The "bottom" numbers are a serial. The digits are stamped in, so you should still see them.
Author: "The Rickenbacker Electric Bass - 50 Years As Rock's Bottom"
Re: Help identifying year, 1978?
wwh wrote:Thanks for that, unfortunately the numbers on the jack plate have mostly been lost to time.
Yeah, the S/N can't be "lost to time" unless the plate is seriously rusted.bassduke49 wrote:The digits are stamped in, so you should still see them.
- antipodean
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Re: Help identifying year, 1978?
Or the plate has been replaced....jps wrote:wwh wrote:Thanks for that, unfortunately the numbers on the jack plate have mostly been lost to time.Yeah, the S/N can't be "lost to time" unless the plate is seriously rusted.bassduke49 wrote:The digits are stamped in, so you should still see them.
"I don't want to sound incredulous but I can't believe it" Rex Mossop
Re: Help identifying year, 1978?
Or it's not actually a Rickenbacker. The case isn't...antipodean wrote:Or the plate has been replaced....jps wrote:wwh wrote:Thanks for that, unfortunately the numbers on the jack plate have mostly been lost to time.Yeah, the S/N can't be "lost to time" unless the plate is seriously rusted.bassduke49 wrote:The digits are stamped in, so you should still see them.
I have NO idea what to do with those skinny stringed things... I'm just a bass player...
Re: Help identifying year, 1978?
The bass looks quite real, to me.
Re: Help identifying year, 1978?
If no plate pull the pick guard off and find the dates of the pots (if they are original). There may be some markings in the routed out area also.
- bassduke49
- Senior Member
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- Joined: Wed May 14, 2003 5:00 am
Re: Help identifying year, 1978?
Certainly the case is not a Rick case, but made to fit one (or may have come with a Rick copy). But the chassis and hardware look genuine to me. I'd still like to see the jack plate.
Author: "The Rickenbacker Electric Bass - 50 Years As Rock's Bottom"
- sloop_john_b
- Rick-a-holic
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Re: Help identifying year, 1978?
+1chrisdski wrote:If no plate pull the pick guard off and find the dates of the pots (if they are original). There may be some markings in the routed out area also.
The pots have date codes that will help in establishing an approximate date for it.
It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing. - Seneca
Re: Help identifying year, 1978?
Thanks for all the info guys. The bass is getting a setup at the moment so I haven’t been able to get a picture of the jack plate but I’ll take one once I get it back.