Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Guys. Don't use Richard Smith's shipping totals. They are useless. This has been a known fact since the book first came out. This is why the totals are not included in the Bacon or Rittor books.

I've had dozens more of some models than Richard's totals claimed were shipped.

Gerry, Dave Brewis told me in an e-mail he had a 67 too. The definitive totals will always be debated, but the one thing that seems fairly consistent is that there are very few to be seen.

They will always be debated until the definitive Rickenbacker book comes out!! Mr. Hall, we haven't heard from you in a while...are you writing your book?

John never showed much interest in having production totals out there. I had discussed this with him years ago. I can't imagine his position has changed. I know he still doesn't discuss current shipping totals.

Johns, writing his how do i get these Ric. nuts off my back book...haha

yeah. Ric nuts, I like that.

Scott, I agree with you wholeheartedly. At best they can only be a guide but that being said the RM figures in the back are probably the most accurate. All those numbers make sense. Multiples of 25 + a prototype. The serial numbers on the basses so far are very close to each other indicating, to me anyway, that there were 5 batches in 1964. So far it all fits.

Colin, here's a couple of pics of my horseshoe and bobbin.

Thanks to everyone for such a great response and especially to Andrew for the pics of the pickup.
I showed my friend the owner, who for the time being wants to remain anonymous, and he was simply overwhelmed with yoiur info. Huge thanks. He now remebers sending it back to rose morris about 1970ish for a repair because the pickup didnt work, so you guys are spot on. We have taken some pics of the inside with the pickguard off and I hope JohnW will post them for me. To summarize, the there is a mark in thick black ink in the main cavity under the finish, which says 5 E. THere is nothing else, no signatures.The pots are all coded 6401 (the earlier code figures are soldered over), and the wiring looks to be a mix of old and newer. The back of neck has an unusual volute, which may be something added in the neck repair.

Be interested in any further thoughts you may have.

Colin, glad to help. The pots date to the first week of 1964. I have a May 64 bass that has a volute too. I originally thought it was a repair but there have been other examples I have seen, so I'm sure it's original. As I mentioned earlier, if you send me an e-mail addy I can send you some good quality pics for reference.
Here's my volute

Colin sent more pics. Might that fretboard be Brazilian Rosewood?

Some of these basses had real dark necks John. This looks the darkest of the lot though! The volute looks a little smaller than my RM, more like the one on the Dec 64 deluxe I have.
Thanks to Colin and John for the pics.

Wow! Now that's what I call Fireglo! (Just like my '72). The new ones don't look like that anymore. Why did they change it?

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"... The new ones don't look like that anymore. Why did they change it?"

Maybe it's an aging process. The maple darkens, the clearcoat yellows. I'm not sure, just guessing.