Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

leftybass wrote:2.) There is another guitar pictured above in this thread with serial number C6147, which is a single-pickup Combo 650, made in the same run as your guitar and the Deluxe 850. 'C' meaning Combo, '6' meaning 650, not that it was made in 1956.

John, the Smith book claims C6147 would have been build in 1956...

...but, based on the all the info given shape, I wouldn't be surprised the guitar in Thomas' picture actually is the C8147! Which then would fit in quite where it should.

Hmm, I wonder if there is a pic of that jackplate on that guitar.

All of the hardware with it would also suggest it was made in 1958, but we'll see. The earliest I have seen anything made with the 325-style body is 1957. It would be cool if a jackplate pic exists of the 650.

leftybass wrote:There is another guitar pictured above in this thread with serial number C6147, which is a single-pickup Combo 650, made in the same run as your guitar and the Deluxe 850. 'C' meaning Combo, '6' meaning 650, not that it was made in 1956.

Good point. In that case, as these solidbody guitars are a hybrid of the Capri and Combo models, perhaps they were given serial nos. not within the Combo system, but rather the 1st digit after the "C" is the first digit of the model no.

If that was the case then, as with the serial nos. of Capris, there would be no indication of date in the serial no.

leftybass wrote: It would be cool if a jackplate pic exists of the 650.

I have one, I'll post it later tonight. It's correct though, as I originally posted: C6147.

My combo 850's serial numbers are "85" prefixes............so maybe this was designated as a combo 800? Rather than a dual coil horseshoe, having two separate pick ups?

Beautiful guitar.........sorry - I didn't see the "not for sale" part of Dale's original post. Ignore my PM Dale

That is too beautiful!

Here you go...

Thanks, Tom. I am pretty certain that the '6' doesn't stand for 1956, but rather '650' as in model/style number.

Just another system of numbering used in the late 50s....many things were going on and not much was standardized, especially in 1958.

8mileshigh wrote:My combo 850's serial numbers are "85" prefixes............so maybe this was designated as a combo 800? Rather than a dual coil horseshoe, having two separate pick ups?

Could be, Graham, but the Deluxe that Mike G. saw in Texas had two toasters---plus Richard Smith talks about it in his book being an 850, so YMMV.....

Was this guitar found to be a 650? or 850?

lewilson wrote:Was this guitar found to be a 650? or 850?

I'm not sure... last thing I heard they're going to battle it out in a snowball fight. Whoever wins can claim their answer is correct.

Whatever it is, it's amazing to look at...

I called Rickenbacker. they told me these were late combo 850's. would not say how many were made