Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

There were all kinds of changes throughout the 70s, but as has been stated '84 seems like a good one to use as a cutoff what with the first reissues starting then, among other changes like headstock sizes, and tuners.

I figured it was because it was when the 4003 was allegedly introduced?

Steve, that I believe was another point someone made earlier. I just bought an '83 320, by the way. And am glad the latest forum changes classify it as vintage. Ooo-wee. Reminds me of an old traffic court joke I head a judge tell in CA traffic court. Every time someone approached the bench, he'd ask what year their car was. If it was more than 20, or 25 years old, he'd say "well, that's either a classic or a heap!" CA, back in the 80s I'm talking about, had a cutoff line for classics (regarding the smog laws.) I think it was 20 years. I had an old VW bug and it was a classic by their laws then.

I can remember a day when you'd go the AACA(Antique Automobile Club of America) national meet in Hershey, Pa. and the guys that would bring the 1940's vehicles to the show would get comments like "...boy, that's a nice USED car you have there" from the Model T guys. Classic or heap, LOL.

Heh-heh. I remember reading when the muscle cars of the 60s were hitting record prices in the 80s prices of earlier cars were falling because everyone who really wanted one had one and the nostalgia factor was waning.

So, my 4001 Burgandyglo 4001 made in Sept. 1980 and Jetglo 4001 made in June 1981 and my Jetglo 4080/12 made in March of 1983 aren't vintage?
Bummer.
I'd think at least the two 4001's being 27 and 28 years old would qualify for "vintage" status.

What is the difference in a 4001 made in 1980 & 1981 compared to one made in 1979?

2112, check out the dates of this thread, and how the topic title reads now. They updated it to go up to 1984, when many of the design elements changed. I think it is safe to say your guitars are vintage.

Alrighty then.
Excellent.

To me, any RIC 25 years or older can wear the "vintage" tag. But, I think the cutoff at '85 makes sense because the post-'85 guitar was really a different animal in many ways. Body bracing, truss rods, bridge, tuners, headstock, pickup design all changed at that time. Vintage Reissues hit the streets- RIC really went through a lot of changes at that time.