Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Why does the size of the nameplate seem to vary from instrument to instrument? I became very paranoid for a time because my 4003 seemed to have an abnormally long one. I did a lot of research online to find any others like it, and luckily, there were some out there. I got in touch with Rickenbacker as well, and they assured me of the model, year and serial number.

I don't think the nameplates are different sizes, but the headstock size changes from time to time. This may give the apperance of a longer nameplate compared to another instrument, even though they are the same model.

Some nameplates actually Are longer, or narrower,
than others.Later 60s and early 70s plates, for example, are shorter than ,say, 50s and early 60s.Reissue plates are more or less closer to old long 50s plates. Also,depending on mfr. or production batches of acrylic sheet stock, you will see that the thickness of some plates varies as well.

As soon as I get my scanner sorted out, I'll post a picture of my 4003 leftie. The nameplate reaches the end of the headstock! I have only seen three other examples that display a nameplate of this length. If anyone knows any more information on this I would love to know!

Here you go (I hope this works)!

That thing's huge!

My 4003LH nameplate measures 6 11/16" long. At the pointed end of the nameplate, it is 1/2" from the end of the headstock. From the outside of the nut to the end of the curve on the headstock end, it is 8 1/2" long. By the photo, it looks like your headstock is shorter.

Well I don't care what you guys think ....

it's not the size of the nameplate that counts ...

it's what you do with the equipment!

Bruce....I have to admit I have not measured the length. I will do so tonight, but it sounds like you have a monster there!

Mark....do I detect a bit of envy there? I am guessing yours is a little on the short side!

Mine is an average length , but a bit on the wide side , hard to fit between the tuners.

OK...the nameplate on my bass is 6 3/4" in length.
The headstock is about 8 1/4" or thereabouts.

So, there is variation in headstock size! I am sure we will all sleep better in the knowledge!

Hey Richard,
I have a 4001v63 made in 1997 that has a nameplate that looks a lot like yours and is just as long but mine is a right handed bass. I have another v63 made in 1993 that has the same size nameplate, but the headstock is much longer and thinner. It seemed that the headstocks got a lot wider in the late 90s. I noticed this trend with the Chris Squire Ltd Ed. and I can usually guess where it is in the series by how wide the headstock is.
I hope we can all rest easy now!

I measured up the nameplate on my 72 4001. It's 5.75" long. I always thought it looked a little odd. The bass has the features of 60's 4001's on it, apparently also a very short headstock.
Cheers,

Hmm. My nameplate is 5-15/16" long and the headstock is about 8-1/8" It's a 1994 4003.

I think your nameplate is unusually long! Have you ever removed it to see if there was something underneath it? (I'm not implying anything about Ric's QC ethics or anything.)

John: Yep, first thing I did after getting the instrument home was to take it apart. All that's under the nameplate are the truss rod nuts.... as you would expect from a bass of the period. There were no abnormalities that I could see and the cavity could easily be covered by a much shorter nameplate.

Personally, I think it was probably a case of using whatever left handed orientated nameplate was at hand. After all, I think production of lefties accounts for 2% of Rics made (I think I read that on this site somewhere), so they are bound to have fewer leftie nameplates kicking about the factory!