Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hello all,

I just purchased a used Rickenbacker from a music store and I'm looking extra information.

I was told that the model I was buying was a 330 - I think they may have made a mistake as the fingerboard has triangular pearloid markers and the shape is more contoured - I would say it's a 360.

Nevertheless, I'm looking for the serial number and can't seem to find it. I have read the "jackplate" - I'm assuming that's were the jack go - the only numbers there are 4 digits... which does not seem right.

Any help is greatly appreaciated.

Yeah, it's a 360. If it's not a "Rickenfaker", you should have two letters, OR the last two digits of the year above the jack, and the four digits on the bottom of the jackplate.
What color is it, BTW?

Robert, thank you for the information.
The unit is mapleglo.
It does have the two letter and the four digits.
I don't think it's a "Rickenfaker" - but you never know... When I enter the serial number at Rickenbaker, I get: This Amplifier unit was manufactured in March of 1980. (TO6263) or I get a date of manufacturer of 1997 (T0(zero)6263)...

Are there any other ways of spotting a fake Rickenbacker?

The other thing I should ask, how are the 360's of that year perceived? Are they known to be a good guitar or a bad year?

Denis, the second character is a zero, not the letter O. In the 1961-86 numbering scheme the second character was a letter, but only A thru L for the twelve months. The post-'86 numbering schemes all have a number as the second character. For more info see http://www.the-music-connection.com/ricinfo.htm . So it sounds like a '97 to me. The instruments from the '90s are considered excellent.

Here's a 360 in Mapleglo http://www.the-music-connection.com/pics/r387.jpg . Note the trapezoid inlays, the edges on the body front are rounded, there is binding on the fingerboard, on the back edge of the body and on the sound hole edge.

There are many ways to spot a fake but we would need to see a photo. But based on what you have said, I don't see any reason to suspect yours is a fake. I think Rob just raised the possibility becaus you didn't mention the first two characters of the serial number.

Dave, Robert,

Thanks you for your information. I'm certain that it is a real Rickenbacker - the construction is impecable. I was just a little uncertain as I would of expected the music store to be better informed...

I have found that even some stores that sell Rics don't always have good info on them. For example, I bought a new Ric about a week ago (just now divulging this, sorry ), it is a 325/V59. I bought it new but, at the time, I didn't know what year it was produced and they could not tell me either. As I found out after a little research, it was made in Febuary of '97 ( N0 9108). I also believe I got a decent deal on it as it seems that I paid over $500 less than list. I am by no means any kind of expert on these guitars but, it seemed pretty good to me. I will attempt to put a pic up but, I haven't had much luck in doing so and have needed assistance in the past but, we'll see...Well, guess I'll have to try it on a new post.

Sorry, no luck with the pic.

Thought I'd try one more time...

Thought I'd try one more time...