Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

... got a third dot near the 19th fret, like the later production "S" board?

-> V63 in question



-> 4003S for example...



-> Another V63... double dot



It seems some HAVE the 3rd dot, others don't. What gives?

Good question, Henny. My '98v63 and 2003c64 don't have the extra dot. I think somebody at RIC goofed.

But extra dot or not, that is one rare and cool v63.

The earlier V63 versions had three dots(like the 70s 4001-S and 4003-S basses) then went to two(like the originals). I'm not sure when the transition was. Anybody?

FWIW, my 4001V63 PMC made in 1999 has two dots, like the 60's 4001-S model should have. The C-Series basses have only two as well.

Answers my question.

Thanks, John.

I think the headstock on the above pictured Turquoise V is the later(post 1997) version, but its hard for me to tell from the photo.

or maybe somebody converted a 4003s into a v63 look alike ... did Ric ever paint a v63 turquoise? ... the more I think about it the more I think it is a 4003s ... a few years ago you could buy all the parts from a Ric dealer to convert a 4003s into a 4001v63 ...

I've never seen a turquoise V63, would definitely not be period-correct...but cool, nonetheless.

or maybe somebody converted a 4003s into a v63 look alike

Not possible, 4003S ended in 1995/96, new body shape and headstock implemented in early 1997(?)/1998...

No 4003S were ever made with the 60s body profile/headstock shape... or am I wrong?

Jeff is right, that is the later headstock. I have seen early V63s with the extra dot. Mine is a '94 (pictured above) and does not have one. Are we sure this bass is a V and not an S with V hardware? Is there a shot of the back? The neck heel would tell us for sure.

Unless its a goofy, elongated photo I would think its a real v63, Jeff. The horns look too slim to be a 4003S. I think the 4003S was discontinued before the newer headstock and the slim horns. I've seen this v63 before. I forgot who's website it was on...maybe Pick of the Ricks.

Compare with my 1994 4003STurq:

http://www.rickresource.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=5&post=176442#POST176442

Yup, exactly what I thought three posts up.

My March 85 has two. Don't know of many earlier than this one...

So... they went from two, to three, then back to two?

Must have had a surplus of 4003S boards, I think. *sob*

On second thought...don't use the link above. Compare with these photos of my 1994 4003S:

Yeah! What Henny Said!