Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Posted: **Sat Feb 15, 2003 10:29 am**

COULD ANYONE HELP ME DATE MY TR50 BASS AMP AND GIVE ME AN APPROXIMATE VALUE OR HOW COLLECTIBLE IT MAY BE.
WE HAVE HAD THIS AMP IN THE BAND FOR MANY YEARS AND IT HAS NEVER LET US DOWN IT HAS BEEN USED AS A BASS AMP KEYBOARD AMP AND EVEN ON THE PA BUT NOW I HAVE RETIRED THE AMP AND I HAVE JUST DISCOVERED HOW MEGA IT SOUNDS WITH A RICKY BASS IN RIC O SOUND MODE SOUNDS LIKE THE SERAIL NO ON THE AMP IS 509394 AND IT IS ALL ORIGINAL.
PLEASE ANY INFO ON THIS AMP WOULD BE MOST WELCOME FROM ONE RICKY FAN TO ANOTHER ALL THE BEST.
DAVE CARR

Posted: **Sat Oct 02, 2004 5:19 am**

Posted: **Sat Oct 02, 2004 5:39 am**

TR50 BASS AMP WITH FRONT COVER REMOVED

Posted: **Sat Oct 02, 2004 7:28 am**

David: You should see a serial number stamped into the chasis. The number you have listed is not likely the serial. The TR series has a two-letter prefix usually followed by a number. Sometimes the prefix was stamped on a foil sticker.

Posted: **Sat Oct 02, 2004 8:51 am**

I can tell you that according to my 1981 Rickenbacker catalog the price sheet shows the TR-50B with a list price of $349.00

I would think that it's probably still worth between $250-$350 today.

Rickenbacker amps were never very successful. So you won't find many of them around. I don't believe the TR-Series was made for very long, so you can be sure you amp is from the early 80's.
Sorry I can't help you determine the date of manufacture from the serial number. I would be very suprised if anyone could.

Good luck

Posted: **Tue Oct 05, 2004 1:02 pm**

Peter

There is no serial number stamped into the chasis. But the two-letter prefix is SO followed by numbers 9394. This is all stamped on a foil sticker.

Sorry about the quality of the picture.

Posted: **Tue Oct 05, 2004 2:53 pm**

Here's a comment from Mr Hall about RIC TR-Series amps. I stand corrected.

Hope this helps you David.

They were only made about 15 years, 60,000+ units or so.

The serial number decoder at http://www.rickenbacker.com/us/serial.asp works
for amps too, although there is a known bug for amp serials with "O" in the
month column.

This amp is from 1979.

Posted: **Tue Oct 05, 2004 2:54 pm**

Here's a comment from Mr Hall about RIC TR-Series amps. I stand corrected.

Hope this helps you David.

"They were only made about 15 years, 60,000+ units or so.

The serial number decoder at http://www.rickenbacker.com/us/serial.asp works
for amps too, although there is a known bug for amp serials with "O" in the
month column.

This amp is from 1979".

Posted: **Tue Oct 05, 2004 3:43 pm**

David: Just what we are looking for. Jon is right, a 1979 model it would seem. Thanks for going the extra mile here.

Posted: **Sun Apr 10, 2005 2:18 pm**

I recently bought a TR 50 on Ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7310865053&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1
This one has 4x10". It hasn't arrived yet and I'm wondering if the 4x10 speaker configuration is stock. Anyone? And is it safe to play a bass thru? Thanks.

Posted: **Sun Apr 10, 2005 2:51 pm**

John: You wouldn't want to play a bass through this amplifier at high volume. Provided you keep the volume down low, you should not have any difficulty.

Time for you to buy one of Bobampegs amps that he is not using and no longer able to lift as he gets older now.

Posted: **Sun Apr 10, 2005 5:10 pm**

I've changed my mind since I got out of traction a few days ago, I've decided I'll carry them myself until I'm 80 and then hire a roadie.

Posted: **Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:17 pm**

The amp arrived today. Heavy! I like it.

Posted: **Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:19 pm**

Just got an email from John Hall. Its a TR50G and it is stock.

Posted: **Fri Apr 15, 2005 5:52 pm**

Nice!