Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I recently purchased a 330 made in 1972 according to the serial info. (LG) At the time I purchased it, I was told it was an '83 by a store manager at GC. He obviously didn't cross reference the number, but relied on the information given to him when it was traded in. I paid $750. They were asking $999.
My question; Is there a substantial change in value between an '83 and a '72? This is my first Ric, so I'm not entirely up on the worth of the instrument.

The manager said there was probably $500-700 difference. Can anyone help?. I like to keep on top of the values of my guitars for insurance reasons.

The guitar is in very good condition for a 34 year old instrument. It has some minor scratches, but all are minor surface scratches of the belt buckle variety. All knobs and pots are good w/no noise.
The neck looks and feels almost new.

Picture here:

http://hometown.aol.com/toomuchtlme/Ric330.html

Thanks for any and all help.

Welcome, Larry. That's a pretty sweet-looking instrument!

Be sure to give it the Zymol treatment. Ask Aitch, who hangs around these parts.

Check the serial number again. Doesn't look like a '72. The wide headstock gives it away as does the tuners.

I'm betting it starts with 1G. Thats a '98 model. The price was right no matter what.

Zymol Treatment? Sorry. Not familiar with the term, but if it needs it, I'll get it. Thanks!

You are so right, Jwilli...I failed to register the paddle headstock, same as my '82 360WB.

The number on the jack is definitely an LG, which is listed as Jul. 1972. I suppose it's possible someone may have changed the jack with the number.

Welcome Larry! You realize with a last name like yours, we are expecting a lot from you!

The TRC is the later molded type, if it were a '72, it would have the plexi TRC.

Why does the bridge cover look black?

Thanks, Jeffrey. I'm guessing that for some inexplicable reason, some one changed the jack and put on one from a '72. Go figure....
I suppose it's still a good deal at $750.

The bridge cover is chrome. It's probably the angle from which I took the picture.

It's got the newer style higains. A '72 would have the flat top with the small pole pieces. Also has straplocks. Looks just like my '04.

FWIW, I emailed GC a few months back and told them that this guitar wasn't a '72. I think they responded with a "Thanks, but you're wrong", so I dropped it. It is obviously a much newer guitar as indicated by the headstock, tuners, pick-ups, etc.

Which gives credence to the theory that it's a newer guitar with the jackplate switched, perhaps to enhance trade-in value, since the GC folks seem to be going by serial # alone.

Paul: I've got an '80 320 BG that I tricked out with vintage reissue hardware to resemble a 325V63. I also swapped the jackplate for a 'DG' coded plate taken from a '64 325 FG that I parted out many years ago. I should sell it to GC as a '64 model...