Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hello all,

I want to know what the hand-writings (with black marker pen) in my '98 4003 FG mean. Please help me.

In the neck pickup cavity:

FG
22093

In the control cavity:

22093
4003FG
40000
5-05-98
(And there's a coin-sized blue sticker with a "T" written on it.)

My warranty card states that my bass was made in May 22, 1998.

So what do "22093", "40000" and the "T" mean?
What was done on May 5, 1998?

Please educate me.

The actual finished product was made on May 22. Possibly the 5-05-98 was when the body came out of the wood shop, ready to be sprayed, IMHO. 4003FG is an obvious guess. (A 4003 Fireglo, maybe?) 22093, 40000, and T I really don't know.

Yes she's a Fireglo, Robert.

22093 means it was instrument number 93 on factory order 22 (which are issued weekly). This was before we switched the serial number system but had it been made later in 1998 (specifically in week 46 or later), the full serial number as stamped on the jackplate would have become 9822093.

You'll note that a week 22 wood cutting date would be in May, corresponding with the date 5/5/98 when the instrument went onto the drying rack.

The 40000 is the SKU number, the official model number as used in the UPC/JAN code.

The T indicates that this guitar contains an identifying transponder; these stickers were used during the earlier years when this system was being validated.

Thank you, Mr. Hall.

It's nice to know about these pedigree details of my baby.

(Correction: The coin-sized sticker is green, not blue. Sorry for the error.)