Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Greetings,
New member here. I am a partner in a small music store in Starkville, MS. http://backstagemusic.com/
We have a steel I believe to be a post war model B he wants to sell. I need help with the dating of it and also with what might be a proper asking price. This seemed like the place to find the answers. I have posted some pics on our store server.
http://backstagemusic.com/rick1.jpg
http://backstagemusic.com/rick2.jpg
http://backstagemusic.com/rick3.jpg
http://backstagemusic.com/rick4.jpg
http://backstagemusic.com/rick5.jpg

I looked at the pots was the numbers were unfamiliar to me for a date code. They are 24171-5-5212 on both pots. The pickup is 1.25 inches and the bridge is telling me post war I think. There are 5 inlays missing and there is no case. Any info any of you could give on dating would be helpful, as I know very little about these. A suggested value would be great as well. Thanks in advance for your time.

Welcome to the Forum, Tony. I'm not an expert in steels, but I do have the two main Rickenbacker reference books and I'll take a quick gander a little later to see if I can run down the model designation.

As far as the pot codes, could you confirm that the first three numbers are "241" and not "214"? The latter would be a code for IRC, and I've seen tough-to-decipher IRC pot codes before.

Very interesting!
Logo is pre WW2 and I think the neck is also.
Pickup and body are postwar.
The black plates were started prewar and might have been continued after the war. I'm not sure.
There were no pot codes before WW2.
So, it is either a hybrid or a transitional model made with left over prewar and new postwar parts.
If the neck is prewar it should have a serial number stamped into the top of the headstock. (Usually C####)
There were no serial numbers on early postwar models.
If the serial number is very high, it could be transitional, but my guess is that the body and neck didn't leave the factory at the same time.
Please post the serial number, if it's there, or if there is none.

There is not a serial number.

Since there is no s/n on the top of the headstock indicates this Model B is a an early postwar issue. The only prewar part is the logo.

If it sounds really good it might be worth $1000.
On Ebay sight-unseen $600-800.
However, the price of these is escalation. It might be worth more to the right player or collector.

purchased this steel for $600....waiting for UPS

SOUNDS GREAT.....I messed around with some tunings and found a few I liked.....
I played nice and quiet for a while....then after I got the hang of it.....cranked up my little 16w Soldano.....this thing SCREAMS!!!!!!
Powerful....Punchy....great.....
Then my downstairs neighbor started pownding on her ceiling....

Isn't it the growlingest pickup you've ever heard? I love the one I just got.