Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I've been looking through this Forum and also on RIC's own company Forum for some list or short definitions page to explain all the many abbreviations, letters, acronyms and so forth utilized to identify specific Ric guitar and bass models. But I have found no such explanatory list. Maybe some of the Forumites with knowledge in this area could help compile a short list ?

For example, if WB is listed with a model does that stand for With Binding and if so does that mean binding on both the top and bottom of the body ? If a guitar only has binding along the bottom edge, such as on today's 360 models, how is that binding described ??

Anyway if there is some explanatory mini-encyclopaedia of Ric nomenclature out there, it would be appreciated if you could direct me there. If none exists, could we perhaps get some input here to help identify the many abbreviations used ?? Many thanks. Rich F.

WB stands for either "with binding" of "white binding", not sure. But any guitars and basses with "WB" in their name means they're double bound - that's front and back.

The WB designation is used to set double bound guitars and basses apart from the "normal" ones. There's the regular 4005's and 360's with the rounded tops and bound backs, and the WB models have double binding.

But I think Richard brings up a good general question.
Is there a RIC Glossary out there somewhere?

Perhaps there should be! Volunteers?

Don't know, but this might be a good place to start one. Here are a few to start:

WB = With Binding or White Binding (usually both sides of body)
OS = (I can't remember where I saw this, but it meant the same as WB)
S = Special, referring to the down-trim version of the 4001 (and later 4003) bass; no binding, dot position markers
RM = Rose Morris, the importer in England who issued its own special model numbers to exported Ricks


C'mon, everyone, pitch in!

Paul, regarding "OS" - it stands for "Old Style", as in 360's and 370's. After the rounded "new-style" 360 was introduced, Rickenbacker continued making the OS ones (Like George Harrison's 360/12) and called them 360OS. The difference between OS models and WB models would be that 360WB's had 24 frets and higains.

TRC = truss rod cover (nameplate)

1/2" spacing = On basses, it refers to how far away the neck pickup is from the edge of the fretboard. This was switched to 1" in early '75.

FWMOP = Full width mother of pearl inlays, as on 60's and early 70's instruments.

CB = checkered binding.

VB = Vibrato option, as on 650's.

JL = John Lennon PT(?) = Tom Petty - wrong LK = Lemmy Kilmister SH = Susanna Hoffs RM (?) = Roger McGuinn Cii = ??? MG = MapleGlo FG = FireGlo JG = JetGlo BLK = Black BB = Blueboy BBR = Blueburst AFG = Amber Fireglo (?) AG = Autumnglo (or Aquaglo?) BG = Burgundy DCM = Distinguished Conduct Medal Dark cherry metallic DG = Desert Gold...
Woof! I did what i could...

BT = Black Trim
VP = Vintage Pickups (Toasters)

Sheena - nice work! PT is probably "Pete Townshend", as in the 1998PT.

L = Laredo (As in 4004L, an all maple 4004 with chrome hardware)
Ci = Cheyenne (4004C, a walnut w/ maple bass w/ oil finish and gold hardware)
Cii = Cheyenne II (4004cii, a maple w/ walnut bass with gold hardware)
ATG = Autumnglo
AZ = Azureglo

RIC acoustic abbreviations:

730L--Laramie (Dreadnought, maple body)
730S--Shiloh (Dreadnought, rosewood body)
700C--Comstock (Jumbo, maple body)
700S--Shasta (Jumbo, rosewood body)

360s also came in "WBBS" for a brief period. Stands for "White Binding, Both Sides".

Corrections:

PT = Pete Townsend (1998PT Limited Edition)
TP = Tom Petty (660/12TP Limited Edition)

Also:

GF = Glenn Frey (230GF/2030GF Limited Edition)
JK = John Kay (381JK Limited Edition)

AUT = also used for Autumnglo
RED = Red (opaque finish)
RUBY = Ruby (metallic finish)
MID = Midnight Blue
BG = also called Burgandyglo
WHT = White (opaque finish)
TUR = Turquoise (metallic finish on newer instruments)

SPC = Special (as in Tuxedo, Blackstar, etc. models)

VP = Vintage Pickup (option from factory)

L can also be Laguna (model 380L).

This one is generic to all manufacturers:

OHSC = original hard shell case

PLZ - ???
650 A - ?
C - ?
D - Dakota
E - Excalibur
F - Frisco
S - Sierra

PLZ might be PZ Sheena, as in Piezo (On the 380L).

650A = Atlantis
C = Colorado