Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Here's a silly question.
Does anyone have one of the B series guitars or basses?

I've not seen any mention of them other than a pic of the old ad copy, which I remembered from the early 1980's.
Here's the pic:

I had an '83 360/12WB very briefly in the early part of this year. Sounded pretty good but had a number of issues so I unloaded it after I picked up an '88 360/12V64 w/ a factory single mono outjack. IMHO, the V64 is a better guitar, though still not as nice as my 360/12C63



'88 360/12V64 (l) and the '83 360/12WB (r)

I don't have a "B" series, but I remember a thread either in this forum or on the RIC corporate forum where John Hall held forth -- in no uncertain terms -- how he felt about these models. If I recall the thread correctly, these were dreamed up in the early 80s while John was not involved with the business...and when he came back on board, he wasn't at all happy with the guy that dreamed these up. Interesting insight into these models from Mr. Hall.

Maybe someone else remembers the thread and can find a link. (I just tried to get to the RIC site and it appears to be unavailable.)

I recall the same thread Jerry. I think it was under the old topic of Ask John Hall.

If I remember correctly, JH said he fired the guy and now he works for the Salvation Army.

Notice the bass in that photo has a "set neck"?

I have a 4003B.

I believe the photo shows a 4001SLH with a Toaster in the 1" position. The shedua stripe in the neck (only) tips 'er off. The real B series basses (I'm told) were 4003S with "Beatle" appointments.

I had a "B" many, many moons ago. I have photo's at home.

I have a 320B. I think it was a NOS item when I found it.
I'll try to post a picture but I'm sure Peter will have to fix it for me.

There's an original 360/12WB on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/RICKENBACKER-360-12WB-FIRE-GLO-FINISH-1982_W0QQitemZ170144803068QQihZ007QQcategoryZ41439QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

> Maybe someone else remembers the thread and can find a link. (I just tried to get to the RIC site and it appears to be unavailable.)

...go to just pass half-way on this page:

http://www.rickenbacker.com/forum_view_thread.asp?thread_id=4966&forum=Just_Guitars&thread_name=B%20Series

Here are the details on the 4003SB.
1) Very bulbous shaped head, not wings.
2) Only came in MG
3) Truss rod adjustment@ bottom of neck, not under TRC.
4) Very thick body and neck, a little heavier than a 4001 or 4003
5) Non vintage knobs (silver tops)
6) It IS a neck through, NOT a set neck.
7) NO horseshoe, it is a stock hi-gain from that era.
IT is a stereo model, not mono, like the V63.
9) Also notice that the toaster is in the 1" position, not closer like the authentic pre 75 models. It was not designed with any real thoughtful or authentic engineering.
I have made a few mods to make it move authentic like a V63 larger treble pickup surround, vintage all black knobs, had both jack wired in mono.
And it does sound awesome.

Here is what JH had to say about the "B" Series.

"I had nothing whatsoever to do with the B series. It was something cooked up by a numbnutz during the one year I was not with the company, sometime from '79 to '80. Had my dad been in better health, and not commuting each week to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, he sure he wouldn't have approved this. (But by the same token I might not have returned to the company either.)

One of the first things I did when I returned was dump the nimrod that was responsible for this series. He went to work for the Salvation Army instead, a much better fit for his talents.

It took me a little longer to get rid of the guitar, but I ultimately replaced it with the V Series in 1984.

It never appeared in a catalog, only on a separate data sheet; thank goodness for small favors.

Interesting!
The reason I was curious was that the B series ad was the only RIC ad I'd ever seen in print, I believe it was in Canadian Musician, but I could be mistaken, as it was over 20 years ago.