Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

OK....It looks like my 330 MG is a 1965 vintage. The pot date codes are 137 6526. The model 330 and serial# 4508 are on a sticker on the backside of the tune head. I understand Ric did it this way for a short time in 1965. I've attached a few photos. Anyone have a ballpark value of this piece

http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w46 ... C_9474.jpg
http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w46 ... C_9473.jpg
http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w46 ... C_9472.jpg
http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w46 ... C_9471.jpg
http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w46 ... C_9470.jpg
http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w46 ... C_9469.jpg
http://i1077.photobucket.com/albums/w46 ... C_9468.jpg

I don't know much about the sticker thing...is that number on the sticker part of the serial number on the jackplate (i.e EG-4508 or something like that)?

Or is that the only number - nothing stamped on the jackplate??

Or are they separate numbers???

leonvi@consumer wrote:OK....It looks like my 330 MG is a 1965 vintage. The pot date codes are 137 6526.

That's uncanny. That pot code number matches the example given in a prior post: "Most pots used on Ricks of that era are CTS, which have a prefix of 137. After that there will be 4 digits: the first 2 numbers are the year, next 2 numbers are the week. So 137 6526 is 26th week of 1965."

Value? For comparison, there was at least one '60s 330 MG (1967, I think) in decent shape that wasn't moving at around $2800. It seems the market values the FG finish more on these models than MG. And the odd serial # business (nothing on the jackplate, sticker on the back) will either turn some folks off or perhaps make this attractive due to its rarity. FWIW, the other 330 with a sticker was for sale on ebay at $3500 with apparently no "official" buyers. http://www.ebay.com/itm/330620048146?ru ... 3D1&_rdc=1

On the other hand, there don't seem to be too many 1965 330s on the Register -- just one so far -- the other one with the sticker!

Now as to your guitar, what does the back look like? It wasn't shown in the photos. Are the knobs bakelite? If so, there should be a code stamped on the underside -- on the ones I have seen have it's "S 647." If so, they could be original, which would be a cool addition to this guitar's mojo.

Good luck!

I'm thinking like Libratune. $2800. - 3000. Nice instrument.

badeggs wrote:I don't know much about the sticker thing...

There are actually several threads on those stickers under the clearcoat! The s/n will only be on the sticker, not on the jackplate!

viewtopic.php?f=22&t=402625&start=0

Well it doesn't look like there is a way to answer these individiually. So I'll answer best I can. There is nothing on the jack plate. The only serial number is on the sticker. The fisrt photo is of the back of the guitar. The knobs do have a number stamped in the bottom S-647. I did't buy this guitar from an individual. I bought it at a large music store in New York in 1965.

Vinnie

Not debating recent sales but...geez the value of a 60s Ric compared to a Fender or Gibson is ridiculous.

Rics must be way undervalued.

This particular example is in primo shape too.

Here's another though:

http://www.gbase.com/gear/rickenbacker-330-1965-natural#

It's crazy. A vintage '60s 330 is the best deal going right now. I can't believe that they're not being snapped up as they're generally only a little more than a new one.

leonvi@consumer wrote:Well it doesn't look like there is a way to answer these individiually. So I'll answer best I can. There is nothing on the jack plate. The only serial number is on the sticker. The fisrt photo is of the back of the guitar. The knobs do have a number stamped in the bottom S-647. I did't buy this guitar from an individual. I bought it at a large music store in New York in 1965.

Vinnie

Can't find the thread now on the RIC Corporate forum. But John Hall theorized that these stickered no SN 330s were for display purposes at the 1965 NAMM show. He also recalled the stickers and the machine that printed on them. The stickers were mainly used on Rickenbacker amps of the era.

I will see if I can re-find the thread and send you the link - or perhaps John will chime in again about this...

Werner referenced an RRF thread in his post above in which John Hall posted about the stickers.

There is also a photo on that thread of another headstock sticker, bearing the number 4501, on the back of a FG Rick headstock, no model no. given: viewtopic.php?f=22&t=402625&start=0

ok, I looked back at the other threads, and I actually made a comment previously regarding if there's any difference between these "sticker models" and a "normal 330" and someone pointed out that the sticker one had a three piece front as does Vinnie's. Is that in fact different? Are 330 tops usually one piece?

The NAMM theory I'm not sure makes much sense because the 26th week of 1965 was the middle of the year. Was NAMM always in January? The one thing we know is that in 1965 Vinnie went into a local music store. He was unhappy with his Kent guitar neck because it was too fat for him. They put this shiny new slim necked Ric in his hands. He fell in love and bought the instrument.

My theory after reading through all these threads again is that for whatever reason, mid 65 the company experimented with using these labels rather than numbering on jackplates. Does that make them special or rare? That's up to y'all .

Personally I enjoy the story behind Vinnie's guitar because in 1965 it's unlikely that too many stores were pushing Rics. The guitar is for sure a one owner piece, and was kept beautifully. Since this particular guitar is guaranteed NFS, it makes the value - priceless!

marc61 wrote:The NAMM theory I'm not sure makes much sense because the 26th week of 1965 was the middle of the year. Was NAMM always in January?

Summer NAMM Show.

jps wrote:

marc61 wrote:The NAMM theory I'm not sure makes much sense because the 26th week of 1965 was the middle of the year. Was NAMM always in January?

Summer NAMM Show.

ah ha!

there goes my first theory....so then it's kinda possible since it was a large NYC store that they brought it back from the summer NAMM expo.

Well ,my next one is...the shop saw a young Vinnie walk in..and said "here's a sucker, he'll buy the Ric"...Who's the sucker now Mr Store Owner?

Nice post Marc61 well worded. And you are correct. My first guitar was a Kent electric. It had a neck on it like a telephone pole. Having small hands I couldn't play bar chords. When I went into the store which later became Sam Ash Music. I tried this Ric and the rest is history. I had a band that played at school dances. When I took the guitar to school it caused a good amount of excitement. A few years later I was playing a gig in a bar. A guy was admiring the Ric. He offered me $20 bucks to play it. That was alot of money in the sixties.... I took him up on it. They are beautiful guitars. The wood is something else the styling is like no other instrument. They're nice just to look at ...let alone play.

Regards
Vinnie

marc61 wrote: someone pointed out that the sticker one had a three piece front as does Vinnie's. Is that in fact different? Are 330 tops usually one piece?

All 330 and 360 model tops were 3-piece through mid-1966, when they became 2-piece.

marc61 wrote:The guitar is for sure a one owner piece, and was kept beautifully. Since this particular guitar is guaranteed NFS, it makes the value - priceless!

I think it's great that Vinnie has held on to this guitar for so long. The "one-owner" aspect certainly adds value. I also like the vintage knobs!