Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Here's a few questions I've been thinking about:

1. Does anyone know when Ric began and ended putting the guitar and/or bass model number on the truss rod cover?
2. Does anyone know when Ric first put "Made in the USA" on the TRC?

Thanks all!

I don't know the exact years for the model numbers but I believe they started during the late 60's or early 70's and ended sometime in the early 80's. Made in USA has been on there at least since the late 60's early 70's also I believe.
I like the model number TRC's.

My March 1984 guitar says "Model 330" on the TRC.

I think it had to do with when they finally ran out of the earlier model correspondent TRC's I have an April of '82 4001S that already has the TRC with no model number on it. Ric tended to use up parts when they came to them, not establish a date where something just wasn't used after that.

I have an 81 4003 with the model number on it. I thought that was a class touch.

From what I have seen, they started with the model number in '73 or '74 and ended in 1985. A lot of changes came in '85 and it is the cutoff point for the old-style bridge, model number on the truss rod cover, and Grover tuners.

I have a 72 4001FL with the model number on it. Grovers ended for the most part around 74, except for an occasional bass. Old style bridges ended in mid 73. You may be right about the end date. Although it's not usually that cut and dried.

I think the "Made in USA" screening was there by as early as '64, or if not, then by '65.I know I've seen mid 60s Ricks with the model # on them.

First, not all models actually had TRC's stamped with their designation- only the most popular units did.

Second, there is no clear cutoff date. Model specific plates stopped being ordered probably in 1979 or 1980 but inventory existed and was used in production until they ran out. We actually STILL have a small inventory of some 3000 series stamped plates.

The "Made in USA" came about in '64 as Don said, in response to increasing exports and changes in the law that required notice of origin.

...and then there's the anomaly, or whatever you want to call it, where the "Made in USA" was screened parallel to the nut, or parallel to the Rick logo.