Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I am new to this forum and just came across what look like a 480 (dot inlays, bound fretboard, 2 pups etc) except the following:

It has a plate behind the body with the words "Rickenbacker 10's Anniversary American Deluxe". Please note that the word "10's" is spelt that way. It was also on the back of the peghead, "R-169000xxx USA".

The serial number is xx (on top of socket) and four digits xxxx below. I cannot make out the top alphabets as there is some corrosion.

The body has been refinished but as far as I can tell all parts except the nut are original.

Can anyone tell me whether this is a reissue as I am unable to find any information about this guitar anywhere. if yes, what year was this guitar made?


Thanks and regards,

Meranti

I forgot to mention it is a setneck model.


Regards,

Meranti

Do you have any photos of it? And where did you find this one?
There is a thread on the 480 guitars in this section, does it look like those? I know there are some guitar experts who know more than I do who will be happy to help solve this one! Welcome to the Forum!

PICS!!

Oh, and welcome to the forum, Chin!!

This description fits no Rickenbacker produced instrument. Sounds like some kind of knock-off to me and is particularly insidious if it actually uses our trademark.

"Rickenbacker 10's Anniversary American Deluxe"

Sounds like the knock-off maker was a bit "English-challenged"!

IT'S A FAKE.

Don't buy it, Meranti.

It was probably made in Japan,Korea, Indonesia, China or Taiwan.

Welcome to the forum.
Good luck getting a real RIC soon.
(I believe you speak Chinese?)

If it was meant to be 10th Anniversary, this would be quite a vintage guitar, having been made in 1941.

No, John, they're just "10s" (tense) waiting for the shoe to drop...

So does this mean we'll be seeing a 480v41 anytime soon?

Dear All,

I am surprised by the response I get here and would really like to get your opinions here. Is this a fake, a knock off or the genuine stuff?

Here are a few pics and if anyone wants any other closeups or descriptions please let me know and I will try my best to provide or answer.

First is the pic of the guitar in full on the front. Like I said, I am no Ric expert but the knobs, tailpiece and pups seem to conform to other pics I have seen.



Next a pic of the back. Note the setneck construction and the bottom of the body where the plate is placed. It has Kluson tuners. You will notice some material on the back. This is some foam material that the owner put on to prevent belt buckle rash and can be removed.



Next is a pic of the plate and you can see the words itself.


Other information I can provide is that on the socket plate it has two digits or alphabets on top (I cannot make out as there is some corrosion and did not have the chance to see it cleaned up) and four digits at the bottom. I did not get the chance to see the inside wiring etc.

I have no idea what to make of this guitar. Any comments would be most welcome and helpful. Thanks again.


Regards,

Chin Hon

Chin: Thank for your photos and description of this instrument. I would also be interested in seeing a photo of the jackplate and time permitting the inside cavity with the electronics.

Based on these photos, there are certainly differences between this instrument and the genuine article. I have added a photo below for comparison. The finish of your instrument is different as well as the construction (set neck) in your model and bolt-on from the original Rickenbacker. The guards and knobs are inconsistent with the genuine Rickenbacker. The "Anniversary Plate" takes away from the look and is certainly nothing I have ever seen on an original Rickenbacker.

Whoever did make this guitar certainly went to some trouble. The parts, at least in the photos you provide seem genuine. Closeups of the tuners and pickups would also be of interest.

Your guitar, would appear to be a Rickenbacker copy in my view.

Peter,

The guitar has been refinished.

I will try to provide the other information tomorrow when I get back to the office including pics of the back of the headstock to show tuners and inscriptions, the pups and pickguard area as well as the jackplate.


Thanks and regards,

Chin Hon

Chin: There are two possibilities here. One that it has been a copy from the very beginning (my working hypothesis) and second (pending the serial and inside of the cavity) it started out as an original and then was modified due to wear and tear and put back in its current condition.

The body shape seems true to the original, however, the set neck construction still worries me. I am not aware of any set neck 480 models, perhaps John Hall can address this possibility. What was the original color from inside the truss-rod cavity?

It's a fake. The plate proves it. I would bet, made in the Orient. The "10s" wording is typical of the mispelling I see on products and correspondence from China and Korea. The "American Deluxe" is also interesting. This type of wording is also used to tie the product in with the USA and means nothing in reality.

Then there's the pickguard. I'll bet also that if one of our real experts on this site (not some unknown guy with a lot of posts to his name in a short time) would look at this piece, the verdict would be rapid, too.

Alternative: It's a real 480 that somebody glued the neck onto, filled the screwholes, repainted a bad color, made a non-standard pickguard for, and had a ****** brass nameplate custom-etched.

Yeah, that's it!

"When you've eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however implausible, must be the truth." (Sherlock "Rickenbacker" Holmes)