The following information is courtesy Carl Dixon, as posted on the
Steel Guitar Forum.
Rickenbacker did not keep Serial # to date records until after the Second
World War. I will tell you what is generally known and some distinguishing
features that should help.
It is impossible to tell the exact year many of the early Bakelites were
built because of this lack of record keeping.
However there are some features that will help you to come close.
Rickenbacker was issued a patent on the pickup effective August 10, 1937.
Old Adolf Rickenbacker was so happy that on that very day, all guitars had
the patent number clearly stamped on the little metal piece that holds the
pick up in place. Prior to that date all guitars said, "Patent Pending". So
one can tell whether it was built before or after that date.
One other feature was whether it had just a tone control or a tone and
volume control. 1938 is the year that is generally believed the volume
control was added.
Another feature that is very good in dating is the width of the big horshoe
magnet. All guitars before the war had magnets about 1 and 1/2 inches wide.
After the war they decreased the width to about 1 inch. Many, including
Jerry Byrd (I share this belief) said the narrower magnets did not give as
good a tone. Also prior to the war the strings came up thru the body of the
guitar. After the war they came up thru a metal tail piece installed on the
top of the guitar. Again, many believe the latter does not give as good a
tone.
If it is bakelite, 6 or 7 strings, has the wide magnets, has only a tone
control, has no patent number, strings come up from the body it was built
before August 10, 1937. And they are extremely valuable. If any of the
aforementioned items is not the case, they are still valuable but not as
much so.
If it has a tail piece where the strings come thru, then it is definitely
post war and just does not have the sound and subsequently the value as the
others do. Example: Pre-war are fetching $500 to $3000 (I paid $925 for my
7 string 2 years ago). Post war $100 to $450.
Please visit Brad's Page of Steel:
A web site devoted to acoustic and electric lap steel guitars
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