Rickenbacker Serial Number System

The serial number is generally located on the jackplate of a Rick...check also neckplate on bolt-on models or bridgeplate. For earlier than about December 1998 Ricks the first 2 characters represent the month and year.

Current Rick serial numbering system
First 2 digits indicate the year, first 2 of bottom digits the week of manufacture.. ie 99 02064 is 1999 Jan 8-15.

1997-Dec 1998 Rick numbering system
First character is month, second is year
 

Month code M N P Q R S T U V W X Y
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

 

Year code 0 1 2
Year 1997 1998 1999


1987-1996 Numbering system
First character is month, second is year
 

Month code A B C D E F G H I J K L
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

 

Year code 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Year 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996



1961-1986 Numbering system
First character is year, second is month
 

Year code A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Year 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986

 

Month code A B C D E F G H I J K L
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

 

Rick Finish Time Line


Official Rickenbacker Site catalog finishes

 

  54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95
Blond        
Turquoise1        
Jet black        
Brown        
Green        
Natural       O O O
Autumnglo     O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
Fireglo         O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
Jetglo           O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
Mapleglo           O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
Burgundy                   O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
Azureglo                               O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
White       O                         O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O
Walnut                                       O O O O O O O O O O O O O
Ruby                                                     O O O O O
Silver                                                     O O O O O
Red                                                               O O O O O O O O O O O
Mid Blue                                                               O O O O O O O O O O O
Turquoise                                                                           O O O O O

1Turquoise Blue
Autumnglo appears in other years also.. see 4001 Autumnglo Satin from Oct 1976
Data obtained from "Rickenbacker: Pioneer of the Electric Guitar" Rittor Music
 

  96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06
 
Fireglo O O O O O O O O O O O
Jetglo O O O O O O O O O O O
Mapleglo O O O O O O O O O O O
Burgundy2       O O   O
White O O O O
Red O O O O
Mid Blue O O O O O O O O O O O
Turquoise O O O O O O O O
Sea Green         O
Desert Gold           O
Montezuma Brown               O O
Blue Boy                 O
Blueburst                   O
Amber Fireglo                     O

2Available beginning Oct.1999 on 425v63 and 450v63 special edition models only, reintroduced Jan. 2002 on all standard models