The Rickenbacker101 Archive

History, specs, and rabbit holes

Welcome to the Rickenbacker101 archive.

What started as a handful of articles has gradually evolved into a large interconnected reference library covering Rickenbacker model history, specifications, timelines, finishes, construction details, electronics, terminology, rare instruments, and historical deep dives.

The goal has always been simple: to create the kind of resource I wished existed when I first started trying to untangle the often confusing world of Rickenbackers—a place where longtime collectors and complete newcomers alike can find accurate, evidence-driven information presented in plain English.

This page serves as the master index for the site and the best place to explore the archive by topic. If you’re new here, the “Start Here” section below is probably the best entry point. Otherwise, feel free to dive down whichever rabbit hole interests you most. There are plenty of them.

(And if you don’t know where to start, articles with a ⭐️ are our most read/most linked)

Start Here

1. ⭐️ The Complete Rickenbacker Model Guide

2. Glossary of Terms

3. Serial Number Overview

4. Other Rickenbacker Resources

Rickenbacker Models

Core Models

1. ⭐️ The Model 330

2. The Model 350

3. ⭐️ The Model 360

4. The Model 450

5. The Model 620

6. The Model 4000

7. ⭐️ The Model 4001

8. ⭐️ The Model 4003

9. The W Series Guitars

Special Models

1. ⭐️ Signature Limited Edition Models

2. The B-Series Models

3. ⭐️ Beatles-Inspired Models

4. The 75th Anniversary Models

5. The 90th Anniversary Models

6. Special Runs 1983-2014

7. ⭐️ Special Runs 2015-Present

Beyond the Core Models

1. The Model 1993Plus

2. The 200 Series

3. The Model 362/12

4. The Model 380L Laguna

5. The Model 381

6. The Model 3000 & 3001

7. The Combo 400

8. The Model 430

9. The Model 480

10. The Model 4002

11. The Model 4004

12. The Model 4005

13. The Model 4030

14. The Model 4030S

15. The Combo 600 & 800

16. The Model 6000 Bantar

17. The Model 900/950/1000

18. The Contello/Symfomia Grand

19. The Model ES16 & ES17

20. The 1958-1962 F-Body Guitars

21. The 6/12 Convertible Guitars

22. ⭐️ The Lightshow Guitars

23. The 8-String Basses

Construction, Hardware, & Electronics

Construction

1. ⭐️ Truss Rod Deep Dive

2. Neck Construction

3. Neck-Through Construction

4. Semi-Hollow Bracing

5. Deck Height

Hardware

1. Grover Tuners Overview

2. Van Ghent Tuners

3. Schaller M6 Tuners

4. The “R” Tailpiece

5. The Kauffman Vibrola

6. The Accent Vibrato

7. The “Boyd” Vibrato

Electronics

1. Toaster Pickups

2. Higain Pickups

3. ⭐️ Other Rickenbacker Pickups

4. Rick-O-Sound

5. The Vintage Tone Circuit

6. Byrd Wiring

7. The Blend Knob

Quirks & Design Flaws

1. Exploding Wavy Grovers

2. Tail Lift

3. 4001/4003 Crack of Doom

4. Glueglo

5. Purpleburst

6. Midnight Blue Binding Bleed

Finishes, Cosmetics, & Design Identity

Finishes

1. Conversion Varnish

2. ⭐️ Factory Finishes

3. The Two Rubies

4. Special Run Colors

5. ⭐️ Color of the Year

6. 1974-1975 Walnut

7. 2021-2022 Unfinished Fingerboards

Plastics

1. Standard Truss Rod Covers

2. Special Truss Rod Covers

3. Gold Plastics

4. Knobs

Design Elements

1. ⭐️ Deluxe vs. Standard Guitars

2. “Vintage”

3. OS vs. WB Guitars

4. Triangle Fretboard Markers

5. The BT & BH/BT Eras

6. The Cresting Wave

7. The German Carve

8. F-hole Orientation

9. Bound Headstocks

10. The Gumby Headstock

11. The Bass Bridge Pickup Cover

History

Company History

1. Rickenbacker and Intellectual Property

2. Branding

3. ⭐️ Roger Rossmeisl

The Transitional Era

1. ⭐️ What Is The Transitional Era

2. The Model 360 Transition Timeline

3. The Model 4001 Transition Timeline

4. The Model 4000 Transition Timeline

Serial Numbers

1. Serial Number Overview

2. Serial Number Stickers

3. Vibrato Equipped 425 Serial Numbers

4. Serial Number Locator

Odds & Ends and Rabbit Holes

Rickenbacker-Adjacent Guitars

1. The Premiervox Spanish Guitar

2. The Astro Guitar Kit

3. The Barth/Magnatone Guitars

4. The Chandler 555

5. Nelson Guitars

Odds & Ends

1. ⭐️ Cases

2. The Sceusa Neck

3. Slanted Frets

4. Vaporware and Zombie Guitars

5. The 350 Phantoms

6. Knob Orientation

7. “Lennonizing”

8. Site Updates

Rare & Unusual Instruments:

1. 1938 Model 59 Lap Steel

2. 1957 Polynesian

3. 1957 “Half-Tulip” Combo 450

4. 1958 Joe Edwards 365 Capri

5. 1961 Kenny Blackwell Doubleneck

6. ⭐️ 1963 Suzi Arden 360/12

7. ⭐️ 1964 360S/12

8. 1964 Long Headstock 360S/12

9. 1964 Randy Bachman 375

10. 1966 Rose Morris “Redburst” Guitars

11. 1967 “Shaded” Guitars

12. ⭐️ 1967 John Paul Jones 4001S Prototype

13. 1968 New Style 330

14. 1968 “Moonglo” Guitars

15. 1968 Ebony Fingerboard 366/12OS

16. 1969-1971 21 Fret 4001s

17. 1970 Ebony Fingerboard 360

18. 1971 Bound Neck 330

19. 1971 Transitional 360

20. 1972 360SF

21. 1973 Bound Neck 330/12

22. 1974 Bound Neck 4000s

23. 1974 4001SS

24. 1981 4001S FL

25. 1983 360/12 New Style WB

26. 1984 610/12

27. 1984/85 360/12V64 Prototypes

28. 1986 230 Blackstar

29. 1986 4003 Shadow

30. Mike Campbell 359V89

31. 1992 350 SH Overrun

32. 1993 RCA Models

33. ⭐️ 1992/93 Jackson Browne Prototypes

34. 1994 Norman’s Rare Guitars 1993SPC

35. 2003 Henry McGuinn 350/12

36. 2007 Chris Squire Pastel Burst 4003s

37. 2011 Pearl White 1997

38. 2011 Pick of the Ricks 4001C64s

39. 2011 481/12

40. 2014 330-F

41. 2016-2022 Noir Special Runs

42. 2020 4003CB SPC

43. 2022 3503

44. 2025 425 SPCs

45. 2026 Geddy Lee 4001