The Rickenbacker101 Archives

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. The Rickenbacker101 Manifesto

3. The Ricktionary Glossary of Terms

4. Serial Number Overview

5. Other Rickenbacker Resources

Rickenbacker Models

Timelines

1. ⭐️ The Evolution of the Model 330

2. The Evolution of the Model 350

3. ⭐️ The Evolution of the Model 360

4. The Evolution of the 420/425

5. The Evolution of the Model 450

6. The Evolution of the Model 460

7. The Evolution of the Model 620

8. The Evolution of the Model 4000

9. ⭐️ The Evolution of the Model 4001

10. ⭐️ The Evolution of the Model 4003

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

8. Left-Handed Models

9. The W Series Guitars

Other 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 Model 3030

8. The Combo 400

9. The Model 425V63 & 450V63

10. The Model 430

11. The Model 480

12. The Model 481

13. The Model 4002

14. The Model 4003S/5

15. The Model 4004

16. The Model 4005

17. The Model 4030

18. The Model 4030S

19. The Combo 600 & 800

20. The Combo 650

21. The Model 6000 Bantar

22. The Model 900/950/1000

23. The Contello/Symfomia Grand

24. The Model ES16 & ES17

25. The 1958-1962 F-Body Guitars

26. The 6/12 Convertible Guitars

27. ⭐️ The Lightshow Guitars

28. The 8-String Basses

Construction, Hardware, & Electronics

Construction

1. ⭐️ Truss Rod Deep Dive

2. Neck Construction

3. Neck-Through Construction

4. The Skunk Stripe

5. X-Bracing

6. 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

7. 2012-2013 “Upside-Down” F-Holes

Finishes, Cosmetics, & Design Identity

Finishes

1. Conversion Varnish

2. ⭐️ Factory Finishes

3. The Two Rubies

4. All About Turquoise

5. Special Run Colors

6. ⭐️ Color of the Year

7. 1974-1975 Walnut

8. 2021-2022 Unfinished Fingerboards

Plastics

1. Standard Truss Rod Covers

2. Special Truss Rod Covers

3. The “Stubby” Truss Rod Cover

4. Gold Plastics

5. Knobs

Design Elements

1. ⭐️ Deluxe vs. Standard Guitars

2. “Vintage”

3. “SPC” Guitars

4. OS vs. WB Guitars

5. Triangle Fretboard Markers

6. The BT & BH/BT Eras

7. The Cresting Wave

8. The German Carve

9. The New Capri

10. F-hole Orientation

11. Bound Headstocks

12. The Gumby Headstock

13. The Paddle Headstock

14. The Bass Bridge Pickup Cover

History

Company History

1. Rickenbacker and Intellectual Property

2. The Lawsuit Era and Rickenbacker

3. Branding

4. ⭐️ Roger Rossmeisl

5. Rickenbacker and Forrest White

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

Detective Stories

1. Pete Townshend 360/12 Fragment

Odds & Ends

1. ⭐️ Cases

2. The Sceusa Neck

3. Slanted Frets

4. Red Side Dots

5. Vaporware and Zombie Guitars

6. The 350 Phantoms

7. Knob Orientation

8. “Lennonizing”

9. Everything is a Combo 600

10. 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. 1965-1966 Contoured Back 420s

11. 1966 Rose Morris “Redburst” Guitars

12. 1967 “Shaded” Guitars

13. ⭐️ 1967 John Paul Jones 4001S Prototype

14. 1968 New Style 330

15. 1968 “Moonglo” Guitars

16. 1968 Ebony Fingerboard 366/12OS

17. 1969-1971 21 Fret 4001s

18. 1970 Ebony Fingerboard 360

19. 1970 Transitional 360

20. 1971 Bound Neck 330

21. 1971 Transitional 360

22. 1972 360SF

23. 1972 Glueglo 460

24. 1973 Bound Neck 330/12

25. 1973 Mike Rutherford Doubleneck

26. 1974 Bound Neck 4000s

27. 1974 4001SS

28. 1980’s Black Basses

29. 1981 4001S FL

30. 1982 4005BT

31. 1983 360/12 New Style WB

32. 1983 Electro ES-16 Special Run

33. 1984 610/12 Special Run

34. 1984/85 360/12V64 Prototypes

35. 1986 230 Blackstar

36. 1986 4003 Shadow Special Run

37. 1987 Sam Ash 1993 Special Run

38. 1988 Per Gessle 350

39. Mike Campbell 359V89

40. 1992 350 SH Overrun

41. 1993 RCA Models

42. ⭐️ 1992/93 Jackson Browne Prototypes

43. 1994 Norman’s Rare Guitars 1993SPC Special Run

44. 1995 360/12 BH/BT

45. 2003 Henry McGuinn 350/12

46. 2007 Chris Squire Pastel Burst 4003s

47. 2009 310C64 Special Run

48. 2011 Pearl White 1997 Special Run

49. 2011 Pick of the Ricks 4001C64s

50. 2011 481/12

51. 2014 330-F Special Run

52. 2016-2026 Noir Special Runs

53. 2020 4003CB SPC Special Run

54. 2022 3503

55. 2025 425 SPCs

56. 2026 Geddy Lee 4001